There’s no such thing as an Independent. Those are angry Conservatives that don’t like the direction of their party or don’t like how it was taken over by evangelicals, white nationalists, etc.
They still overwhelmingly vote Republican.
You see an uptick in Independent voters after a Republican president has recently failed. Huge uptick after W. Bush, and then now after Donald’s debacle.
I’m a registered Independent but only because I like to get the direct mail advertising from both sides since my family is in that business.