Donald Trump Is Causing A Surge In Democratic Party Affiliation
Elections have consequences, the old adages goes. And it seems one of the consequences of the election of Donald Trump is to drive the American people toward the Democratic party.
According to a new Gallup poll, Democrats lead Republicans by 7 points in party affiliation which is a two-year high.
The survey found that 45 percent of respondents in the survey said they identify as Democrats or lean toward the Democratic Party. That compares to 38 percent who said they identify or lean Republican.
Gallup
Republican Affiliation Is Plummeting
The poll found that Republican Party affiliation has dropped 4 percentage points since the election in November, while Democratic Party affiliation has increased by 1 percentage point.
The amount of Americans who do not identify with either party has increased by 3 percentage points.
“President Donald Trump’s unpopularity is likely a factor in the Republican Party’s falling fortunes. The president’s job approval rating generally has held near 40% since February — well below average for presidents historically, and especially for those in their first few months in office,” Gallup noted.
Gallup also notes that the last time the spread in party identification was so large was the first month of Barack Obama’s presidency.
“If Democrats can maintain a significant advantage in Americans’ party preference over the next 17 months, it would serve them well in the 2018 midterm elections,” according to Gallup.
About the poll: The Gallup poll was conducted from May 1-31 via telephone, surveying 15,219 individuals across the country. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point.
