78656 leans Republican by roughly 16 points: about 42% of voters vote Democratic and 58% Republican.
About 45% of adults in 78656 typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 78656, ~19% vote Democratic, ~26% Republican, and ~55% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 78656 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 78656 leans more Republican than 4 of 8 neighbors.
Politically, 78656 sits close to the rest of Texas.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 78656. The northeast side is the most Republican-leaning (R+31) and the west side is the least Republican-leaning (R+5), a spread of about 25 points.
Why 78656 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 78656. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Cancer-screening access and voter turnout
Places with low colon-cancer-screening access tend to turn out at a lower rate; 78656, TX sits in the bottom tenth nationally on this measure. Cancer screening does not drive turnout; it reflects income, insurance, and healthcare access.
Why turnout in 78656 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 78656 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. The dental-visit rate here is about 47%, about 6 points below the Texas average of 54%. Low high-school completion lines up with lower turnout, and about 86% of adults in 78656 have completed high school, below 76% 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 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.