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Fiendish Thingy

(24,186 posts)

21. Nationwide, independents are something like 40% of the electorate

Reply to everyonematters (Reply #20)

Wed May 20, 2026, 05:00 PM

May 20

Say 7-8% of independents are true swing voters- that’s still several million, easily enough to sway results in purple states, both in midterms and presidential election years.

But what we have seen in the past year is republicans voting for democrats in deep red areas, not swing voters in swing districts.

Not a majority to be sure, but a significant enough number to give the democratic candidates victory.

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Why the Democrats should join forces with the "Independents"? [View all] kentuck May 20 OP

I think of independents as maga who lack courage. NewHendoLib May 20 #1

I know several Independents The Madcap May 20 #10

In my experience Miguelito Loveless May 20 #2

Does that mean that only 3 out of 10 voters identify as "Democrat"? kentuck May 20 #3

About par for the course Miguelito Loveless May 20 #7

Party of too many People "not like me." Frasier Balzov May 20 #14

In all the strife, the benefits of the Constitution are lost bucolic_frolic May 20 #4

Ideology means nothing in a dictatorship. gab13by13 May 20 #6

The way to get a bigger party gab13by13 May 20 #5

I can remember when our Party had "conservative" Democrats... kentuck May 20 #8

Thoughts Bobstandard May 20 #9

This in no way would interfere with Democrats running in their primaries... kentuck May 20 #11

This is backwards SocialDemocrat61 May 20 #12

I don't think it can be a one-way street. kentuck May 20 #13

Where? SocialDemocrat61 May 20 #16

Do not confuse independents with moderates or centrists Fiendish Thingy May 20 #15

They do lean one way or the other, but they way they lean can depend on how they are thinking everyonematters May 20 #17

Do not conflate swing voters with all independents Fiendish Thingy May 20 #19

That can't be true. It that was true, then there wouldn't be swings between the elections like we are seeing. everyonematters May 20 #20

Nationwide, independents are something like 40% of the electorate Fiendish Thingy May 20 #21

Why are we overperforming in special elections right now? It is because we are winning the independents. everyonematters May 20 #18

I don't know what that means, practically speaking. GoodRaisin May 20 #22