Independents Fuel Partisan Politics, Experts Say

Declining party membership and influence leads to more extreme candidates, according to political scientists.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 4:03pm

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A new Gallup poll shows that a record 45% of U.S. adults now identify as political independents, up from around 2008. This exodus from the Democratic and Republican parties has coincided with a rise in partisanship, as the parties have lost control over their nominating processes and campaign resources. Experts say this dynamic has enabled more ideologically extreme candidates to win primaries, further polarizing the political landscape.

Why it matters

The weakening of the Democratic and Republican parties as institutions has allowed more partisan and ideologically driven candidates to gain power, contributing to the hyperpartisanship that many Americans say they want to escape by becoming independents. This trend raises concerns about the ability of the political system to produce candidates and policies with broad appeal.

The details

According to political scientist Johanna Dunaway of Syracuse University, the primary reason for the link between rising independents and increased partisanship is "the loss of strong control over who runs in the primary." With the parties having less influence over their own nominations, candidates no longer feel the need to "please the party and to stay in good graces with the party." Other factors like campaign finance reform, gerrymandering, and the rise of social media have also diminished the parties' control and contributed to more polarized politics.

  • Gallup published polling in January showing that as of last year, 45% of U.S. adults identified as political independents, a record high.
  • The migration toward independent identification began around 2008, with the election of President Barack Obama, and has spiked since.

The players

Johanna Dunaway

A political scientist at Syracuse University and research director for the school's Washington-based Institute for Democracy, Journalism & Citizenship.

Steve Kornacki

Author of 'The Red and The Blue; The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism,' and chief data analyst for NBC News.

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What they’re saying

“Probably the biggest reason — I think it's the loss of strong control over who runs in the primary.”

— Johanna Dunaway, Political scientist

“Over the last generation, turnout in elections is way up and split-ticket voting is way down. This has a lot to do with media and technology and how it has synced up with our very human tendency to think and behave tribally. We pick sides, silo ourselves off from each other, and receive constant reinforcement that we're right and they're wrong.”

— Steve Kornacki, Author and NBC News analyst

The takeaway

The rise of political independents has paradoxically contributed to increased partisanship, as the weakening of the Democratic and Republican parties has enabled more ideologically extreme candidates to gain power. This dynamic raises concerns about the ability of the political system to produce candidates and policies with broad appeal, underscoring the need for reforms to strengthen party institutions and encourage moderation.