21502 leans Republican by roughly 28 points: about 36% of voters vote Democratic and 64% Republican.
About 62% of adults in 21502 typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 21502, ~22% vote Democratic, ~39% Republican, and ~39% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 21502 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 21502 leans more Republican than 1 of 18 neighbors.
21502 runs about 57 points more Republican than Maryland as a whole. Maryland leans Democratic overall, while 21502 is one of the few Republican-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 21502. The northeast side is the most Republican-leaning (R+39) and the west side is the least Republican-leaning (R+15), a spread of about 24 points.
Why 21502 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 21502, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
21502 votes against the grain of Maryland. Maryland leans Democratic overall, while 21502 runs about 57 points more Republican.
Preventive-care access and voter turnout
Places with limited routine preventive-care access tend to turn out at a lower rate; 21502, MD sits below the national average on this measure. Dental visits do not drive turnout; the rate reflects income, insurance, and healthcare access, which line up with who votes.
Why turnout in 21502 looks the way it does
Turnout in 21502 sits close to the national pattern. 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.