.webp)
Recent survey data analyzes three key questions regarding independents' views on governance and representation, revealing a compelling narrative about their priorities, highlighting a clear preference for bipartisan collaboration over partisan policy victories.
The data comes from a comprehensive survey of self-identified independents (adults, n=500) and Republican-leaning independents (registered voters, n=400), offering unique insights into how independents perceive political cooperation versus partisanship achievement.
Views on the Trump Administration's Approach
When asked, "Which of the following comes closest to your opinion about the new Trump administration?" 64% of independents stated that they hope, "Trump finds a way to work across the aisle and pass bipartisan measures for our country." Only 14% opted for, "MAGA all the way! Trump and Republicans won the majority and now get to enact their policies for our country," while 23% expressed, "Trump and his policies are garbage. I hope he fails, regardless of what it means for the country."
These responses held remarkably consistent among Republican-leaning independents, with 63% favoring bipartisanship, 14% supporting MAGA policies, and 23% opposing Trump's policies entirely.
Contrasting Views on Partisan vs. Bipartisan Success
When asked, "Would you like to see Donald Trump succeed or fail at enacting MAGA/Republican policies as President?" independents showed a modest preference for success: 37% supported success, 27% preferred failure, and 36% were unsure. Republican-leaning independents had similar results, with 39% favoring success, 30% favoring failure, and 31% undecided unsure.
However, when asked, "Would you like to see Donald Trump succeed or fail at working across the aisle to enact bipartisan policies as President?" the margins widened significantly. 58% of independents favored success in bipartisanship, compared to just 12% wishing for failure and 30% undecided. Among Republican-leaning independents, 62% supported bipartisan success, with only 13% preferring failure and 25% unsure.
Disconnect Between Voters and Representatives
Additionally, independents were asked "Do you believe that your voice and opinions are being heard in Washington, DC by your elected representatives?" The results revealed a striking disconnect: only 12% of independents feel their voices are being heard, while 48% say they are not heard and 41% remain unsure.
This sentiment was nearly identical among Republican-leaning independents, with only 13% feeling heard, 50% not feeling heard, and 37% unsure. This widespread sense of disconnection helps explain the strong preference for bipartisan solutions.
A Clear Message for Political Leaders
The data conveys a clear message: while independents are not uniformly opposed to partisan policy achievements, they exhibit a strong preference for collaborative governance. The 46-point margin favoring bipartisan success (58% vs. 12%), compared to the 10-point margin for partisan success (37% vs. 27%), highlights this priority.
These numbers suggest independents aren't simply choosing sides in the traditional partisan divide - they're advocating for a different approach to governance entirely.
Implications for American Democracy
These findings arrive at a crucial time for American democracy, especially as we witness growing polarization in Congress and state legislatures. The 46-point margin by which independents support bipartisan success (58% for success vs. 12% for failure) conveys a strong message about the kind of governance they desire. When paired with the reality that only 12% feel their voices are heard in Washington, this establishes a clear call for political change approach.
This disconnect between voter preferences and the current political reality is particularly striking when examining the full data. While political leaders often concentrate on energizing their base through partisan policies, independents overwhelmingly prefer cooperation (64%) over partisan victory (14%). This indicates a fundamental misalignment between the way politics is currently practiced and what a crucial voting bloc truly wants wants.
The Path Forward: Bridging the Representation Gap
The data points to three key opportunities for political leaders. First, the strong preference for bipartisanship (58% favoring success) combined with high uncertainty (36% unsure about partisan policies) suggests there is room for leaders who can articulate a clear vision of cooperative governance. Second, the nearly identical views between independents and Republican-leaning independents indicate that this isn't just a moderate position - it reflects a broad-based desire for a different kind of leadership.
Most notably, the unusually low trust in current representation (with 48% feeling unheard) indicates that leaders who can showcase authentic bipartisan credentials may discover a particularly receptive audience among independents.
Strategic Implications for Political Leaders
For Trump and other political figures, the message from independents seems clear: the route to their support lies in bipartisan cooperation rather than partisan victory. The 46-point margin favoring bipartisan success compared to the much narrower 10-point margin for partisan policy success indicates that leaders might benefit from adopting a more collaborative approach even when pursuing partisan objectives.
Political leaders should also recognize that independents appear sophisticated in their understanding of governance—they don't fully reject partisan policies (only 27% want them to fail), but they strongly favor bipartisan approaches. This indicates an opportunity for a nuanced leadership style that can balance party priorities with genuine cross-aisle cooperation.
(Part 1 of a 4 Part Series, n500 Independents)
Field Dates: 01/14-17/2025
Margin of error total (n1500): ± 2.53
Margin of error by party (n500): ± 4.38
