Choose an edition: Chicago | Wash DC

Leaning Left: Top DC-Area Zip Codes Supporting Barack Obama


by Mark Wellborn

Leaning Left: Top DC-Area Zip Codes Supporting Barack Obama

Earlier this week, UrbanTurf examined the DC-area zip codes that look to be supporting John McCain for president. Today, in our second installment, we look at the areas in DC, Maryland and Virginia that seem to be favoring Barack Obama.

Following the same methodology that we used for Monday’s piece, the top zip codes were those that gave the largest percentage of their overall political contributions in the last two years to Senator Obama relative to other candidates and groups. So, the ranking is based on percentage as opposed to the actual dollar amount given to a particular candidate.

For example, the first zip code on our list, 20010, saw about $560,000 given in total to all candidates and groups, Republican or Democrat. Of that amount, approximately 50 percent went to Barack Obama’s campaign specifically. 50 percent is a very high percentage for a presidential candidate, making this zip code #1 in DC proper.

Careful readers will note that the double-digit percentages cited in today’s list are in general much higher than those for McCain. The highest percentage cited for the Republican candidate was 11 percent, and many were in the single digits. This disparity shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. After all, DC is a Democratic stronghold, Maryland leans reliably to the left, and the groundswell of support for Obama in Northern Virginia may well turn the state blue for the first time in decades.

Note: The contribution data for this article was based on information recorded by OpenSecrets.org as of October 26, 2008. The website is constantly updated with new contribution amounts, so the numbers and rankings in this piece are subject to change.

1. DC -- 20010

Leading off the DC list of zip codes (by a very wide margin) is 20010. Home to the neighborhoods of Mount Pleasant, Columbia Heights and some of Petworth, this area did not make the top ten in political contributions in DC with $561,441, but it is #1 in terms of percentage given to Obama. A whopping 50 percent of the political contributions from this area went to his campaign in 2007 and 2008.

Total Contributions for Obama$274,060
Median Listing Price for Homes$450,000
Median Household Income$45,222
2. DC -- 20015

Following 20010 in backing Obama is 20015, an area that includes the neighborhoods of Tenleytown, Chevy Chase DC and Barnaby Woods. Of the $2.7 million that residents contributed during 2007 and 2008, 32 percent went to Senator Obama from this section of DC where Obama yard signs outnumber McCain signs by a factor of approximately 5 to 1.

Total Contributions for Obama$862,299
Median Listing Price for Homes$882,000
Median Household Income$131,425
3. DC -- 20009

Coming in a close third, this zip code is home to trendy neighborhoods like Adams Morgan and the U Street Corridor as well as liberal organizations like 21st Century Democrats and traditionally Democratic bars like Stetson’s. Over the last two years, 26 percent of the total contributions from this area went to Obama’s campaign.

Total Contributions for Obama$806,406
Median Listing Price for Homes$535,000
Median Household Income$56,996
1. Maryland -- 20910

The zip code that encompasses most of Silver Spring is brimming with Obama supporters. Of the $801,000 given to political candidates and groups over the last two years, 36 percent went to the Illinois senator’s presidential campaign. 20910 is also home to one of the three Obama headquarters in Montgomery County (the other two are in Bethesda and Gaithersburg).

Total Contributions for Obama$285,516
Median Listing Price for Homes$374,000
Median Household Income$71,347
2. Maryland -- 20814

Even though the residential section of Bethesda made it on the McCain list on Monday, the zip code for downtown Bethesda looks to be favoring Obama. In an area dominated by high-rise condos and great restaurants, 19 percent of the $2.6 million given in political contributions in 2007 and 2008 from this area went to the Democratic candidate.

Total Contributions for Obama$496,561
Median Listing Price for Homes$612,000
Median Household Income $94,000
3. Maryland -- 20815

Chevy Chase is home to manicured lawns, exclusive country clubs and a very politically active community. The 20815 zip code gave almost $6.5 million to various political candidates and groups over the past two years, making it the second highest in Maryland after the 20854 zip code that includes Potomac. Just over 20 percent of that amount went to Senator Barack Obama’s presidential run.

Total Contributions for Obama$1.34 million
Median Listing Price for Homes$985,000
Median Household Income $122,993
1. Virginia -- 22201

This zip code just across the Potomac from Georgetown sits atop our Virginia list. Beginning in the early 1980s, the Democratic party started to hold the majority of the elected government seats in Arlington, and in 2008 all of the elected officials were either nominated or endorsed by the Democratic party. Including neighborhoods like Clarendon and Rosslyn, 22201 gave 15 percent of its total contributions from 2007 and 2008 to the Obama campaign.

Total Contributions for Obama $268,515
Median Listing Price for Homes$544,000
Median Household Income$99,106
2. Virginia -- 22207

North of Route 66 and home to the Washington Golf and Country Club, this area contributed almost $440,000 to Obama, making up 11 percent of the total contributions from 2007 and 2008. It is not all that surprising that this is the second Arlington zip code listed considering that John Kerry had more than double the votes of George W. Bush from Arlington county in the 2004 election.

Total Contributions for Obama$436,314
Median Listing Price for Homes$875,000
Median Household Income $151,182
3. Virginia -- 22304

One of the best places to invest in property in Virginia is also a top Obama supporter. The 22304 zip code, that consists largely of Shirlington, gave just under 10 percent of its $1.3 million in political contributions in 2007 and 2008 to the Democratic presidential candidate.

Total Contributions for Obama $118,808
Median Listing Price for Homes$299,000
Median Household Income$73,194

0 Comments

Join the discussion

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

Juliet Zucker

Long & Foster

202-491-5220

Serving:

Takoma Park

Chevy Chase

Palisades

UrbanTurf Archive

Following are past UrbanTurf stories, organized by topic for your convenience.

Neighborhood Profiles more »

Friendship Heights: A Shopping Mecca With a Few Places to Live

Friendship Heights: A Shopping Mecca With a Few Places to Live

Shilpi Paul
February 3rd | 1 Comment

If living in a city means enjoying a walkable neighborhood, having retail and public transportation... read »

Editor's Choice more »

Rents Will Fall in the DC Area, But Not By That Much

Rents Will Fall in the DC Area, But Not By That Much

Mark Wellborn
January 26th | 5 Comments

A strong apartment delivery schedule over the next few years will mean that rents will go down. But... read »

New Condo Profiles more »

EYA To Build Waterfront Luxury Condos in Old Town

EYA To Build Waterfront Luxury Condos in Old Town

Shilpi Paul
January 27th | 0 Comments

EYA CEO Bob Youngentob told UrbanTurf today that the firm will start construction on a 60-unit... read »

The DC Condo Market more »

New Renderings for JBG’s Florida Ave. Project; Reatig Redesign

New Renderings for JBG’s Florida Ave. Project; Reatig Redesign

Shilpi Paul
February 3rd | 2 Comments

UrbanTurf has received the latest renderings for JBG's Florida Avenue project, as well as updates... read »

Green Real Estate more »

Pepco Buys Award-Winning Solar Decathalon House

Pepco Buys Award-Winning Solar Decathalon House

Shilpi Paul
January 30th | 2 Comments

WaterShed, the University of Maryland-designed home that took top honors at the 2011 Solar... read »

Deal of the Week more »

Deal of the Week: Gone in a Blink of an Eye

Deal of the Week: Gone in a Blink of an Eye

UrbanTurf Staff
January 17th | 3 Comments

About a month ago, UrbanTurf featured a three-bedroom home on 13th Street as a Deal of the Week.... read »

Renting more »

The Increase in DC Rents Is Slowing Down

The Increase in DC Rents Is Slowing Down

UrbanTurf Staff
January 3rd | 6 Comments

DC area rents are still on the rise, but not surging like they have done in years past, and that... read »

Market Watch more »

Market Watch: Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle

Market Watch: Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle

Keith Gibbons
November 28th | 5 Comments

Housing Market Watch returns this week after a little hiatus as Keith Gibbons takes a closer look... read »

Unique Spaces more »

Unique Spaces: The Gym, The Stables and The Firehouse

The Gym, The Stables and The Firehouse

Mark Wellborn
September 22nd | 0 Comments

These days, it is not that uncommon for a former school or a church in the DC area to be put up for... read »

This Week's Find more »

This Week’s Find: A Co-op For a Chef in a Classic Wardman

A Co-op For a Chef in a Classic Wardman

Shilpi Paul
February 2nd | 1 Comment

Thanks to a few renovations, the owners of This Week's Find brought style, space and multiple... read »

UrbanTurf Reader Asks more »

UrbanTurf Reader Asks: $330 a Month in Rent in DC?

$330 a Month in Rent in DC?

UrbanTurf Staff
January 24th | 6 Comments

In this installment of UrbanTurf Reader Asks, a reader inquires as to whether or not the type of... read »

What X Buys You more »

What $700,000 Buys You: The Colonial Edition

What $700,000 Buys You: The Colonial Edition

Shilpi Paul
January 24th | 0 Comments

In What X Buys You this week, UrbanTurf takes a look at colonial-style homes on the market in the... read »

Best New Listings more »

Best New Listings: The $1 Million Edition

Best New Listings: The $1 Million Edition (Week of Feb 3rd)

Shilpi Paul
February 3rd | 0 Comments

In this week's special edition of Best New Listings, we look at homes that recently hit the market... read »

Luxury Real Estate more »

DC’s Most Expensive Homes Not as Pricey As They Used to Be

DC’s Most Expensive Homes Not as Pricey As They Used to Be

UrbanTurf Staff
January 30th | 3 Comments

A new house recently hit the market in DC for $11.9 million, making it the second most expensive... read »

Choose an edition: Chicago | Wash DC