98520 is a true toss-up. About 48% of voters here vote Democratic and 52% Republican.
About 65% of adults in 98520 typically vote, near the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 98520, ~31% vote Democratic, ~34% Republican, and ~35% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 98520 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 98520 is the least Republican-leaning.
98520 runs about 22 points more Republican than Washington as a whole. Washington leans Democratic overall, while 98520 is one of the few Republican-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 98520. The northwest side runs the most Democratic (D+22) and the northeast side runs the most Republican (R+28), a spread of about 50 points.
Why 98520 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 98520, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
98520 votes against the grain of Washington. Washington leans Democratic overall, while 98520 runs about 22 points more Republican.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; 98520, WA sits in the top quarter 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 98520 looks the way it does
Turnout in 98520 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 Washington Secretary of State, 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.