97131 leans slightly Democratic by roughly 14 points: about 57% of voters vote Democratic and 43% Republican.
About 79% of adults in 97131 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 97131, ~45% vote Democratic, ~34% Republican, and ~21% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 97131 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 97131 leans more Democratic than 3 of 8 neighbors.
Politically, 97131 sits close to the rest of Oregon.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 97131. The northwest side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+29) and the southeast side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+9), a spread of about 20 points.
Why 97131 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 97131. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Walkability and Democratic lean
Places with a highly walkable street grid tend to lean Democratic; 97131, OR sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in 97131 looks the way it does
Areas with strong routine healthcare access turn out at higher rates. 97131 is in the top quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. The dental-visit rate here is about 70%, about 10 points above the U.S. average of 60%. Homeowners vote more often than renters, and about 90% of households in 97131 own their home, about 15 points above the U.S. average of 75%. 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 Oregon 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.