Shawn Griffiths
Over the last week, The Independent Center released the second and third installments to its 2025 State of the Union Poll, one of which compared and contrasted the views of independent voters and Republicans and the other compared independents and Democrats.
It is not a surprise that Democrats and Republicans view the current state of politics differently. However, when all 3 voting blocs are considered, it is clear they all want to see the Trump administration and Congress focus on the economy.
And most voters, regardless of party affiliation, want to see success through bipartisan cooperation.
SEE THE FIRST INSTALLMENT: National Poll: Most Independent Voters Want Trump to Reach Across the Aisle
The Desire for Cooperation Exists Across Partisan Lines
It doesn't matter if survey takers talked to Republicans, Democrats, or independents; voters were more likely to say they wanted to see success from the Trump administration come from bipartisan cooperation than partisan success or failure.
In the second installment to its poll, The Independent Center found that 83% of Republicans wanted to see Trump work across the aisle and find success through a bipartisan approach. This compares to 58% of independent voters who said the same.
Meanwhile, a plurality of Democrats (46%) said they want to see Trump succeed by working across the aisle, and about the same percentages of Democrats and independents said they want to see successful bipartisan cooperation in Congress.
However, the poll also illustrates how the current system has entrenched a minority of party hardliners who want to see the "other side" fail, even if they reach across the aisle. Nearly a third of Democrats said they'd prefer to see a bipartisan approach fail under Trump.
Voters Want Trump and Congress to Focus on Economic Solutions for Everyday Americans
The biggest sentiment that unites American voters at this moment in time is they want to see the president and Congress do something to help lower prices for everyday goods and tackle inflation. If there was a mandate given in the 2024 elections, this was it.
"When asked about priorities for the new administration (NA1), both Democrats (81 percent) and independents (78 percent) ranked "Lowering prices/inflation" as "Very/Somewhat important," writes Ethan Nelson for The Independent Center.
87% of Republicans said the same.
Two-thirds of respondents who identified as Democrats and independents also said reducing the deficit and debt was very or somewhat important -- a sentiment shared by 81% of Republicans.
Voters may disagree on specific approaches, but the path to common ground starts with identifying a foundational principle on which to build. Voters will want to know what actions are being taken by Trump and Congress to improve the economy for everybody.
Few People Actually Feel Heard
Failure to prioritize the economy will have consequences in future elections, as we have seen in recent history -- especially among independent voters who ultimately decide presidential elections. However, voters at-large do not feel heard by political leaders in Washington DC.
The Independent Center asked poll respondents if they felt heard by the people elected to represent them. Only 14% of Democrats, 12% of independents, and 32% of Republicans said "yes" -- a growing problem with a divided and gridlocked government.
Voters want to see better from their representatives. Instead, they see politicians who put party loyalty and the need for "their side" to win above the needs and interests of their constituents.
On the whole, the Independent Center found that Republicans (whose party represents the majority in Washington) have an optimistic view of the nation's future over the next year, while a minority of Democrats (17%) and independents (32%) said the same.