28801 is a Democratic stronghold. About 84% of voters here vote Democratic and 16% Republican.
About 75% of adults in 28801 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 28801, ~63% vote Democratic, ~12% Republican, and ~25% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 28801 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 28801 is the most Democratic-leaning.
28801 runs about 71 points more Democratic than North Carolina as a whole. North Carolina leans Republican overall, while 28801 is one of the few Democratic-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 28801. The west side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+75) and the east side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+62), a spread of about 13 points.
Why 28801 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 28801, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Dense areas vote Democratic. About 93% of residents in 28801 live in densely developed areas, about 56 points above the U.S. average of 36%. High college attainment predicts Democratic voting, and 28801 sits in the top quarter (about 53%, above 91% of zip codes). 28801 runs against the grain of North Carolina, a Democratic-leaning pocket in a Republican-leaning state.
Walkability and Democratic lean
Places with a highly walkable street grid tend to lean Democratic; 28801, NC sits in the top tenth nationally on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in 28801 looks the way it does
Turnout in 28801 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 North Carolina 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.