78850 is a Republican stronghold. About 16% of voters here vote Democratic and 84% Republican.
About 81% of adults in 78850 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 78850, ~13% vote Democratic, ~68% Republican, and ~19% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 78850 compares
78850 sits in a sparsely populated area with few comparable zip codes nearby.
78850 runs about 55 points more Republican than Texas as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 78850. The northwest side is the most Republican-leaning (R+74) and the east side is the least Republican-leaning (R+62), a spread of about 12 points.
Why 78850 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 78850. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Paved land cover and Republican lean
Places with little paved surface tend to lean Republican; 78850, TX sits in the bottom 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 78850 looks the way it does
Homeowners vote more often than renters. About 89% of households in 78850 own their home, about 14 points above the Texas average of 75%. Limited routine healthcare access lines up with lower turnout, and 78850 sits in the bottom quarter on routine-care measures. 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.