98944 is a true toss-up. About 52% of voters here vote Democratic and 48% Republican.
About 49% of adults in 98944 typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 98944, ~25% vote Democratic, ~24% Republican, and ~51% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 98944 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 98944 is the most Democratic-leaning.
98944 runs about 15 points more Republican than Washington as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 98944. The south side runs the most Democratic (D+5) and the northeast side runs the most Republican (R+36), a spread of about 41 points.
Why 98944 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 98944. 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; 98944, WA 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 98944 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 98944 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. The dental-visit rate here is about 48%, about 17 points below the Washington average of 65%. Renters vote less often than owners, and about 42% of households in 98944 rent, about 17 points above the U.S. average of 25%. Low high-school completion lines up with lower turnout, and about 59% of adults in 98944 have completed high school, in the bottom fraction of zip codes. 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.