87581 leans heavily Democratic by roughly 30 points: about 65% of voters vote Democratic and 35% Republican.
About 72% of adults in 87581 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 87581, ~47% vote Democratic, ~25% Republican, and ~28% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 87581 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 87581 leans more Democratic than 1 of 3 neighbors.
87581 runs about 24 points more Democratic than New Mexico as a whole.
Why 87581 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 87581. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Park access and Democratic lean
Places with heavy park coverage tend to lean Democratic; 87581, NM sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure. Park access does not change how people vote; it tends to track denser, higher-income areas.
Why turnout in 87581 looks the way it does
Homeowners vote more often than renters. More than 99% of households in 87581 own their home, about 20 points above the New Mexico average of 80%. Limited routine healthcare access lines up with lower turnout, and 87581 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 New Mexico Secretary of State, Bureau of 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.