Democratic Voter Registrations Decline as Republicans Diminish; Independent and Third-Party Support Grows
The growth of registered independents and third-party members reflects a significant shift away from the traditional two-party system, as reported by an NBC News analysis of voter registration data. By 2025, 32% of registered voters in states and territories that report this information have chosen not to affiliate with either the Democratic or Republican parties, a notable increase from 23% in 2000. This trend is supported by national exit polls from the 2024 election, which indicated that self-identified independents have outnumbered Democrats for the first time, matching the number of Republicans as well.
Political analyst Mary Ann Marsh from Massachusetts attributes the rise in independent and third-party registrations to widespread dissatisfaction with the major parties. She noted, “People are just disappointed in politics and disappointed in party politics,” pointing to recent grassroots protests as evidence that citizens are seeking change outside the major party structure. The data shows that this increase in independent voters has primarily come at the expense of the Democratic Party.
Since 2000, the share of registered voters who identify as Democrats has declined annually, with a significant drop of 1.2 percentage points from 2024 to 2025. Although Republicans have also seen a decline in voter share, they have experienced a slight rebound since 2021. Independents are becoming a more diverse voting bloc, with 56% identifying as “moderate” in 2024, up from 50% in 2012, and 34% are now people of color—more than double the share from 2012.
Despite this growth in independent voters, most still tend to vote for candidates from the major parties. For instance, in the 2024 presidential election, independents split their votes nearly evenly between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. In North Carolina, the percentage of registered independents and third-party members has more than doubled since 2000, according to Michael Bitzer, a professor of politics and history.
He notes that this trend represents a profound statement from younger voters who have grown accustomed to political polarization. Interestingly, the decline in partisan registration extends into states like West Virginia, where the share of unaffiliated voters has tripled since 2000. The ability of independents to participate in party primaries has provided them with the opportunity to influence elections, although changes to primary rules in 2026 may restrict that access.
Experts like Christopher Cooper emphasize that the decline in partisan affiliation poses challenges for political parties. He warns that if parties do not engage younger voters effectively, they may find it increasingly difficult to field candidates in the future. “They need to build a structure for the future,” he asserts, highlighting the urgency for political parties to adapt to this evolving landscape.