Republicans hold slight edge over Democrats in party preferences: poll

For the first time in more than three decades, a higher percentage of Americans are identifying as Republicans or saying that they are GOP-leaning than those who are saying they are Democrats or leaning toward the Democratic Party, according to a new poll. 

While 44% of Americans say they are Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents, 45% of Americans said they lean toward the GOP, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday.

Since 1992, with the exception of three years when the two parties were tied, more Americans have said they align with Democrats than Republicans until the latest survey. The last time more people said they lean toward the GOP over the Democratic Party was in 1991 at 48% to 44%. 

The poll of 10,736 U.S. adults was conducted in 2022 from January through December with a margin of error of 1%.