As of September 2026, the nation counts about 45.3 million registered Democrats, the largest declared party group on US voter rolls. That equals roughly 34.8% of registrants in states that report party affiliation, ahead of 39.1 million registered Republicans and 42.0 million voters with no party.
Democrats in America 2026 – Introduction
The Number of Registered Democrats in the US reached about 45.3 million in September 2026, according to state election records compiled by USAFacts. That count covers only states that record party affiliation on the voter roll. Seventeen states do not, so the real pool of Democratic voters is larger than any registration total shows. Missouri has not released 2026 figures, and Connecticut’s latest data dates to 2025.
Democrats lead on paper, but the picture has layers. 210.0 million Americans are registered to vote, yet only 42% declared a party. Independents and unaffiliated voters now number 42.0 million. Democratic strength looks solid in California and New York. It looks thinner in Florida and North Carolina, where Republicans now hold the registration edge. This report breaks down the numbers by state, share, trend and polling.
Interesting Facts About Registered Democrats in the US 2026
| Fact | 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| Total registered voters (Sept 2026) | 210.0 million |
| Registered Democrats | 45.3 million |
| Registered Republicans | 39.1 million |
| No party, undeclared or independent | 42.0 million |
| Registrants who declared a party | 42% |
| Largest Democratic state by count | California, 10.4 million |
| Highest Democratic share overall | Washington, DC, 76.4% |
| Highest Democratic share among states | Maryland, 51.5% |
| States with no party registration | 17 |
| Gallup Democratic identification, Q2 2026 | 49% (leaners included) |
Source: USAFacts, “How many voters have a party affiliation?” (updated September 29, 2026); Gallup quarterly party identification data, Q2 2026.
The table shows a lead that is real but narrow. Democrats hold 45.3 million registrations against 39.1 million for Republicans, a gap of 6.2 million. The 42.0 million voters with no party sit between the two, and the 42% declaration rate means most Americans still skip the party box. The 210.0 million total is the largest registered pool the country has recorded.
Geography drives the count. California alone holds 10.4 million Democrats. Washington, DC posts the top share at 76.4%, and Maryland leads the states at 51.5%. The 17 states without party registration, from Texas to Michigan, hide millions of Democratic voters from this count. Gallup’s 49% figure fills part of that gap because it measures how people describe themselves, not how they registered.
Number of Registered Democrats in the US 2026 | National Party Registration Breakdown
| Party Group | Registered Voters | Share of Registrants |
|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 45.3 million | 34.8% |
| Independent / no party | 42.0 million | 32.3% |
| Republicans | 39.1 million | 30.0% |
| Minor parties | 3.9 million | 3.0% |
Source: USAFacts, state election official data as of September 2026. Democratic and Republican shares calculated from reported counts.
Democrats hold the largest slice at 34.8%. Independents and unaffiliated voters follow at 32.3%, so the gap between the first and second group is only 2.5 points. Republicans trail at 30.0%. Minor parties account for 3.9 million voters, or 3.0%. The Green Party holds 0.2% and the Libertarian Party 0.4% of voters in states that report them.
Read the shares as a floor for Democrats, not a ceiling. Independent registration keeps rising, and many independents vote reliably for one party. The Democratic share also reflects only states that collect party data. In states such as Arkansas, Massachusetts and Ohio, party-agnostic voters make up 87.0%, 67.1% and 65.7% of the roll, which shrinks the visible Democratic share there.
Registered Democrats by State 2026 | Which States Have the Most Democratic Voters?
| State | Registered Democrats | Democratic Share | Data Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 10.4 million | 44.9% | September 2026 |
| New York | 6.0 million | 47.8% | September 2026 |
| Florida | 4,098,139 | 30.2% | August 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,842,840 | 42.8% | August 2026 |
| North Carolina | 2,317,805 | 29.6% | August 2026 |
Source: USAFacts (September 2026); Florida Department of State, Division of Elections (data as of August 31, 2026); Pennsylvania Department of State (August 10, 2026); North Carolina State Board of Elections via The Center Square (August 2026). Florida and North Carolina shares calculated from official totals.
California and New York hold more Democrats than the next three states combined. California’s 10.4 million make up 44.9% of its 23.2 million registrants, and New York’s 6.0 million reach 47.8%. Both states have deep Democratic roots, large cities and automatic registration systems that add voters at every motor vehicle visit.
The other three rows show how different a mid-sized state can look. Pennsylvania has 3,842,840 Democrats at 42.8%, and Democrats still lead there. Florida has 4,098,139 Democrats, but they make up only 30.2% of 13,580,124 active voters. North Carolina counts 2,317,805 Democrats at 29.6%, just under Republicans. The same national party can hold a clear majority in one state and a minority in the next.
Democratic Share of Registered Voters by State 2026 | Highest and Lowest Percentages
| State | Democratic Share | What the Number Means |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 76.4% | Highest share in the country |
| Maryland | 51.5% | Highest share among states |
| New York | 47.8% | 6.0 million Democrats |
| California | 44.9% | 10.4 million Democrats |
| Pennsylvania | 42.8% | Democratic lead of 207,659 over Republicans |
| Florida | 30.2% | Republican lead of 1,551,271 |
| North Carolina | 29.6% | Republican lead of 9,979 |
Source: USAFacts (September 2026); Pennsylvania Department of State (August 2026); Florida Department of State, Division of Elections (August 2026); North Carolina State Board of Elections via The Center Square (August 2026). Leads calculated from official counts.
Washington, DC sits far above every state at 76.4%. Maryland is the only state where Democrats hold a majority of the roll at 51.5%. New York and California follow at 47.8% and 44.9%, and in both states Democrats outnumber Republicans by wide margins. In California, Republicans hold 25.0% of registrations.
The bottom three rows show competitive terrain. Pennsylvania Democrats lead Republicans by 207,659 voters, down from a lead near 916,000 in 2016. Florida Republicans lead by 1,551,271, a gap that dwarfs any Democratic registration gain. North Carolina is now almost even, with Republicans ahead by just 9,979 voters. A 29.6% Democratic share there reflects a roll where 40% of voters have no party.
Democratic Voter Registration Trends 2026 | Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina
| State | January 2026 | Latest 2026 Reading | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 4,044,077 | 4,098,139 (Aug) | +54,062 |
| Pennsylvania | 3,815,575 | 3,842,840 (Aug) | +27,265 |
| North Carolina | 2,312,990 | 2,317,805 (Aug) | +4,815 |
Source: Florida Department of State, Division of Elections (monthly reports); Pennsylvania Department of State via PoliticsPA and Wikipedia summary (August 2026); North Carolina State Board of Elections via Qnotes Carolinas and The Center Square (2026).
All three states gained Democrats during 2026. Florida added 54,062, the biggest jump, and its Democratic count rose 31,636 in August alone. Pennsylvania added 27,265 between January and August. North Carolina added only 4,815, and Republicans there passed Democrats for the first time in state history in early January. Republicans in the state also grew, so the net Democratic gain did not close the gap.
The raw gains look small beside the rolls. Florida’s 54,062 is under 1.4% of its Democratic base. The bigger story is who grows fastest: unaffiliated voters. North Carolina’s unaffiliated bloc reached 3,129,789, or about 40% of the roll. That pool matters in the open Senate contest covered in the report on US Senate statistics, where North Carolina ranks among the closest races.
Democratic Party Identification 2026 | Gallup Poll Numbers for Democrats and Independents
| Measure | Reading |
|---|---|
| Democrats and Democratic leaners, Q2 2026 | 49% |
| Republicans and Republican leaners, Q2 2026 | 39% |
| Gap including leaners | 10 points |
| Gap excluding leaners, Q2 2026 | 6 points |
| Gap excluding leaners, Q1 2026 | 5 points |
| Independents calling themselves moderate (2025) | 47% |
| Democrats calling themselves moderate (2025) | About 3 in 10 |
| Republicans calling themselves moderate (2025) | About 2 in 10 |
Source: Gallup party identification surveys, Q1 and Q2 2026, and Gallup’s 2025 annual party affiliation review, as reported by Newsweek and the Associated Press.
Gallup measures how Americans describe themselves, not how they registered. In the second quarter of 2026, 49% identified as Democrats or leaned Democratic, against 39% for Republicans. That is a 10-point gap with leaners. Among straight identifiers the edge is 6 points in Q2, up from 5 points in Q1, and Newsweek calls it the largest Democratic advantage since 2015.
The moderate figures explain why independents matter. Nearly half of independents, 47%, call themselves moderate, compared with about 3 in 10 Democrats and about 2 in 10 Republicans. Both parties have grown more ideologically uniform, while independents have gravitated toward Democrats over the past year. How that shift plays out is tracked in the report on US midterm election statistics, which covers the November 3 contests.
States Without Party Registration 2026 | Why the Democratic Voter Count Is Incomplete
| Category | Count or Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| States with no party registration | 17 | AL, GA, HI, IL, IN, MI, MN, MS, MT, ND, SC, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI |
| States with no 2026 party data | 1 | Missouri has not released figures |
| States using older data | 1 | Connecticut, latest figures from 2025 |
| Eligible voters, North Dakota | 600,394 | State estimate for the 2026 primary; no registration required |
| Highest registration rate | 83.6% | Minnesota |
| Lowest registration rate | 64.7% | Arkansas |
Source: USAFacts (September 2026); US Census Bureau, Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2024; North Dakota Secretary of State.
The 17 states in the first row include Texas, Georgia, Michigan, Virginia and Wisconsin, all large and politically important. Voters there never state a party, so no official count of Democrats exists. Missouri and Connecticut add smaller gaps. North Dakota requires no registration at all, so only an estimate of 600,394 eligible voters exists for the 2026 primary.
The registration rates show how complete each roll is. Minnesota leads at 83.6% and Arkansas trails at 64.7%, a spread of nearly 19 points. Rules shape those rates, and so does the national debate over proof-of-citizenship laws tracked in the report on SAVE America Act statistics. Any change to registration rules would alter who joins the rolls, and with them the number of registered Democrats in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions About Registered Democrats in the US 2026
How many registered Democrats are there in the US in 2026?
About 45.3 million voters are registered as Democrats as of September 2026, based on USAFacts compilations of state election data. That figure covers states that record party affiliation.
How many registered Republicans are there in 2026?
Republicans total about 39.1 million in the same states. Democrats lead by roughly 6.2 million registrations.
Which state has the most registered Democrats in 2026?
California leads with about 10.4 million registered Democrats, or 44.9% of its 23.2 million voters. New York is second with 6.0 million.
Which state has the highest percentage of Democrats in 2026?
Washington, DC has the highest share at 76.4%. Maryland is highest among states at 51.5%, followed by New York at 47.8%.
Which states do not register voters by party in 2026?
Seventeen states: Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. North Dakota also has no voter registration.
How many Americans are registered to vote in 2026?
About 210.0 million Americans are registered as of September 2026. That is nearly 8 in 10 US residents aged 18 or older.
What share of registered voters declared a party in 2026?
Only 42% of registered voters declared a party. Independents and unaffiliated voters total 42.0 million, or 32.3% of registrants in reporting states.
Do Democrats outnumber Republicans in Florida in 2026?
No. Florida had 5,649,410 active Republicans and 4,098,139 active Democrats as of August 31, 2026. Republicans lead by 1,551,271.
Do Democrats outnumber Republicans in Pennsylvania in 2026?
Yes, narrowly. Pennsylvania counted 3,842,840 Democrats and 3,635,181 Republicans in August 2026, a Democratic lead of 207,659.
Do Democrats outnumber Republicans in North Carolina in 2026?
No. Republicans passed Democrats in early January 2026 and still hold a lead of 9,979 voters. Unaffiliated voters make up about 40% of the roll.
What percentage of Americans identify as Democrats in 2026?
Gallup’s second-quarter 2026 survey found 49% of Americans identify as Democrats or lean Democratic, compared with 39% for Republicans and leaners.
Does party registration predict election results in 2026?
Not on its own. Many Southern voters stay registered as Democrats yet vote Republican, and many independents lean one way. Registration is one signal. Polling and turnout add the rest.
Where does the data on registered Democrats come from in 2026?
Counts come from state secretaries of state and election boards. USAFacts compiles them, and Gallup supplies survey-based party identification. Most states report active voters, and definitions of active vary by state.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.