Many Americans feel represented by the two major parties, but a sizable share wish they had other choices | Pew Research Center

September 15, 2023

9. How well the major parties represent Americans, the public’s feelings about more political parties

Many Americans feel represented by the two major parties, but a sizable share wish they had other choices

Many Americans feel represented by the two major parties, but a sizable share wish they had other choices

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Many Americans feel represented by the two major parties, but a sizable share wish they had other choices

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9. How well the major parties represent Americans, the public’s feelings about more political parties
Many Americans feel represented by the two major parties, but a sizable share wish they had other choices
Younger and less politically engaged Americans are less likely to see big differences between the parties
Strong partisans are most likely to see big differences between the two parties
Most partisans feel well-represented by their own party; people who lean toward parties are less likely to say this
About a quarter of Americans say neither political party represents them well
3 in 10 Americans under age 50 say neither major political party represents them well
Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say they would like to see additional political parties
In both party coalitions, those under age 50 are more likely than older people to wish for more political parties
Only 26% of adults say having more political parties would make solving the nation’s problems easier
Majority of the public says it is unlikely an independent candidate will win the presidency in the next 25 years
The 25% of Americans who feel unrepresented by either party are far more negative about the political system, elected officials and the impact of their vote
Americans who feel unrepresented by the parties have more negative views of Congress, the Supreme Court and many political leaders