26362 is a Republican stronghold. About 17% of voters here vote Democratic and 83% Republican.
About 67% of adults in 26362 typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 26362, ~11% vote Democratic, ~56% Republican, and ~33% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 26362 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 26362 leans more Republican than 2 of 12 neighbors.
26362 runs about 24 points more Republican than West Virginia as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 26362. The southwest side is the most Republican-leaning (R+71) and the northwest side is the least Republican-leaning (R+60), a spread of about 11 points.
Why 26362 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 26362, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Areas with a high white share and below-average college attainment vote Republican. In 26362, about 95% of residents are non-Hispanic white, about 22 points above the U.S. average of 72%; about 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, about 13 points below the U.S. average of 28%.
Park access and Republican lean
Places with low park coverage tend to lean Republican; 26362, WV sits below the national average on this measure. Park access does not change how people vote; it tends to track denser, higher-income areas.
Why turnout in 26362 looks the way it does
Turnout in 26362 sits close to the national pattern. Routine healthcare access, homeownership, education, and food security all land near their national averages here. 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 West Virginia Secretary of State, 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.