Overview of How will Gen Z independents shape the midterms?
This NPR episode examines the rise of political independence in the U.S., with a focus on Gen Z voters and what their growing rejection of the two-party system could mean for the midterms and beyond. Host Danielle Kurtzleben talks with political reporter Elena Moore and political historian Dr. Omar Ali about why more Americans—especially younger voters—now call themselves independents, whether that actually means they are politically moderate, and how dissatisfaction with both major parties is reshaping voting behavior.
Key Takeaways
- Independent identification is at a record high. A recent Gallup poll found that 45% of American voters identify as independents, the highest share since Gallup began tracking the data in 1988.
- Gen Z is especially likely to reject party labels. More than half of Gen Z respondents in the poll—56%—said they identify as independent.
- Independent does not always mean moderate. Many independents still have strong ideological views and may align closely with one party or movement.
- The appeal is often anti-establishment, not centrist. Young voters may see independence as a way to reject what they view as corrupt, rigid, or unresponsive political institutions.
- Issue-based politics matters more than party loyalty. For many younger voters, especially Gen Z, the economy is the biggest concern, but their politics are also shaped by climate, immigration, racial justice, abortion, school shootings, and online political culture.
Why Gen Z Is Driving the Shift
A generation shaped by instability
Elena Moore explains that Gen Z grew up in a world marked by:
- the Great Recession
- ongoing economic uncertainty
- Trump-era politics as their first real adult political context
- school shootings and broader political violence
- the COVID-19 pandemic
- constant exposure to politics through the internet and social media
Because of that, many young voters have low trust in government and a stronger tendency to evaluate candidates by issues and identity rather than party affiliation.
Independence as a political identity
The episode emphasizes that many Gen Z independents are not necessarily seeking a third party. Instead, they often want to be seen as outside the corruption or limitations of both Democrats and Republicans.
Historical Context: Independence Isn’t New
Dr. Omar Ali argues that independent political energy has long driven American democracy.
Historical examples discussed
- The American Revolution as an early spirit of independence
- Populist and agrarian movements in the late 19th century
- Black political organizing outside the two-party mainstream
- The civil rights movement, which forced the major parties to respond
- More recent movement politics such as Black Lives Matter
His core argument: independent voters and movement-based politics have often been the forces that push American politics forward, even when they don’t fit neatly into party structures.
Independence, Polarization, and the Two-Party System
The conversation pushes back against the idea that independents are just “undecided moderates.”
Main points
- Polarization can push people away from parties, rather than pull them deeper into them.
- Some “independents” support figures like Trump or Bernie Sanders because those politicians feel like blunt tools for expressing dissatisfaction.
- The U.S. political system heavily favors the two major parties through:
- ballot access rules
- closed primaries
- debate access
- campaign funding structures
Ali describes this as a system that is, in practice, hard for outsiders to challenge.
What This Could Mean for the Midterms
Potential political impact
- Gen Z and millennials will become a larger share of the electorate
- Candidates may need to speak more directly to issue-based, anti-establishment voters
- Politicians who openly criticize both parties or traditional politics may have an advantage with independents
- Independents may continue to reshape coalitions, even if they do not produce a strong third party movement
But the structure may not change quickly
Moore suggests that while young voters may think differently about politics, they still operate within a system built around the two-party model. The likely near-term outcome is not a dramatic collapse of the party system, but rather that more voters will maneuver within it differently.
Bottom Line
The episode argues that the rise of independents—especially among Gen Z—is less about moderation and more about frustration, distrust, and a desire for political alternatives. Young voters are not simply leaving politics; many are looking for new ways to participate, organize, and express themselves outside the traditional Democratic-Republican binary.
Notable Insight
“It’s a logical response to become more independent in light of the fact that the two major parties are failing the American people.”
This captures the episode’s central thesis: independence is increasingly a reaction to perceived failure, not apathy.