49866 leans slightly Republican by roughly 12 points: about 44% of voters vote Democratic and 56% Republican.
About 88% of adults in 49866 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 49866, ~39% vote Democratic, ~49% Republican, and ~12% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 49866 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 49866 leans more Republican than 1 of 4 neighbors.
49866 runs about 11 points more Republican than Michigan as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 49866. The southwest side is the most Republican-leaning (R+22) and the northwest side is the least Republican-leaning (R+10), a spread of about 12 points.
Why 49866 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 49866. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Park access and Republican lean
Places with low park coverage tend to lean Republican; 49866, MI sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure. Park access does not change how people vote; it tends to track denser, higher-income areas.
Why turnout in 49866 looks the way it does
Areas with strong routine healthcare access turn out at higher rates. 49866 is in the top quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. The dental-visit rate here is about 72%, about 12 points above the U.S. average of 60%. 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.