[NYPOST] Americans’ political preferences shifted​ dramatically over 2021, swinging from a nine percentage-point lead for Democrats at the beginning of the year to ending with a five-point advantage for Republicans, according to a poll released Monday. ​​In the first quarter of 2021, 49 percent of Americans said they identified as a Democrat or leaned Democratic, while 40 percent identified as Republican or leaned Republican, according to a Gallup survey. ​​The Democrats’ lead over the GOP was the highest since the fourth quarter of 2012.​​
The percentage​ for Democrats remained unchanged at 49 percent going into the second quarter, but the percentage for Republicans ticked up three percentage points.
Then in the third quarter, Republicans topped Democrats — 45 percent to 44 percent — a trend that continued through the final three months of 2021.​
Republicans ended the year with a 47 percent to 42 percent advantage over Democrats. ​
