A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center demonstrates that millennials identify as independents -- a 38 percent increase within the past decade, POLITICO reported.
However, half of the millennial generation associates with the Democratic party or tend to lean that way while only 34 percent identify as Republican or lean towards the Republican party.
They also tend to hold liberal views on multiple social issues, such as gay marriage, with 68 percent supporting it, and marijuana legalization, with 69 percent supporting it. The millennial support for same-sex marriage increased from 44 percent and marijuana legalization from 34 percent in 2004.
However, millennials view gun control and abortion the same way older generations do, according to POLITICO. They also approve more of President Obama, with 49 percent content with his presidency.
Race played a significant factor in the approval of Obama as well. While 67 percent of nonwhite millennials approved of his job as president, only 34 percent of white millennials approve.
Approval of big government was also highest among millennials at 53 percent, compared to 43 percent of Gen Xers and 32 percent of Boomers.
In total, 51 percent of white millennials identified as an independent compared to 47 percent of nonwhite millennials, while 37 percent of nonwhite millenials associate with the Democrats and only 9 percent with Republicans.
Pew Research conducted the survey from Feb. 14 to Feb. 23 and included 1,821 adults, including 617 Millennials. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
