Downtown West is a Democratic stronghold. About 92% of voters here vote Democratic and 8% Republican.
About 49% of adults in Downtown West typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Downtown West, ~45% vote Democratic, ~4% Republican, and ~51% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Downtown West compares
Among neighborhoods within 5 miles, Downtown West is the most Democratic-leaning.
Downtown West runs about 103 points more Democratic than Indiana as a whole. Indiana leans Republican overall, while Downtown West is one of the few Democratic-leaning pockets.
Why Downtown West leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per neighborhood to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for Downtown West, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Downtown West votes against the grain of Indiana. Indiana leans Republican overall, while Downtown West runs about 103 points more Democratic. A high never-married share predicts Democratic voting, and about 57% of adults in Downtown West have never been married, above 90% of neighborhoods.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; Downtown West, Gary, IN 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 Downtown West looks the way it does
Areas with high food insecurity turn out at lower rates. About 40% of adults in Downtown West report food insecurity, about 24 points above the U.S. average of 16%. High-crime urban areas turn out at lower rates, and Downtown West sits in the top 15% on a violent-crime measure. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Neighborhoods
- Tolleston, Gary, IN D+82
- Midtown, Gary, IN D+84
- Tarrytown, Gary, IN D+82
- Brunswick, Gary, IN D+80
- Pulaski, Gary, IN D+83
- Glen Park, Gary, IN D+79
- Aetna, Gary, IN D+76
- Turner-Meyn Park, Hammond, IN D+19
- Forestdale, Hammond, IN D+29
- Columbia Center, Hammond, IN D+38
Neighborhoods with Similar Populations
- Northwood Hills, West Palm Beach, FL D+61
- Southeast Growth Area, Fresno, CA R+34
- Woodcrest, Coon Rapids, MN D+12
- Royal Ridge, San Antonio, TX D+9
- Doffing, Mission, TX R+5
- Woodside Cotton Mill Historic District, Parker, SC D+36
- College Creek, Ames, IA D+25
- Meadow Park, Rochester, MN D+13
- Parkmont, Fremont, CA D+36
- Overlook Park, Allentown, PA D+26
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Indiana 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.