A 2024 Mason-Dixon® poll found that 67% of Fairfax City voters support keeping city office elections non-partisan, with only 17% opposing and 16% undecided. This indicates City of Fairfax voters are leading a trend noted in the latest Gallup poll.
The latest Gallup polling conducted in 2025 and just released, shows a significant shift in the American political landscape: a record 45% of U.S. adults now identify as independents, surpassing previous highs and marking the largest share of nonpartisan voters in decades.
This is the highest level recorded since Gallup began tracking partisan identity by telephone in 1988. This surpasses previous peaks of 43% in 2014, 2023, and 2024 showing an ongoing growth trend over the past decade and
The survey, conducted in 2025, also found that 27% of Americans identify as Democrats and 17% as Republicans, highlighting a growing trend of voters stepping away from traditional party labels. Younger generations are driving much of this growth. More than half of Generation Z adults and a majority of millennials identify as independents, while older generations are more likely to stick with traditional party affiliations.
“People are increasingly saying they don’t feel fully aligned with either major party,” noted Jeffrey M. Jones, political analyst who authored the new Gallup report. “This could signal a long-term shift in how Americans engage with politics.” Gallup analysis of the data, pointing to a growing desire among Americans for a political identity outside the traditional two-party system.
Unlike partisan voters, independents prioritize specific issues. Key concerns, according to recent polling and analysts, include:
- The economy and cost of living (inflation, jobs, wages, housing).
- Healthcare (access and affordable, practical solutions).
- Government accountability and ethics (dissatisfaction with gridlock).
- Education (school quality, student debt).
- Public safety and national security.
- Environmental policy (especially younger voters favoring balanced approaches).
“Independents are not a monolithic group,” said Jones. “They can be decisive, but their priorities vary, so appealing to them requires understanding what issues matter most to them.” And they often support candidates who emphasize pragmatic solutions and bipartisan cooperation rather than strictly partisan agendas.
Author
Tania Hossain is the editor, publisher, and co-owner of The Independent News Press, a consortium of local print and online newspapers in Virginia. She focuses on writing about community issues and advocates for local newspapers, both print and online, especially in the age of Ai from selfie filters to betting on military strikes. A Merrifield resident, she is a keen backyard gardener, loves forest bathing and a curious biohacker, believing that proactive health keeps one out of the costly illness industry. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine launch, she feels fortunate to be running this newspaper.
