Are many republicans and independents charging their party afiliation
Executive summary
Yes — substantial numbers of Americans are abandoning fixed party labels and either identifying as independents or shifting affiliations, and elected officials sometimes follow; polls show a record-high share calling themselves independents while research and case counts document meaningful partisan switching among voters and officeholders [1] [2] [3].
1. The snapshot: a record surge in people who call themselves independents
National polling finds an unusually large share of U.S. adults now identify as political independents — Gallup reported a record 45% identifying as independents in 2025, and that shift produced a net advantage for Democrats once leaners are counted (47% Democratic or Democratic-leaning vs. 42% Republican or Republican-leaning) [1] [4]; other outlets including the AP and Fox News have amplified the same Gallup findings, noting especially large independent shares among younger cohorts [5] [4].
2. What “independent” actually means in practice — many lean, fewer truly unaffiliated
Surveys and analyst fact sheets make a crucial distinction: many “independents” are leaners whose views and behaviors align with a major party rather than a distinct third force; Pew’s analysis shows most independents lean toward one party and behave like partisans [6], and Gallup’s reporting underscores that recent changes in the partisan balance frequently reflect independents’ leanings rather than outright surges in registered Republicans or Democrats [7] [8].
3. Are Republicans specifically “changing” their affiliation? The evidence is mixed and time-dependent
Trends over recent years show flux: in some periods more independents have leaned Republican, giving the GOP an edge (Gallup’s 2024 analysis), while the 2025 data swung back toward Democrats as more independents leaned Democratic [8] [1]. The New York Times opinion polling highlights that the share of Republicans identifying as conservative has climbed to record levels, suggesting ideological consolidation within the party even as some voters disaffiliate [9]. In short, Republican identification has both gained and lost ground depending on timing and how independents are classified [8] [1].
4. Party-switching among elected officials and the electorate — measurable but not overwhelming
Switching is real among politicians: Ballotpedia counted 196 state legislators who have switched party affiliation since 1994, with notable flows in both directions and individual stories of repeated switches [3]; Wikipedia’s list of party switchers documents high-profile examples across decades [10]. Among everyday voters, the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group found 13% of partisans changed affiliation in a recent multi-year window, with some becoming independents and some switching parties [2].
5. Why people switch — structure, strategy and generational change
Explanations range from ideological realignment (partisan sorting and ideological hardening cited by NYT and Pew) to tactical choices driven by primary rules, local politics, or dissatisfaction with party leadership [9] [6] [11]. State rules matter: in some states voters can switch affiliation at the clerk’s office or even at the polls, and primary rules (open vs. closed) affect the incentives to register or deregister from a party [11] [12].
6. Caveats and what the data do not show
The available reporting documents substantial identity-shifting and measurable switching among officials, but cannot fully answer how many Republicans are actively changing their formal registration at this moment versus merely expressing disaffection or shifting leanings; national surveys measure self-identification and lean but vary over time, while registration databases and state-by-state primary rules complicate any single national tally [1] [6] [11]. Analysts’ agendas matter: partisan-lean stories can be framed as triumphs or warnings depending on outlet [4] [8].
Bottom line
There are indeed many Americans moving away from fixed party labels — independents are at record levels and a nontrivial fraction of partisans and elected officials have switched affiliations — but much of that movement is better described as “independents who lean” rather than the birth of a large, stable bloc outside the two parties, and swings between Republican and Democratic advantage depend on timing, state rules and how leaners are counted [1] [6] [2] [3].