97217 is a Democratic stronghold. About 86% of voters here vote Democratic and 14% Republican.
About 75% of adults in 97217 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 97217, ~65% vote Democratic, ~10% Republican, and ~25% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 97217 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 97217 leans more Democratic than 58 of 67 neighbors.
97217 runs about 59 points more Democratic than Oregon as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 97217. The southwest side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+86) and the northeast side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+48), a spread of about 38 points.
Why 97217 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 97217, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Dense areas vote Democratic. About 94% of residents in 97217 live in densely developed areas, about 57 points above the U.S. average of 36%. High college attainment predicts Democratic voting, and 97217 sits in the top quarter (about 58%, above 93% of zip codes). A high never-married share predicts Democratic voting, and about 45% of adults in 97217 have never been married, above 92% of zip codes.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; 97217, OR 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 97217 looks the way it does
Turnout in 97217 sits close to the national pattern. Routine healthcare access, homeownership, education, and food security all land near their national averages here. 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.