Grand Rapids is a true toss-up. About 48% of voters here vote Democratic and 52% Republican.
About 84% of adults in the Grand Rapids area typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in the Grand Rapids area, ~40% vote Democratic, ~44% Republican, and ~16% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Grand Rapids compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Grand Rapids leans more Republican than 9 of 74 neighbors.
Politically, Grand Rapids sits close to the rest of Michigan.
Politics vary noticeably by neighborhood within Grand Rapids. The south side runs the most Democratic (D+3) and the northeast side runs the most Republican (R+39), a spread of about 41 points.
Why Grand Rapids leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in the Grand Rapids area. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Preventive-care access and voter turnout
Places with strong routine preventive-care access tend to turn out at a higher rate; Grand Rapids, MI sits in the top quarter nationally on this measure. Dental visits do not drive turnout; the rate reflects income, insurance, and healthcare access, which line up with who votes.
Why turnout in Grand Rapids looks the way it does
Areas with strong routine healthcare access turn out at higher rates. Grand Rapids is in the top quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. The dental-visit rate here is about 70%, about 10 points above the U.S. average of 60%. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Cities
- East Grand Rapids, MI D+35
- Wyoming, MI D+12
- Walker, MI R+4
- Kentwood, MI D+22
- Northview, MI R+3
- Comstock Park, MI R+6
- Grandville, MI R+5
- Forest Hills, MI Even
- Cutlerville, MI D+9
- Alpine, MI R+25
Cities with Similar Populations
- Fresno, CA Even
- Buffalo, NY D+10
- Birmingham, AL R+12
- Rochester, NY D+13
- Tucson, AZ D+16
- Salt Lake City, UT D+7
- Honolulu, HI D+18
- Tulsa, OK R+16
- New Orleans, LA D+25
- Richmond, VA D+19
All Local Stats
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Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Michigan Department 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.