48109 is a Democratic stronghold. About 82% of voters here vote Democratic and 18% Republican.
About 72% of adults in 48109 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 48109, ~59% vote Democratic, ~13% Republican, and ~28% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 48109 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 48109 leans more Democratic than 18 of 19 neighbors.
48109 runs about 65 points more Democratic than Michigan as a whole. Michigan is roughly evenly split, and 48109 sits clearly on the Democratic side.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 48109. The north side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+72) and the northeast side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+10), a spread of about 62 points.
Why 48109 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 48109, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Dense areas vote Democratic. About 93% of residents in 48109 live in densely developed areas, about 57 points above the U.S. average of 36%. High college attainment predicts Democratic voting, and 48109 sits in the top quarter (about 48%, above 88% of zip codes). 48109 runs against the grain of Michigan, a Democratic-leaning outlier in a roughly evenly split state.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; 48109, MI sits in the top tenth nationally on this measure. Paved ground does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban and built-up a place is.
Why turnout in 48109 looks the way it does
Areas with high high-school completion turn out at higher rates. About 98% of adults in 48109 have completed high school, about 6 points above the Michigan average of 92%. 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 Michigan Department 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.