44% Unaffiliated. The shift is real.

Which political party do you most affiliate with?

This question was asked recently in a national poll conducted by CNN and reported by the American Enterprise Institute—and the results were striking. Forty-four percent of voters identified as Independents, compared to 28% who identified as Republicans, and 27% as Democrats. This echoes a 2024 Gallup Poll, where the results were nearly identical.

Almost half of American voters do not see themselves represented in either of the nation’s two major political parties.

This past week, members of our team met with thousands of elected officials who carry, not the label of a political party, but the label of a problem solver. The National League of Cities annual City Summit held in Salt Lake City last week brought together 3,500 municipal leaders—mayors, city council members, city officials, and more—all gathered to learn how to better serve their local communities.

In over 75% of municipal elections across the country these offices are non-partisan: no label or party affiliation appears next to these candidates on the ballot, and primary elections are not exclusive to partisan groups. Community members cast their votes for problem solvers, not partisans. This is grassroots American government, where the rubber meets the road—both figuratively and literally! Some of the topics covered at the summit included local solutions to homelessness, transportation, public safety, affordable housing, youth service and leadership, economic development, data literacy, AI, military communities, volunteerism, and much more.

These are the types of local issues and priorities referred to by legendary Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill when he coined the term, “all politics is local.” His book by the same title was full of lessons learned while working in national politics, and contained what he called the fundamentals, like “Today’s adversary may be tomorrow’s ally,” and “Your word is everything,” along with reminders of the importance of ensuring that American’s needs were met at the most local level, in cities and towns.

Unfortunately, the days when “all politics is local” are nearly gone, with national politics wielding an outsized influence on local politics. The problem-solving role of local government officials and professionals has become threatened by the contempt in our public discourse, which can increase division among elected and appointed officials and the general public.

That’s why it was energizing to be in a convention hall full of community leaders, learning how to better serve their constituents. It was thrilling to see the hall of 3,500 attendees rise to their feet to applaud Tim’s inspiring keynote address—both a message of dignity and call to action. It was refreshing to hear the enthusiasm in my own breakout session as participants who were just learning about the Dignity Index quickly picked up on its relevance and application to their work.

But my favorite moment of the day came when I shared with the 200 leaders in my breakout a “nonpartisan experience” I’d had earlier in the week. During my presentations, I often display our family photo, with the various political labels carried by my family members, and share that I am a “moderate Republican” and my husband, Aaron, is a “very conservative Republican.” But that day I explained to the group, “There’s been a shift in our family.” I then shared a conversation I’d had with my husband earlier in the week.

Knowing that I was preparing for my next presentation, Aaron asked me to change his political label on our family slide, from "conservative Republican" to "unaffiliated fiscal conservative." At first, he said "unaffiliated conservative," but he wanted to signal that he was aligning with fiscal policies that were conservative, not with the label “conservative” in general, which we both feel has lost its meaning. So he added “fiscal” to the label. Then Aaron said, “I may land on just "unaffiliated."

I was completely caught off guard. "This is big news,” I said. “What's changed?" He said he was sick of the contempt; sick of both parties always blaming and creating enemies and stoking outrage. “I’m tired of being manipulated,” he said. “Label me as unaffiliated.”

I was surprised at how much Aaron’s story resonated with this audience. They cheered in solidarity. 

This is politics at its best: holding onto your principles and values, challenging contempt when you hear it, changing your mind when you feel compelled to, treating others with dignity, and “unaffiliating” from outrage politics. 

We may not be able to change the national discourse overnight, but we can affirm the work being done at the local level. I’m going to take a minute today and email my mayor and city council representative, thanking them for their service. Will you join me in doing the same—thanking someone you’re grateful for who is choosing problem-solving over partisanship.

Tami

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A Message For You

As we approach Thanksgiving, we pause to reflect on the core values that bring us all together. For us, this holiday is a powerful reminder of the dignity inherent in every person and the profound power of community.

We are deeply grateful for your readership and for being a part of this important conversation. Your engagement is what drives our mission forward. ❤️

May your day be filled with peace, delicious food, and the warmth of connection. We look forward to continuing the journey with you next week.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Dignity Index!

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Dignity in Action

On the last day of the National League of Cities summit, Tami, Preston, and Alexa led 200 municipals in a workshop on the Dignity Index. They scored passages, held lively discussions, and practiced applying the Index to some of the challenges they face in their work. So much energy in the room with this dedicated group of public servants!

Tim joined 3,500 municipal leaders at the National League of Cities annual City Summit held in Salt Lake City last week, offering a keynote to a very appreciative audience! Tim was introduced by President Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah, who set the stage for the keynote by emphasizing the role of dignity in our public discourse. Tim’s participation in this event was coordinated as part of his engagement as an Impact Scholar with the University.

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Dignity Community Fund

We’re launching the Dignity Community Fund this Giving Tuesday, December 2! 🎉

Becoming a founding member helps keep our core programs strong- like Dignity Daily, The Dignity Community Group, Summit scholarships, and the toolkits and webinars people rely on to bring more dignity and less contempt into their communities.

Memberships start at just $50/year (or $5/month). Every member receives access to quarterly leadership webinars and an annual impact report showing exactly what you made possible.

Dignity grows when people practice it. Help us make that practice accessible to thousands.

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Want to see dignity in action? The Dignity Community is a space to connect with others, share your stories, and learn how dignity can reshape our everyday interactions.

Click here to join!