20712 is a Democratic stronghold. About 86% of voters here vote Democratic and 14% Republican.
About 50% of adults in 20712 typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 20712, ~43% vote Democratic, ~7% Republican, and ~50% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 20712 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 20712 leans more Democratic than 85 of 120 neighbors.
20712 runs about 43 points more Democratic than Maryland as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 20712. The east side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+84) and the north side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+62), a spread of about 22 points.
Why 20712 leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per zip code to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for 20712, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Dense areas vote Democratic. More than 99% of residents in 20712 live in densely developed areas, about 64 points above the U.S. average of 36%. High college attainment predicts Democratic voting, and 20712 sits in the top quarter (about 36%, above 77% of zip codes). A high never-married share predicts Democratic voting, and about 45% of adults in 20712 have never been married, above 92% of zip codes.
Population density and Democratic lean
Places with high population density tend to lean Democratic; 20712, MD sits in the top tenth nationally on this measure.
Why turnout in 20712 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 20712 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. Renters vote less often than owners, and about 74% of households in 20712 rent, compared to around 52% in nearby zip codes. High food insecurity lines up with lower turnout, and about 24% of adults in 20712 report food insecurity, above 88% of zip codes. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Maryland State Board of Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.