source: Every Voice
Just 32 zip codes are “likely to be key” for establishment Republican presidential candidates, according to The Wall Street Journal. These neighborhoods aren’t key because they are vote-rich or represent a cross-section of America, but because they are filled with really rich people who are generous political givers.
These are the places where a candidate like Jeb Bush (and whoever ends up on the Democratic side) will spend a lot of time in order to raise up to $100 million to snag the Republican nomination for president.
What do these neighborhoods look like? Not the rest of America.
Using census data, we took the list of 32 zip codes in the story and looked at median household income and racial diversity in those areas.
<table style="width: 984px;" class="google-visualization-table-table" cellspacing="0"><thead><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-head"><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">ZIP Code</th><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">Romney 2012 Dollars</th><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">Bush 2004 Dollars</th><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">% Non-Hispanic White</th><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient sort-descending">Median Household Income</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">06820 Darien CT</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">801,809</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">308,583</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">91.7%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$205,688</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">20854 Potomac MD</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">863,378</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">526,209</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">68%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$192,648</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">22101 Mc Lean VA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,123,617</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">593,405</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">74.2%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$180,540</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">60093 Winnetka IL</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">756,307</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">445,315</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">88.2%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$163,719</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">06840 New Canaan CT</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,347,951</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">361,815</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">91.1%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$161,848</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">77005 Houston TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">612,994</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">340,450</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">75.5%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$159,732</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">60045 Lake Forest IL</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">795,353</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">496,870</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$150,406</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">75225 Dallas TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">887,637</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">702,330</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">93.2%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$147,153</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">30327 Atlanta GA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,031,357</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">501,900</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">87.4%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$139,543</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">63131 Saint Louis MO</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">562,225</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">330,650</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">91.5%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$132,500</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90210 Beverly Hills CA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">658,210</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">488,225</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">84.4%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$132,254</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">06831 Greenwich CT</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,192,647</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">530,770</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">85.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$130,075</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">92067 Rancho Santa Fe CA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">872,712</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">353,178</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90.3%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$125,051</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">63124 Saint Louis MO</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">707,660</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">728,389</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">89.8%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$118,816</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">22102 Mc Lean VA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">577,158</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">436,898</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">60.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$112,427</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd google-visualization-table-tr-sel"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">77024 Houston TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,639,719</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">906,376</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">75.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$111,139</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">92660 Newport Beach CA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">930,072</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">399,675</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">80.8%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$111,109</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90049 Los Angeles CA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">687,675</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">343,415</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">80.1%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$110,854</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">06830 Greenwich CT</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,503,723</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">607,915</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">71.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$109,860</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">85253 Paradise Valley AZ</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">654,728</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">403,570</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">85.9%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$109,185</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">10022 New York NY</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,137,473</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">508,402</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">79.3%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$109,019</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">75205 Dallas TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,070,434</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">929,970</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">85.4%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$108,913</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">10021 New York NY</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,562,693</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,422,209</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">84.1%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$107,907</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">10028 New York NY</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,084,533</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">417,200</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">84.5%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$104,638</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">45243 Cincinnati OH</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">837,637</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">769,050</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90.8%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$101,497</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">33480 Palm Beach FL</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,387,928</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">487,145</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">95.7%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$97,208</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">10128 New York NY</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,151,606</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">421,944</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">73.9%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$96,296</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">77056 Houston TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">817,292</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">428,375</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">67%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$93,069</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">77019 Houston TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,093,791</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">641,555</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">69.1%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$87,394</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">30305 Atlanta GA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">902,310</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">375,964</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">82.9%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$85,993</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">60611 Chicago IL</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">547,968</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">321,227</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">74.8%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$85,642</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">78209 San Antonio TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">648,999</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">573,244</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">65.2%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$62,525</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table style="width: 984px;" class="google-visualization-table-table transparent" cellspacing="0"><thead><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-head"><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">
</th></tr></thead></table>The result? Presidential candidates will be spending a lot of time schmoozing with really rich white people. The median family income of these 32 communities is about $111,000, almost double that of the country as a whole. That’s also the combined annual salary of about seven minimum wage workers. None of the zip codes are less than 60.6% non-Hispanic white.
So, why does this matter?
As Demos’ David Callahan and J. Mijin Cha wrote in Stacked Deck in 2013, the people in these zip codes–the donor class–simply have different priorities than the rest of America. And when candidates are spending all their time dialing for dollars and attending fundraisers with this elite set of Americans, it’s impossible for them to be unaffected by it.
When it comes to race instead of income, the story’s the same. As Demos’ Adam Lioz wrote in a 2015 follow-up to Stacked Deck focused on race and money in politics, “Elections funded primarily by wealthy, white donors mean that candidates as a whole are less likely to prioritize the needs of people of color; and that candidates of color are less likely to run for elected office, raise less money when they do, and are less likely to win.”
The 2016 presidential election will be the most expensive in history, and if this week’s announcement by the Koch brothers is any sign, it’ll be more influenced by millionaires and billionaires than ever before. And all of this money from a small fraction of the American people, and the influence it buys, will have a big impact on the policies politicians enact.
Just 32 zip codes are “likely to be key” for establishment Republican presidential candidates, according to The Wall Street Journal. These neighborhoods aren’t key because they are vote-rich or represent a cross-section of America, but because they are filled with really rich people who are generous political givers.
These are the places where a candidate like Jeb Bush (and whoever ends up on the Democratic side) will spend a lot of time in order to raise up to $100 million to snag the Republican nomination for president.
What do these neighborhoods look like? Not the rest of America.
Using census data, we took the list of 32 zip codes in the story and looked at median household income and racial diversity in those areas.
<table style="width: 984px;" class="google-visualization-table-table" cellspacing="0"><thead><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-head"><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">ZIP Code</th><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">Romney 2012 Dollars</th><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">Bush 2004 Dollars</th><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">% Non-Hispanic White</th><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient sort-descending">Median Household Income</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">06820 Darien CT</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">801,809</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">308,583</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">91.7%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$205,688</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">20854 Potomac MD</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">863,378</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">526,209</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">68%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$192,648</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">22101 Mc Lean VA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,123,617</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">593,405</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">74.2%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$180,540</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">60093 Winnetka IL</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">756,307</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">445,315</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">88.2%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$163,719</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">06840 New Canaan CT</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,347,951</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">361,815</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">91.1%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$161,848</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">77005 Houston TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">612,994</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">340,450</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">75.5%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$159,732</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">60045 Lake Forest IL</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">795,353</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">496,870</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$150,406</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">75225 Dallas TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">887,637</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">702,330</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">93.2%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$147,153</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">30327 Atlanta GA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,031,357</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">501,900</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">87.4%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$139,543</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">63131 Saint Louis MO</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">562,225</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">330,650</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">91.5%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$132,500</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90210 Beverly Hills CA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">658,210</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">488,225</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">84.4%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$132,254</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">06831 Greenwich CT</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,192,647</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">530,770</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">85.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$130,075</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">92067 Rancho Santa Fe CA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">872,712</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">353,178</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90.3%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$125,051</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">63124 Saint Louis MO</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">707,660</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">728,389</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">89.8%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$118,816</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">22102 Mc Lean VA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">577,158</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">436,898</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">60.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$112,427</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd google-visualization-table-tr-sel"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">77024 Houston TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,639,719</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">906,376</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">75.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$111,139</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">92660 Newport Beach CA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">930,072</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">399,675</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">80.8%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$111,109</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90049 Los Angeles CA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">687,675</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">343,415</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">80.1%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$110,854</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">06830 Greenwich CT</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,503,723</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">607,915</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">71.6%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$109,860</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">85253 Paradise Valley AZ</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">654,728</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">403,570</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">85.9%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$109,185</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">10022 New York NY</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,137,473</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">508,402</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">79.3%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$109,019</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">75205 Dallas TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,070,434</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">929,970</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">85.4%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$108,913</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">10021 New York NY</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,562,693</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,422,209</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">84.1%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$107,907</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">10028 New York NY</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,084,533</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">417,200</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">84.5%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$104,638</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">45243 Cincinnati OH</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">837,637</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">769,050</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">90.8%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$101,497</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">33480 Palm Beach FL</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,387,928</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">487,145</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">95.7%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$97,208</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">10128 New York NY</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,151,606</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">421,944</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">73.9%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$96,296</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">77056 Houston TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">817,292</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">428,375</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">67%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$93,069</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">77019 Houston TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">1,093,791</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">641,555</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">69.1%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$87,394</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">30305 Atlanta GA</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">902,310</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">375,964</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">82.9%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$85,993</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-even"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">60611 Chicago IL</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">547,968</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">321,227</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">74.8%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$85,642</td></tr><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-odd"><td class="google-visualization-table-td">78209 San Antonio TX</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">648,999</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">573,244</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td">65.2%</td><td class="google-visualization-table-td google-visualization-table-td-number">$62,525</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table style="width: 984px;" class="google-visualization-table-table transparent" cellspacing="0"><thead><tr class="google-visualization-table-tr-head"><th class="google-visualization-table-th gradient unsorted">
</th></tr></thead></table>The result? Presidential candidates will be spending a lot of time schmoozing with really rich white people. The median family income of these 32 communities is about $111,000, almost double that of the country as a whole. That’s also the combined annual salary of about seven minimum wage workers. None of the zip codes are less than 60.6% non-Hispanic white.
So, why does this matter?
As Demos’ David Callahan and J. Mijin Cha wrote in Stacked Deck in 2013, the people in these zip codes–the donor class–simply have different priorities than the rest of America. And when candidates are spending all their time dialing for dollars and attending fundraisers with this elite set of Americans, it’s impossible for them to be unaffected by it.
When it comes to race instead of income, the story’s the same. As Demos’ Adam Lioz wrote in a 2015 follow-up to Stacked Deck focused on race and money in politics, “Elections funded primarily by wealthy, white donors mean that candidates as a whole are less likely to prioritize the needs of people of color; and that candidates of color are less likely to run for elected office, raise less money when they do, and are less likely to win.”
The 2016 presidential election will be the most expensive in history, and if this week’s announcement by the Koch brothers is any sign, it’ll be more influenced by millionaires and billionaires than ever before. And all of this money from a small fraction of the American people, and the influence it buys, will have a big impact on the policies politicians enact.
