Saying ‘no’ to parties

A record-high 42 percent of Americans reported being politically independent in a Gallup poll—published online on Jan. 8—that included interviews of more than 18,000 Americans last year. The results are reflective of an increasing shift away from party affiliation, though the trend has come more at the expense of the GOP than of Democrats; Republican identification fell to 25 percent—the lowest level recorded since Gallup began conducting phone interviews 25 years ago—while Democratic identification has flatlined at 31 percent over the past four years.