72202 is a Democratic stronghold. About 81% of voters here vote Democratic and 19% Republican.
About 50% of adults in 72202 typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 72202, ~40% vote Democratic, ~10% Republican, and ~50% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 72202 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 72202 leans more Democratic than 23 of 26 neighbors.
72202 runs about 93 points more Democratic than Arkansas as a whole. Arkansas leans Republican overall, while 72202 is one of the few Democratic-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 72202. The southwest side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+88) and the northwest side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+39), a spread of about 49 points.
Why 72202 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 72202, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Dense areas vote Democratic. About 89% of residents in 72202 live in densely developed areas, about 52 points above the U.S. average of 36%. High college attainment predicts Democratic voting, and 72202 sits in the top quarter (about 45%, above 85% of zip codes). 72202 runs against the grain of Arkansas, a Democratic-leaning pocket in a Republican-leaning state.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; 72202, AR 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 72202 looks the way it does
Renters vote less often than owners. About 69% of households in 72202 rent, about 44 points above the U.S. average of 25%. 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 Arkansas 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.