In the town of Alto, MI (49302), local politics are centered around several important issues. Residents of this small town are passionate about preserving its rural charm and many are involved in local efforts to protect open spaces, increase access to affordable housing, and promote economic development. Local candidates running for office often focus on these topics, as well as other initiatives that will benefit the community. The citizens of Alto take their political engagement seriously and actively participate in debates and discussions surrounding the election process. They take pride in their close-knit community and work together to ensure that it remains a desirable place to live by advocating for policies that will benefit everyone living there.
The political climate in Zip 49302 (Alto, MI) is leaning conservative.
Kent County, MI is leaning liberal. In Kent County, MI 51.9% of the people voted Democrat in the last presidential election, 45.8% voted for the Republican Party, and the remaining 2.3% voted Independent.
In the last Presidential election, Kent county flipped moderately Democratic, 51.9% to 45.8%.
Kent county flipped Democratic in 2020, after voting Republican in four of the last six Presidential elections.
The BestPlaces liberal/conservative index
Zip 49302 (Alto, MI) is leaning conservative.
Alto, Michigan is leaning conservative.
Kent County, Michigan is leaning liberal.
Grand Rapids-Kentwood Metro Area is leaning conservative.
Michigan is leaning liberal.
The BestPlaces liberal/conservative index is based on recent voting in national elections, federal campaign contributions by local residents, and consumer personality profiles.
VoteWord™
Displaying 20 years of Presidential voting, visualized in one word.
Alto, Michigan: R R d r r d
How It Works:
Here at BestPlaces, we were looking at the voting patterns since the 2000 election and realized that we could express the results of each election as one letter. R if the Republican Party candidate won, D for the Democrat and I for the Independent. The six elections (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) would be expressed as six-letter word (R R D R R).
Then we went a little further and added the dimension of magnitude. If the difference of victory was greater than 10 percent, the letter is upper case, and lower case if the difference was less than 10 percent. This allows us to see interesting voting patterns at just a glance.
Here's the VoteWord for Iowa d r d d r. In the last six elections the state has been closely contested, voting narrowly for the Republican Party candidate in 2016 and 2020 after voting for the Democratic Party in 2008 and 2012. Virginia (r r d d d D) has voted for the Democratic Party in the last three elections.
Individual Campaign Contributions in zip 49302 (Alto)
In the last 4 years (2018-2021), there were 145 contributions totaling $7,865 to the Democratic Party and liberal campaigns, averaging $54 per contribution.
In the last 4 years, there were 102 contributions totaling $16,350 to the Republican Party and conservative campaigns, averaging $160 per contribution.
(source: Federal Election Commission)