Why does Washington DC vote so overwhelmingly democratic?

First, DC is 51% Black. This number is down from a peak of 71% in 1970, but is still way higher than the next highest (MS = 37%). read more

My guess is that Democratic numbers are even better in DC because DC's highly-educated population is more heavily weighted towards attorneys, professors, and civil servants than other places' highly-educated populations, and those groups tend to favor Democrats at a higher rate than other highly-educated people like MBAs and MDs. read more

So, to answer the question: at best, it can be said that *certain* affluent areas will vote Democratic more than Republican, but the cause of this leaning is not itself being affluent. That is, nationally, you will find no such correlation with affluence = Democrat, and, will, in fact, find a slightly negative association instead. read more

Most cities vote Democratic, and many do so overwhelmingly. But those that vote Democratic by the widest margins of all, like Oakland, Newark, Washington and Detroit, are usually those with the largest black populations. read more