Party identification figures in the United States shifted in favor of Democrats from the first quarter of 2025 through the first quarter of 2026. A Gallup survey of more than 3,000 people living in the United States measured respondents' party preferences and political leanings.
Independent voters increasingly lean toward Democrats
The survey classified respondents who did not identify as Republican or Democrat as independent voters. Among this group, support for the Democratic Party stood at 45% in the first quarter of 2025, rising to 46% in the second quarter, 47% in the third quarter and 48% in the final quarter.
Support for the Democratic Party rose to 49% in the first quarter of 2026. This represented a 4-point increase from the first quarter of 2025.
Support for Republicans fell to 39%
Among independent voters, the share supporting the Republican Party stood at 45% in the first quarter of 2025. It fell to 43% in the second quarter, 41% in the third quarter and 40% in the final quarter.
The figure declined to 39% in the first quarter of 2026. Support for the Republican Party fell by 6 points between the first quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.
Share identifying as Democrats increased
The survey also asked respondents whether they considered themselves Republican, Democrat or independent in political terms. Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, the share identifying as Republican has fallen from 27% to 25%.
The share identifying as Democrat rose from 27% to 31% over the same period. The results show a shift in independent voters' party leanings in favor of Democrats.
Democrats' largest advantage since 2008
The survey results point to Democrats' largest advantage over Republicans since 2008. Gallup publishes aggregate polling data on an annual or quarterly basis to track Americans' party affiliation and party leanings.
