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New polling reveals that independents expect bipartisanship, not partisan victories, in Trump’s second term
The big picture
Donald Trump and the GOP won decisively on election night. With their victory, the incoming administration claims to have “an unprecedented and powerful mandate”—language that echoes Trump’s remarks in a December Time magazine interview where he stated, “The beauty is that we won by so much. The mandate was massive.”
But the surprise election results don’t mean voters want a partisan MAGA agenda. In reality, independent voters—who helped push Trump over the edge—expect him to work across the aisle and govern effectively.
Polling from the Independent Center’s 2025 State of the Union survey shows that independents overwhelmingly prefer bipartisan victories over ideological policy wins.
Zooming in
Independents overwhelmingly favor bipartisanship
Independents are not aligned with a partisan “MAGA agenda”—instead, they want bipartisan solutions.
- 64% of independents want Trump to work across the aisle and pass bipartisan measures.
- 58% of independents want Trump to succeed at working across the aisle to pass bipartisan policies.
- Only 37% of independents support Trump fully enacting MAGA/Republican policies.
These numbers send a clear message: independents don’t want Trump focusing solely on partisan victories. Instead, they expect him to work with Congress and govern for all Americans.
Independents prioritize leadership and unity
Independents didn’t just vote on inflation and affordability—they also want strong leadership in Washington.
- When asked about the most important focus area for elected officials, leadership was the top response.
- 47% of independents say a successful first year means Trump and Republicans significantly reducing political divisions.
These findings reinforce the deep frustrations independents have with hyper-partisan gridlock.
What does success look like?
Independent voters backed Trump largely because they viewed him as the best choice on key issues like inflation and affordability. But they also expected him to provide strong leadership after what they saw as an ineffective four years under President Joe Biden.
A successful Trump administration, according to independents, means:
- Governing through consensus, not rushing partisan policies.
- Bridging divides, not deepening political polarization.
- Delivering results on key economic issues, not getting sidetracked by partisan distractions.
Independent lens
Independents aren’t interested in “owning the libs” or purchasing Greenland—they just want effective government and constructive conversations between both parties.
The expectations for Trump’s second term are high, but they aren’t necessarily tied to a MAGA agenda. Instead, independents are calling for bipartisan solutions and responsible leadership.
As the administration moves forward, the key to success lies in reaching across the aisle and governing pragmatically—or risk losing the independent voters who helped deliver victory.
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