78216 leans Democratic by roughly 18 points: about 59% of voters vote Democratic and 41% Republican.
About 47% of adults in 78216 typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 78216, ~28% vote Democratic, ~19% Republican, and ~53% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 78216 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 78216 leans more Democratic than 31 of 61 neighbors.
78216 runs about 31 points more Democratic than Texas as a whole. Texas leans Republican overall, while 78216 is one of the few Democratic-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 78216. The east side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+37) and the north side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+5), a spread of about 32 points.
Why 78216 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 78216, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Dense areas vote Democratic. About 97% of residents in 78216 live in densely developed areas, about 61 points above the U.S. average of 36%. High college attainment predicts Democratic voting, and 78216 sits in the top quarter (about 35%, above 75% of zip codes). A high never-married share predicts Democratic voting, and about 43% of adults in 78216 have never been married, above 91% of zip codes.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; 78216, TX 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 78216 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 78216 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. Renters vote less often than owners, and about 60% of households in 78216 rent, about 35 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 Texas Secretary of State, Elections Division, 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.