West Virginia's 3rd congressional district

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in southern West Virginia. The district covers the state's second largest city, Huntington, includes Bluefield, Princeton and Beckley, and has a long history of coal mining (especially in the southwestern counties), forestry and farming.[5]

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district since January 3, 2013
Representative
  Carol Miller
RHuntington
Distribution
  • 59.84% rural[1]
  • 40.16% urban
Population (2019)567,297[2]
Median household
income
$42,553[3]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+23[4]

The district is currently represented by Republican Carol Miller.

Character

The modern district has grown in geographic size over the years, as it contains the area of the state that has lost the most population. Most of the congressmen listed below prior to the 1992 election cycle actually represented other parts of the state, as most of the modern 3rd District's history is found in the obsolete 4th, 5th, and 6th Districts.

The modern 3rd District began to take shape in the 1960s. For much of its history, the 4th district had been focused on Huntington and the mill towns and farm communities north of that city along the Ohio River, while the 5th and 6th Districts were focused on the then safely Democratic coal fields. In the 1970 redistricting, the 5th (which had absorbed most of the 6th due to population loss 10 years earlier) was eliminated, and most of its territory was merged into the 4th to form what is now the western half of the modern 3rd. In the 1990 redistricting the old 4th was renumbered as the 3rd and took in what is now the eastern half of its current shape from a previous version of the 2nd District.

The current major areas of the district include the industrial and university city of Huntington, the coal producing southwestern part of the state, and the more conservative farm and timber region of the southeastern part of the state. 2010 Census figures again showed a major population loss, and Mason County was transferred from the 2nd to the 3rd District. This will not change the character of the district in a significant way.

Despite the strength of Democrats at the local and state level, in presidential elections the district has followed the increasing Republican trend in West Virginia. While Bill Clinton twice carried the district handily in three-way races, Al Gore just narrowly won the district in 2000 with 51% of the vote. George W. Bush won the district in 2004 with 53% of the vote, and John McCain carried the district in 2008 with 55.76% of the vote, continuing the district, and the state's rightward shift despite a large shift towards the Democrats nationally in 2008. In 2012, the district shifted significantly towards the Republicans yet again, with Republican Mitt Romney defeating President Barack Obama 65.0% to 32.8% in the district. In 2016, the district shifted even further towards the Republican Party, with Republican Donald Trump defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton (wife of Bill Clinton, who carried the district by significant margins in the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections), by a massive margin of 72.5% to 23.3%.

Statewide election results

Election results from presidential races:

Year Office Results
1996 President Bill Clinton 58% - Bob Dole 32%
2000 President Al Gore 51% - George W. Bush 44%
Senate Robert Byrd 80% - David Gallaher 18%
2004 President George W. Bush 53% - John Kerry 46%
2008 President John McCain 56% - Barack Obama 42%
2012 President Mitt Romney 65% - Barack Obama 33%
Senate Joe Manchin 65% - John Raese 32%
2014 Senate Shelly Moore Capito 61% - Natalie Tennant 36%
2016 President Donald Trump 73% - Hillary Clinton 23%
2018 Senate Joe Manchin 49% - Patrick Morrisey 47%
2020 President Donald Trump 73% - Joe Biden 26%

History

The Third District as originally formed in 1863 included Kanawha, Jackson, Mason, Putnam, Cabell, Clay, Wayne, Logan, Boone, Braxton, Nicholas, Roane and McDowell counties. It was essentially the successor of Virginia's 12th congressional district.

In 1882, the district was reformed of Logan, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, Boone, Kanawha, Fayette, Clay, Nicholas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, Webster, Pocahontas, and Upshur counties. In 1902, Logan, Wyoming, McDowell, Raleigh, Boone and Mercer were removed. In 1916 the district was, more or less, renumbered as the new 6th District, and the 3rd was totally reconstituted as Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Calhoun, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Braxton, Clay, Nicholas, and Webster counties. In 1934, Fayette was added. In 1952, Wirt was added. In 1962, the district was again totally broken up and reconstituted as Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Nicholas and Raleigh. In 1972, Raleigh was removed and Ritchie, Wirt, Gilmer, Calhoun, Mason, Jackson, Roane, Braxton, Putnam, Lincoln, and Boone were added. In 1982, Lewis was added.

The district's current configuration dates from the 1990 round of redistricting. From 1992 to 2002, it consisted of Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Webster, and Wyoming. In 2002, Nicholas was added. For the 2012 cycle, Mason was added.[6]

List of members representing the district

Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history
District created December 7, 1863

Kellian Whaley
Unconditional Unionist December 7, 1863 –
March 3, 1867
38th
39th
Elected in 1863.
Re-elected in 1864.
Retired.

Daniel Polsley
Republican March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1869
40th Elected in 1866.
Retired.

John Witcher
Republican March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
41st Elected in 1868.
Lost re-election.

Frank Hereford
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
January 31, 1877
42nd
43rd
44th
Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator and resigned when elected.
Vacant January 31, 1877 –
March 3, 1877
44th

John E. Kenna
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883
45th
46th
47th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882, but resigned when elected U.S. Senator.
Vacant March 4, 1883 –
May 15, 1883
48th

Charles P. Snyder
Democratic May 15, 1883 –
March 3, 1889
48th
49th
50th
Elected to finish Kenna's term.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Retired.

John D. Alderson
Democratic March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1895
51st
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.

James Hall Huling
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897
54th Elected in 1894.
Retired.

Charles Dorr
Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899
55th Elected in 1896.
Retired.
David Emmons Johnston Democratic March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901
56th Elected in 1898.
Lost re-election.

Joseph H. Gaines
Republican March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1911
57th
58th
59th
60th
61st
Elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Lost re-election.

Adam Brown Littlepage
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913
62nd Elected in 1910.
Lost re-election.

Samuel B. Avis
Republican March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
63rd Elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.

Adam Brown Littlepage
Democratic March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1917
64th Elected in 1914.
Redistricted to the 6th district.

Stuart F. Reed
Republican March 4, 1917 –
March 3, 1925
65th
66th
67th
68th
Elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Retired.

John M. Wolverton
Republican March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1927
69th Elected in 1924.
Lost re-election.
William S. O'Brien Democratic March 4, 1927 –
March 3, 1929
70th Elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.

John M. Wolverton
Republican March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1931
71st Elected in 1928.
Lost re-election.

Lynn Hornor
Democratic March 4, 1931 –
September 23, 1933
72nd
73rd
Elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Died.
Vacant September 23, 1933 –
November 28, 1933
73rd

Andrew Edmiston Jr.
Democratic November 28, 1933 –
January 3, 1943
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
Elected to finish Hornor's term.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Lost re-election.
Edward G. Rohrbough Republican January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1945
78th Elected in 1942.
Lost re-election.

Cleveland M. Bailey
Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1947
79th Elected in 1944.
Lost re-election.
Edward G. Rohrbough Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1949
80th Elected in 1946.
Lost re-election.

Cleveland M. Bailey
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1963
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Redistricted to the 1st district and lost re-election.

John M. Slack Jr.
Democratic January 3, 1963 –
March 17, 1980
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Died.
Vacant March 17, 1980 –
June 30, 1980
96th

John G. Hutchinson
Democratic June 30, 1980 –
January 3, 1981
Elected to finish Slack's term.
Lost re-election.

Mick Staton
Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1983
97th Elected in 1980.
Lost re-election.

Bob Wise
Democratic January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
Elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.

Nick Rahall
Democratic January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2015
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Lost re-election.

Evan Jenkins
Republican January 3, 2015 –
September 30, 2018
114th
115th
Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Resigned to become Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
Vacant September 30, 2018 –
January 3, 2019
115th

Carol Miller
Republican January 3, 2019 –
Present
116th
117th
Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.

Recent election results

2012

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2012[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 108,199 54.0
Republican Rick Snuffer 92,238 46.0
Total votes 200,437 100.0
Democratic hold

2014

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2014[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Evan Jenkins 77,713 55.3
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 62,688 44.7
Total votes 140,401 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2016

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2016[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Evan Jenkins (incumbent) 140,741 67.9
Democratic Matt Detch 49,708 24.0
Libertarian Zane Lawhorn 16,883 8.1
Total votes 207,332 100.0
Republican hold

2018

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Carol Miller 98,645 56.4
Democratic Richard Ojeda 76,340 43.6
Total votes 174,985 100.0
Republican hold

2020

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2020[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Carol Miller (incumbent) 161,585 71.3
Democratic Hilary Turner 64,927 28.7
Total votes 226,512 100.0
Republican hold


Historical district boundaries

2003 - 2013

See also

References

  1. Geography, US Census Bureau. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov.
  2. Bureau, Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  3. https://www.census.gov/mycd/?st=54&cd=03
  4. "Partisan Voting Index – Districts of the 115th Congress" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  5. "West Va.'s 3rd District Is not a Simple 'Trump Country' Race - Daily Yonder". www.dailyyonder.com. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  6. West Virginia Blue Book (pp 538, 2012 edition)
  7. "WV SOS - Election Results Center - State And County Election Results". West Virginia Secretary of State Elections Results Center.

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