56185 is a Republican stronghold. About 16% of voters here vote Democratic and 84% Republican.
About 62% of adults in 56185 typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 56185, ~10% vote Democratic, ~52% Republican, and ~38% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 56185 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 56185 leans more Republican than 7 of 9 neighbors.
56185 runs about 73 points more Republican than Minnesota as a whole. Minnesota leans Democratic overall, while 56185 is one of the few Republican-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 56185. The west side is the most Republican-leaning (R+71) and the northeast side is the least Republican-leaning (R+54), a spread of about 17 points.
Why 56185 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 56185, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
56185 votes against the grain of Minnesota. Minnesota leans Democratic overall, while 56185 runs about 73 points more Republican. A high white share with below-average college attainment predicts Republican voting, and 56185 fits that profile on both counts.
Park access and Republican lean
Places with low park coverage tend to lean Republican; 56185, MN sits in the bottom tenth nationally on this measure. Park access does not change how people vote; it tends to track denser, higher-income areas.
Why turnout in 56185 looks the way it does
Turnout in 56185 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 Minnesota 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.