20742 is a Democratic stronghold. About 85% of voters here vote Democratic and 15% Republican.
About 36% of adults in 20742 typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 20742, ~31% vote Democratic, ~5% Republican, and ~64% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 20742 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 20742 leans more Democratic than 81 of 123 neighbors.
20742 runs about 40 points more Democratic than Maryland as a whole.
Why 20742 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 20742, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Dense areas vote Democratic. About 90% of residents in 20742 live in densely developed areas, about 54 points above the U.S. average of 36%. High college attainment predicts Democratic voting, and 20742 sits in the top quarter (about 62%, above 95% of zip codes). A high never-married share predicts Democratic voting, and about 97% of adults in 20742 have never been married, in the top fraction of zip codes.
Population density and Democratic lean
Places with high population density tend to lean Democratic; 20742, MD sits in the top tenth nationally on this measure.
Why turnout in 20742 looks the way it does
Renters vote less often than owners. About 94% of households in 20742 rent, about 69 points above the U.S. average of 25%. Limited routine healthcare access lines up with lower turnout, and 20742 sits in the bottom quarter on routine-care measures. High food insecurity lines up with lower turnout, and about 36% of adults in 20742 report food insecurity, above 97% 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.