Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Democrats Gain Biggest Party Identification Edge Since 2008
More Americans currently say they identify with the Democratic Party than the Republican Party.
Democrats lead Republicans by 10 points in this measure.
Some people call themselves independent but still lean toward one party.
Counting those people makes the Democratic lead even larger.
This is the Democrats’ biggest advantage in party identification since 2008.
The shift is happening while President Trump’s approval rating has stayed below 40 percent for several months.
Democrats are also competing in Senate races in states that strongly supported Trump in earlier elections.
Party identification and election results are related, but they are not exactly the same thing.
Democrats hold a 10-point lead over Republicans in party identification.
The Democratic advantage grows when independents who lean toward either party are included.
President Trump’s approval rating has remained below 40 percent for months.
Democrats are competitive in Senate races across states that previously favored Trump heavily.
The party’s current edge is described as its largest since 2008.
- Who
- Democrats, Republicans, independents who lean toward a party, and President Trump.
- What
- Democrats have opened a 10-point lead over Republicans in party identification, with an even wider advantage when leaning independents are counted.
- When
- Currently; President Trump’s approval rating has been below 40 percent for months.
- Where
- Across the United States, including Senate races in states that previously leaned heavily toward Trump.
- Why
- The articles link the Democratic advantage to Trump’s low approval rating and Democratic competitiveness in Senate races.
- Democratic lead
- 10 percentage points over Republicans in party identification
- Lead with leaning independents
- The gap becomes wider when independents who lean toward a party are included
- Historical comparison
- The Democratic advantage is the party’s biggest since 2008
- Trump approval
- Below 40 percent for months
- Election contests
- Democrats are competitive in Senate races
- State context
- Some of those states previously leaned heavily toward Trump