Majority of Americans see need for a third major political party

A majority of American adults believe that a third party is needed in the nation's political landscape.

According to a Jan. 21-Feb 2 Gallup poll, when asked whether "the Republican and Democratic parties do an adequate job of representing the American people" or if the those two parties "do such a poor job that a third major party is needed," 62% of U.S. adults feel that a third party is needed. That marks the highest percentage ever in the years the organization has tracked sentiment on the issue and it represents an upward shift from 57% in September. A much smaller 33% in the latest poll thought that the two top political parties adequately represent Americans.

While 70% of Independents believe the nation needs a third party, a whopping 63% of Republicans feel that way, while just 46% of Democrats hold that view. Republicans have swung significantly since September when only 40% wanted a third party, while Democrats have decreased from 52%.

When Gallup initially posed the question in 2003 about the need for a third party, "most Americans did not think it was necessary, with 56% saying the parties were doing an adequate job representing the American people and 40% saying a third party was needed," according to Gallup. But polls have for some time now consistently indicated that a majority of Americans believe there's a need for a third major political party.