Newell is a Republican stronghold. About 12% of voters here vote Democratic and 88% Republican.
About 74% of adults in Newell typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Newell, ~9% vote Democratic, ~65% Republican, and ~26% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Newell compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Newell leans more Republican than 6 of 9 neighbors.
Newell runs about 46 points more Republican than South Dakota as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by neighborhood within Newell. The north side is the most Republican-leaning (R+83) and the west side is the least Republican-leaning (R+71), a spread of about 12 points.
Why Newell leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Newell. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Park access and Republican lean
Places with low park coverage tend to lean Republican; Newell, SD sits in the bottom tenth nationally on this measure. Park access does not change how people vote; it tends to track denser, higher-income areas.
Why turnout in Newell looks the way it does
Homeowners vote more often than renters. About 91% of households in Newell own their home, about 14 points above the South Dakota average of 77%. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Cities
- Vale, SD R+78
- Nisland, SD R+78
- Fruitdale, SD R+72
- Volunteer, SD R+83
- St. Onge, SD R+57
- Whitewood, SD R+53
- Belle Fourche, SD R+56
- Fort Meade, SD R+49
- Sturgis, SD R+42
- Fairpoint, SD R+80
Cities with Similar Populations
- Marshes Siding, KY R+77
- Nerstrand, MN R+32
- Walton, WV R+64
- Irasburg, VT R+27
- Rhea, AR R+55
- Tryon, OK R+71
- Heather Glen, CA R+23
- Cowley, WY R+77
- Tennessee City, TN R+63
- Essex, IA R+46
All Local Stats
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Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from South Dakota 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.