General Discussion

seaglass

(8,185 posts)

36. I am an unenrolled voter (unaffiliated) who is loyal to the Democratic Party.

Thu Aug 30, 2018, 09:29 AM

Aug 2018

I don't really see a need to join. I vote for D candidates only, donate to D candidates only. I am in a semi-open primary state (MA) where unenrolled voters (the majority) can vote in either a D or R primary while registered Ds and Rs can only vote in their own primary. If the primaries were closed I would register as a Democrat.

Candidates know which primary ballot I pull and I am listed as a Democratic voter. I get email/mailings from the DNC and Democratic candidates. Certainly we are past the days when candidates build their lists solely off of voter registrations.

I'm not a millennial. My daughter who is a millennial is registered as a Democrat.

I'm not worried about this, analysis of voting patterns have been done repeatedly and the % of actual non-partisan, swing voters is around 10%. Have not seen any new analysis that changes this info.

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Serious question (not trying to bait anyone). What do you make of the rise of Independents? [View all] Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 OP

Well it's problematic in some ways and positive in other ways el_bryanto Aug 2018 #1

I would argue that the bigger issue is that it inforces polarization mythology Aug 2018 #16

I would say it's the other way around. JayhawkSD Aug 2018 #58

I might agree except, for the last century or so, that's how it has worked rpannier Aug 2018 #87

No, they create the extreme candidates. JayhawkSD Aug 2018 #98

Most so-called independents are highly partisan, and independents who support Democrats... Garrett78 Aug 2018 #90

I used to say I was an independent.... dawg day Aug 2018 #27

You're not alone. That's a big reason why people call themselves "independent." Garrett78 Aug 2018 #91

It's not that they seen no difference between parties marylandblue Aug 2018 #2

Of course it goes beyond that as well. If non voter was a candidate in 2016, non voter would... Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #6

They don't want to commit but they sure want to vote in primaries to pick the candidates. brush Aug 2018 #39

democratically voting on candidates is a bad thing? who knew? shanny Aug 2018 #70

Who knew allowing repugs to vote on who Democratic candidates are was a good thing? brush Aug 2018 #83

That would describe me. JayhawkSD Aug 2018 #59

Most of them align very strongly with one party or the other. But they also tend to be... Garrett78 Aug 2018 #92

Cowards. honest.abe Aug 2018 #3

Most of them have very much picked a side. Garrett78 Aug 2018 #93

Its the "admitting" part that makes them cowards. honest.abe Aug 2018 #97

Exactly. nt SunSeeker Aug 2018 #106

Rise of independents or simply a whole NoMoreRepugs Aug 2018 #4

I understand apathy. Don't respect it but I undrstand it. Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #13

We have automatic registration in OR marlakay Aug 2018 #43

I'm thinking its the people mostly uninspired by the parties. nt shanny Aug 2018 #71

Republicans who are ashamed of being Republican. C_U_L8R Aug 2018 #5

Repubs ashamed of Trump Funtatlaguy Aug 2018 #7

My right wing brother in law takes offense when you call him a republican. He's an Independent! Cousin Dupree Aug 2018 #12

"I'm no Republican, I'm a Conservative!" Mariana Aug 2018 #78

They still don't want to pay taxes for the common good C_U_L8R Aug 2018 #21

By and large Cosmocat Aug 2018 #49

And Democrats embarassed to be known as Democrats LiberalLovinLug Aug 2018 #101

I think it is similar to millenial females supporting equal rights but denying support for "feminism hlthe2b Aug 2018 #8

It says to me that they are not happy shanny Aug 2018 #9

They are ashamed of both parties MaryMagdaline Aug 2018 #10

One thing that I have been told by young people that I know is that Autumn Aug 2018 #11

This is the feedback I find most worrisome n/t Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #15

and there you have it nt shanny Aug 2018 #72

*Is there* a rise of Independents? Recursion Aug 2018 #14

The 21st century is still rather "young". 40% is historically high Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #17

Because consumerism has taken over democracy. People look at voting as an act of self-expression. Recursion Aug 2018 #24

very good analysis +++++++ JHan Aug 2018 #44

Your spot on ZeroSomeBrains Aug 2018 #68

I find the Rank Choice Voting method of selecting candidates interesting. Keeping an eye on Maine. Snotcicles Aug 2018 #18

I like it. shanny Aug 2018 #73

It's something we need to be aware of and seriously take into account. RDANGELO Aug 2018 #19

Propaganda from both parties is working and this trend will continue with the 24 hr news cycle... NCTraveler Aug 2018 #20

Yep OriginalGeek Aug 2018 #37

The right wing propoganda has been three pronged my entire adult life Cosmocat Aug 2018 #50

"...a socialist party that want (sic) everything for free and supports violent groups like ANTIFA." shanny Aug 2018 #74

I'm pretty sure you misread something. Nt NCTraveler Aug 2018 #75

My apologies. nt shanny Aug 2018 #76

No problem at all. NCTraveler Aug 2018 #77

The term "Independent" doesn't embrace any ideology, it only rejects. Towlie Aug 2018 #22

they're strange to me. JHan Aug 2018 #23

Thanks for those specific insights Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #25

I've never felt unwelcome but I agree that there's always room for improvement. JHan Aug 2018 #35

Exactly! It's a vanity label. A way to say "look at me" and to suggest to others... NurseJackie Aug 2018 #26

Vanity yes but more accurately I think, consumerization of politics. JHan Aug 2018 #30

Proud grandmother of a 19 yr old Democrat. secondwind Aug 2018 #28

I Suppose It Depends On How You Define Independent ProfessorGAC Aug 2018 #29

The research indicates there are very few true swingers DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2018 #31

Yup! IF they vote. Many don't every election. KPN Aug 2018 #66

What do I make of an increase in the number of independents? To me it suggests that the Nitram Aug 2018 #32

I've known several, and they're a mixed bag. moriah Aug 2018 #33

Thanks for writing such a detalled survey summary Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #46

"Vote Republican when we need a war won"? PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2018 #80

He had some interesting opinions about WWII from being stateside during it. moriah Aug 2018 #82

Fwiw, a Democrat was President shanny Aug 2018 #94

I am technically Independent. I vote in Democratic Primaries and other elections Freethinker65 Aug 2018 #34

I am an unenrolled voter (unaffiliated) who is loyal to the Democratic Party. seaglass Aug 2018 #36

Honestly, I think both parties failed them in some way. Oneironaut Aug 2018 #38

There is no such thing as an "Independent" voter leftofcool Aug 2018 #40

To me, Independent" Turbineguy Aug 2018 #41

LOL @ Agnostics. Iggo Aug 2018 #42

Dissatisfaction with the duopoly? moondust Aug 2018 #45

Thanks to all who shared opinions on this here Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #47

"Most independents are just partisans who are turned off by partisanship." Garrett78 Aug 2018 #48

I hear this. BlueWI Sep 2018 #107

Some poeple will state they they believe that both major parties are the same. guillaumeb Aug 2018 #51

I agree. That's exactly what I hear from folks who say they are Independent. They don't trust KPN Aug 2018 #67

My own feeling is that those who say that both aprties are the same... guillaumeb Aug 2018 #79

Yeah, that's kind of a "duh!" for me. At the same time, KPN Aug 2018 #85

I think the older ones are ashamed to say they are Republicans & the younger ones don't know enough Hekate Aug 2018 #52

are independents less likely to participate in primaries? AlexSFCA Aug 2018 #53

Ind is a pitstop for those on the road to switching parties DeminPennswoods Aug 2018 #54

That's what it was for me. Republican to Independent, then Democrat. SharonAnn Aug 2018 #104

For me as well DeminPennswoods Aug 2018 #105

In Many Ways It's Another Manifestation of "Bothsiderism" dlk Aug 2018 #55

I do it hoping to get solicitations from the GOP Chakaconcarne Aug 2018 #56

I'm not sure that's the right question leftstreet Aug 2018 #57

From and ex-Dem SeloverB Aug 2018 #60

Honest answer. Now some honest questions: why are you still here at DU? why have you KPN Aug 2018 #65

It's a question with an economic answer bucolic_frolic Aug 2018 #61

Because Americans are obsessed with individualism. betsuni Aug 2018 #62

Republican Party is unpopular but Democratic Party is not particularly popular Awsi Dooger Aug 2018 #63

It's inevitable, as the 2 major parties move to their respective more extreme corners. Honeycombe8 Aug 2018 #64

Shame recentevents Aug 2018 #69

Party registration doesn't really tell you much. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2018 #81

Lots of people abandoning the GOP RainCaster Aug 2018 #84

Party affiliation is holding pretty darn steady actually. Garrett78 Aug 2018 #86

The Republicans are repellant to all but 30% or so autorank Aug 2018 #88

The first half of my 78 years I was a non-voter. OxQQme Aug 2018 #89

This is a great thread, thank you SkyDancer Aug 2018 #95

I think it's people voting their values and not labels. Vinca Aug 2018 #96

The percentage of independents has held pretty steady and the incumbent re-election... Garrett78 Aug 2018 #102

I'm an independent Answerman Aug 2018 #99

Can't admit that Dems have the good ideas SMoss Aug 2018 #100

I can't answer for all, I just know of one example. bluescribbler Aug 2018 #103

Younger people have less interest in politics, IMO. Progressive dog Sep 2018 #108

serious indeed! bigbadR Sep 2018 #109

I think youre seeing a problem where none exists - many states like mine dont require registration Kashkakat v.2.0 Sep 2018 #110