Wausau is a true toss-up. About 51% of voters here vote Democratic and 49% Republican.
About 80% of adults in Wausau typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Wausau, ~41% vote Democratic, ~39% Republican, and ~20% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Wausau compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Wausau sits roughly in the middle of the political spectrum, with 35 neighbors leaning further in the place's direction and 0 leaning the other way.
Politically, Wausau sits close to the rest of Wisconsin.
Politics vary noticeably by neighborhood within Wausau. The east side runs the most Democratic (D+10) and the southwest side runs the most Republican (R+11), a spread of about 21 points.
Why Wausau leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Wausau. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Paved land cover and Democratic lean
Places with extensive paved surfaces tend to lean Democratic; Wausau, WI sits in the top tenth 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 Wausau looks the way it does
Turnout in Wausau 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
- Rib Mountain, WI R+13
- Schofield, WI R+8
- Nutterville, WI R+27
- Weston, WI R+10
- Brokaw, WI R+33
- Rothschild, WI R+6
- Marathon, WI R+42
- Kronenwetter, WI R+14
- Marathon City, WI R+24
- Ringle, WI R+39
Cities with Similar Populations
- Wauwatosa, WI D+38
- Chester, VA D+14
- Cuyahoga Falls, OH D+7
- Prescott Valley, AZ R+25
- Chesterfield, MO D+5
- Frankfort, KY R+18
- Holly Springs, NC D+7
- Salina, KS R+21
- Middletown, NY D+13
- Coatesville, PA D+16
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.