UNITED STATES OF DISILLUSIONMENT: New York voters are increasingly rejecting party affiliation — a sign of overall dissatisfaction and disillusionment with government and politics in the state. Over the past four years, the number of voters not affiliated with a part in the state has jumped 12 percent — or 353,792 — to 3.3 million voters with a “blank” party enrollment. The state GOP saw modest gains, with about 70,000 voters joining the party — a 2 percent jump, the New York Post reported Sunday. And enrollment in the Democratic Party dropped four percent statewide during that period. The numbers show a growing population is up for the taking, if either major party can figure out how to win them over. As Democrats undergo an autopsy of their vast national losses, their New York contingent is eyeing potential among new independent voters, while the state’s Republicans say the stats bode well for them in the future.
“You're not going to have the kind of loyalty from Democratic voters that carry the day if we continue like this,” Democratic state party chair Jay Jacobs told Playbook. Of the increasing numbers of unaffiliateds, he added, “I think ignoring it is not a smart move.” The numbers of unaffiliated voters in New York has been rising for years, and the new spike comes as Election Day turnout in the state and city decreased below 2020 and 2016 levels.
At the same time, Republican President-elect Donald Trump gained ground in the five boroughs and around the state last month. “It’s a multiyear trend at this point, and I think it’s only going to continue,” Tim Dunn, executive director of nonpartisan government reform group Unite NY, said of the growing number of independents. “We’ve seen a lot of voter flight, where voters have left New York state, and those that are left are frustrated and they don't want to be part of this farce where they believe that their vote matters.”
In 2020, the Green Party and the Libertarian Party were knocked off the ballot line when then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo said parties need to capture 130,000 votes or 2 percent of the electorate to stay on the ballot. That decision likely also played a role in the increased number of independent voters, Dunn and one Green Party rep told Playbook. But a larger reason could be overall dissatisfaction from voters. This year, Dunn said, 64 percent of voters voted in the presidential election, but nearly 40 percent of voters skipped down-ballot races.
“Voters are angry, frustrated, and they feel like those in office aren't listening, they're not paying attention,” he said. Dunn’s organization also found a majority of voters believe the state is headed in the wrong direction. Both Jacobs and Republican Party Chair Ed Cox agreed the increasing number of independents show New Yorkers are not satisfied. And each is strategizing on how to lure them into their party.
“Just good, straight, common-sense policies,” Cox said. “New York needs to to cut taxes, to cut and refine regulations, to develop all its resources, to make New York once again the most business friendly state in the nation.” Jacobs said Democrats need to focus more on affordability and public safety, and less on “cultural issues.”
“It's a focus on issues that are not at the forefront of what the mainstream of voters are thinking about or are focused on,” Jacobs said, when asked to explain the term. “When we try to fashion terminology or mandate people to use pronouns, I think it's well intentioned, but it just doesn't resonate with voters; It does turn some off.” — Jason Beeferman
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