The Forgotten Middle
How political alienation is hitting moderate voters.
By Brandon Crivillaro
The Vagrant Pragmatists
Political contention in the United States is almost exclusively viewed through the lens of red versus blue. Bolstered by the ideological entrenchment of our two parties, countless Americans who hunger for pragmatic and sensible leadership are left politically homeless. According to a 2024 Gallup poll, a staggering 43% of Americans self-identify as Independents. This number absolutely dwarfs the 27% who identify as Democrats and the 27% who identify as Republicans.
Despite making up the largest percentage of voters, Independents are left without a brand or movement to rally behind. The invigorating and energizing political activity is found solely in the extremist bodies of our political system. Radical agendas backed by self-interested “representatives” in our government are eroding our nation’s integrity, not only devolving it into one governed by whoever can write the biggest check, but also into one governed by the least qualified. Meanwhile, the average American seeking reasonable solutions to the pressing issues we face as a nation is often left cynical regarding their faith in politicians unwilling to partake in cross-aisle compromise. Our two-party system has become so ideologically entrenched that bipartisan cooperation and pragmatism are seemingly invisible, leaving Independents and moderates without a voice.
Entrenchment of the Two Parties
Since Donald Trump’s dark-horse victory in the 2016 Presidential Election, personal slander and blind party allegiance have become commonplace in the United States. Both sides throw political violence and democratic doomsday allegations against the other, which the public has clearly grown tired of. In 2016, Donald Trump branded himself as the common man. Despite his billions, his rhetoric and verbiage resembled that of the average American, not that of the traditional, refined politician in our country. Some saw it as refreshing, but it was undeniably effective in the quick debate format that farmed ‘gotcha’ clips for campaigning.
Long-form debate based on policy issues can no longer be found in the same way we saw in past elections. Emotional buzzwords and demonizing candidates have replaced that, only furthering the already partisan political system in our country. Mainstream media has fueled this divide in unprecedented ways. It is now common knowledge that the most popular news stations are politically biased and filled with propaganda. Independent journalism is a dying breed, fighting to stay alive as multi-billion-dollar corporations continue to reign supreme.
The political divide in this country is at a record high. As many as 80% of voters say our country is greatly divided on our most important issues. The label of ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative’ being slapped on someone today seems to have the same effect that ‘communist’ did in the 1950s. Our social media algorithms bombard us with like-minded content that doesn’t challenge our perspective and creates personal echo chambers. Our nation’s politicians should be setting the example, not fueling the fire. If you can have a civil conversation with your coworker or colleague, maybe even agree on fundamental key values or issues, why can’t the career public servants we entrust with our nation do the same?
The Isolation of Moderate Voters
Despite how the media portrays the divide in this country, the majority of Americans do not fit neatly into either political party. Those who fall towards the moderate ends of the parties, or who are entirely between them, are often left without prominent representation, unlike the extreme right and left. Compromise doesn’t get clicks, so it doesn’t get coverage. Closed primaries that result in the extremes of both sides produce what we too commonly see as having to pick the ‘lesser of two evils’. This speaks to the true sentiment of the majority of Americans who lack representation on the most influential stages. You will find bipartisanship in the House, sometimes even the Senate, but the media doesn’t promote it, and neither does party leadership. CNN and Fox News would rather spend time creating “expert” panels that sow division and spread propaganda, while Democratic and Republican party leadership whip anyone seeking to caucus with opposing party members back toward the party line. Bipartisan compromise is not defeat or a surrender of your values; it’s a necessity to function in a democratic society.
Unfortunately, the power and influence in our current two-party system reside almost exclusively in those two parties. Closed primaries are often dominated by the most active and extreme voters of that party, in turn producing the most extreme politician as the nominee. By the time independents get the chance to vote, the results are already polarized, leaving them to pick the lesser of two evils in the general election. Issues such as closed primaries, combined with others like gerrymandering, produce enormous systemic barriers for independent or moderate candidates to gain influence and win elections. Even if they win the uphill battle of getting elected, they now lack the structural caucuses and party machinery that enable Democrats and Republicans to sustain their influence.
Political organizations and media outlets often view independents as unpredictable, which they find unappealing to audiences and donors. Few are dedicated to representing pragmatism and bipartisanship that would benefit our country. Without organized representation, momentum can’t build fast and consistently enough to compete with the two parties that currently and historically have dominated politics.
Moderates and independents make up a large share of polling data but lack the institutional support to make a visible impact. Extremism consistently has a brand in politics, whereas pragmatic moderate policies do not. This large electorate is just as fired up as the extremist wings of the left and right are, but there is no organized outlet for support and opportunity. Similar to how Republicans have embraced ‘Make America Great Again’, there is no rallying cry for the politically homeless moderates. What often results is disillusioned, nihilistic, and cynical voters who lack representation in our system.
When voters feel neither party represents their best interests and systemic barriers obstruct the representatives they resonate with, they disengage from politics entirely. Furthermore, when all the average American sees on the news or social media is how hostile and partisan our government representatives are, it continues to push them away. With fewer moderates engaging in politics and making their voice heard, a vacuum forms that political extremists capitalize on. A lack of visible moderate leadership and low voter turnout among moderates only continues to make the parties more extreme, creating a self-reinforcing loop that further isolates the center.
The consequence is the political system we find ourselves in now. Gridlock has replaced governance, and bipartisan cooperation is punished instead of rewarded. When this is all the public sees come out of politics, cynicism and democratic fatigue worsen. A democracy with unbalanced representation and a frustrated, isolated majority should be cause for concern for anyone moderately paying attention.
Extremism Has a Brand, Pragmatism Does Not
Whether you agree or disagree with the recent populist rise of Trump’s “conservatism” in America, what you cannot discredit is the marketing ability to garner such a passionate supporter base. The crafting of a patriotic and effective slogan in ‘Make America Great Again,’ combined with divisive policies that evoke strong emotion, enabled the Republican Party to fuel outrage and establish a powerful movement behind the Right. Though the Democratic Party has attempted to replicate this formula, choosing unpopular liberal policies as the hill to die on has prevented them from being competitive in recent elections. Emotional outrage, whether on the right or left, is way more effective at fueling attention, donations, and nationwide visibility. Pragmatism and compromise lack the emotional appeal that divisive all-or-nothing policies like gun control, abortion, or transgender rights have. What results is all the issues affecting average Americans getting swept under the rug and ignored, later to be exploited by massive corporations lobbying for self-interested change.
Without a comparable political infrastructure to the right and left, moderate politicians struggle to gain traction and media visibility. Pragmatic and moderate solutions don’t often generate the same grassroots enthusiasm to make it onto protest signs, but they should. These values are necessary for effective governance in a democracy, regardless of whether it may seem ‘boring’ in comparison. The majority of Americans already embrace them, but they need to be rallied under a movement to enact real change. A reasonable and charismatic leader who can garner enough support among moderates in our current political system could accomplish this task. Unfortunately, those leaders who have been able to evoke an emotional response from voters only seem to be found in the extremist ends of our two major parties. For a movement seeking to gain traction with reasonable, common-ground solutions, energetic and inspiring figureheads are needed to spearhead that charge.
Currently, pragmatism lacks a national figurehead. We have seen politicians like Abigail Spanberger in Virginia winning elections based on this sentiment at a state level, but we have yet to see that nationally. Spanberger using “pragmatism over partisanship” in her victory speech gives hope for amassing support in the future and setting the stage for a moderate blueprint to winning midterms in 2026. Change will not happen overnight, and it will not happen without the American people taking advantage of the democratic process that allows this change. Midterms could be the first significant step in redirecting our country back towards reason and practicality. Americans are clearly unhappy with the current state of our government. However, the responsibility to elect politicians who are genuinely committed to serving the people lies with the voters, not the candidates. We must remember that democracy is not a spectator sport; it demands our participation and willingness to choose progress over polarization.