49656 is a Republican stronghold. About 25% of voters here vote Democratic and 75% Republican.
About 68% of adults in 49656 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 49656, ~17% vote Democratic, ~51% Republican, and ~32% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 49656 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 49656 leans more Republican than 5 of 7 neighbors.
49656 runs about 49 points more Republican than Michigan as a whole.
Why 49656 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 49656, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Rural areas vote Republican. About 5% of residents in 49656 live in densely developed areas, about 27 points below the Michigan average of 31%. Low college attainment predicts Republican voting, and 49656 sits in the bottom quarter (about 12%, below 89% of zip codes).
Walkability and Republican lean
Places with a low walkability score tend to lean Republican; 49656, MI sits in the bottom quarter 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 49656 looks the way it does
Turnout in 49656 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 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.