Cleveland leans heavily Republican by roughly 50 points: about 25% of voters vote Democratic and 75% Republican.
About 74% of adults in Cleveland typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Cleveland, ~18% vote Democratic, ~56% Republican, and ~26% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Cleveland compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Cleveland leans more Republican than 25 of 49 neighbors.
Cleveland runs about 46 points more Republican than North Carolina as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by neighborhood within Cleveland. The southwest side is the most Republican-leaning (R+58) and the west side is the least Republican-leaning (R+29), a spread of about 29 points.
Why Cleveland leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Cleveland. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Non-English at home and voter turnout
Places with a low non-English-at-home share tend to turn out at a higher rate; Cleveland, NC sits below the national average on this measure.
Why turnout in Cleveland looks the way it does
Turnout in Cleveland 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 Cities
- Mount Vernon, NC R+46
- Shinnville, NC R+55
- Mount Ulla, NC R+58
- Cool Springs, NC R+49
- Woodleaf, NC R+48
- Troutman, NC R+36
- Cooleemee, NC R+45
- Statesville, NC R+20
- Jerusalem, NC R+62
Cities with Similar Populations
- Weedsport, NY R+25
- South Shore, KY R+61
- Lakeview, GA R+50
- Farrell, PA D+43
- Crisfield, MD R+11
- Dexter, NM R+48
- Sugarcreek, PA R+43
- Tawas City, MI R+30
- Dell Rapids, SD R+42
- Dawson Springs, KY R+63
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from North Carolina State Board 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.