50642 is a Republican stronghold. About 24% of voters here vote Democratic and 76% Republican.
About 81% of adults in 50642 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 50642, ~19% vote Democratic, ~62% Republican, and ~19% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 50642 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 50642 leans more Republican than 13 of 15 neighbors.
50642 runs about 39 points more Republican than Iowa as a whole.
Why 50642 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 50642. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Population density and Republican lean
Places with low population density tend to lean Republican; 50642, IA sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure.
Why turnout in 50642 looks the way it does
Areas with strong routine healthcare access turn out at higher rates. 50642 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 70%, about 10 points above the U.S. average of 60%. Homeowners vote more often than renters, and about 90% of households in 50642 own their home, about 15 points above the U.S. average of 75%. High high-school completion lines up with higher turnout, and about 98% of adults in 50642 have completed high school, above 93% of zip codes. 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 Iowa 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.