Downtown leans heavily Democratic by roughly 32 points: about 66% of voters vote Democratic and 34% Republican.
About 41% of adults in Downtown typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Downtown, ~27% vote Democratic, ~14% Republican, and ~59% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Downtown compares
Among neighborhoods within 5 miles, Downtown leans more Democratic than 11 of 15 neighbors.
Downtown runs about 10 points more Democratic than Hawaii as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within Downtown. The southwest side is the most Democratic-leaning (D+42) and the north side is the least Democratic-leaning (D+26), a spread of about 15 points.
Why Downtown leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Downtown. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Renting and voter turnout
Places with renter-heavy households tend to turn out at a lower rate; Downtown, Honolulu, HI sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure.
Why turnout in Downtown looks the way it does
Crowded housing lines up with lower turnout. About 9% of homes in Downtown have more than one occupant per room, above 89% of neighborhoods. Renters vote less often than owners, and about 64% of households in Downtown rent, about 39 points above the U.S. average of 25%. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Neighborhoods
- The Arts District, Honolulu, HI D+23
- Ala Moana-Kakaako, Honolulu, HI D+31
- Makiki, Honolulu, HI D+34
- Liliha-Kapalama, Honolulu, HI D+23
- Nuuanu-Punchbowl, Honolulu, HI D+31
- Kalihi-Palama, Honolulu, HI D+11
- Mxcully-Moiliili, Honolulu, HI D+34
- Kalihi Valley, Honolulu, HI D+11
- Waikiki, Honolulu, HI D+32
- Manoa, Honolulu, HI D+44
Neighborhoods with Similar Populations
- Bryant Pattengill West, Ann Arbor, MI D+55
- Cajon, San Bernardino, CA D+9
- Bakersfield Country Club, Bakersfield, CA R+12
- Thrasher's Corner-Red Hawk, Bothell, WA D+26
- Oak Hill, Newton Center, MA D+45
- North Central, San Antonio, TX D+21
- Linda Vista-San Francisco, Napa, CA D+24
- Lincoln Park, Denver, CO D+63
- Woodland Hills, Cleveland, OH D+86
- Olde Whitehall, Charlotte, NC D+43
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Hawaii Office 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. Some land-use inputs for Hawaii, including walkability and the environmental-justice index, are estimated rather than measured, so the figures here carry added uncertainty. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.