Portland leans heavily Republican by roughly 38 points: about 31% of voters vote Democratic and 69% Republican.
About 81% of adults in Portland typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Portland, ~25% vote Democratic, ~56% Republican, and ~19% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Portland compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Portland leans more Republican than 51 of 73 neighbors.
Portland runs about 38 points more Republican than Wisconsin as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by neighborhood within Portland. The west side is the most Republican-leaning (R+42) and the southwest side is the least Republican-leaning (R+21), a spread of about 21 points.
Why Portland leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Portland. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Walkability and Republican lean
Places with a low walkability score tend to lean Republican; Portland, WI sits below the national average on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in Portland looks the way it does
Turnout in Portland 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
- Waterloo, WI R+18
- York Center, WI R+6
- Marshall, WI R+3
- Danville, WI R+37
- Reeseville, WI R+44
- Milford, WI R+16
- Grellton, WI R+37
- East Bristol, WI R+14
- Lake Mills, WI R+12
- Columbus, WI R+12
Cities with Similar Populations
- Trout Valley, IL Even
- Kistler, PA R+66
- Sniders Crossroads, SC R+44
- East Beekmantown, NY R+14
- Roseville, PA R+57
- Parvin, TX R+40
- Meridian, CA R+49
- Piney Grove, TX R+69
- Grygla, MN R+36
- Hardyville, VA R+24
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Wisconsin Elections Commission, 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.