Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district is the largest congressional district in the state, covering an area of 34,088.49 square miles, over 48 percent the state's land mass. The district is bordered by New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and the Texas panhandle. Altogether, the district includes (in whole or in part) a total of 32 counties, and covers more territory than the state's other four districts combined. It is one of the largest districts in the nation that does not cover an entire state.
The district has been represented by Republican Frank Lucas since 2003.
Prior to 2003, most of the territory now in the 3rd district was in the 6th district. Meanwhile, from 1915 to 2003, the 3rd district was located in southeastern Oklahoma, an area known as Little Dixie. It had a dramatically different voting history from the current 3rd; only one Republican ever won it. It was the district of Carl Albert, Speaker of the House from 1971 to 1977.
Geography
The district borders New Mexico to the west, Colorado and Kansas to the north, and the Texas panhandle to the south. To the far west, the district includes the three counties of the Oklahoma Panhandle (Cimarron, Texas, Beaver), and also Harper, Ellis, Woodward, Woods, Major, Alfalfa, Grant, Garfield, Kay, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Creek, Payne, Lincoln, Logan, Kingfisher, Blaine, Canadian, Dewey, Custer, Roger Mills, Beckham, Washita, Caddo, Kiowa, Greer, Harmon, and Jackson.
Some of the principal cities in the district include Guymon, Ponca City, Cheyenne, Enid, Stillwater, Yukon, Guthrie, Sapulpa and Altus. It also includes slivers of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
History
The political success of the Republican party in the region reflects changing patterns of party affiliation similar to changes across the South. Although northwest Oklahoma was settled by migrants from Kansas, who favored the Republican Party and the Union during the Civil War, the southeast was settled by conservative white Southerners. For decades they were affiliated with the United States Democratic Party and traditions of that region.[3]
The Great Depression hurt the GOP.[3] Since the late 20th century, party affiliations have changed, and today most white conservatives belong to the Republican Party here. It is now one of the most Republican districts in the nation. George W. Bush received 72 percent of the district's presidential vote in 2004.
Unlike the previous 3rd congressional district, a largely rural area, today half of the district's inhabitants are classified as urban, and 3 percent of adults working in the district use public transportation, ride a bike, or walk.[4] The district's population is 5 percent Latino and 3 percent foreign-born.[4]
Recent election results from statewide races
| Year | Office | Results[5][6][7] |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | President | McCain 69% - 29% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 71% - 29% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 70% - 25% |
| Senate | Lankford 72% - 20% | |
| 2018 | Governor | Stitt 59% - 37% |
| Lt. Governor | Pinnell 67% - 30% | |
| Attorney General | Hunter 69% - 31% | |
| 2020 | President | Trump 71% - 27% |
| Senate | Inhofe 68% - 28% | |
| 2022 | Senate (Reg.) | Lankford 70% - 26% |
| Senate (Spec.) | Mullin 67% - 30% |
Composition
For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:[8]
Alfalfa County (11)
- All 11 communities
Beaver County (6)
- All 6 communities
Beckham County (6)
- All 6 communities
Blaine County (10)
- All 10 communities
Caddo County (13)
- All 13 communities
Canadian County (6)
- Calumet, Cedar Lake, El Reno, Mustang, Oklahoma City (part; also 4th and 5th; shared with Cleveland, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties), Union City
Cimarron County (4)
- All 4 communities
Creek County (13)
- Bristow, Depew, Drumright, Kellyville, Lawrence Creek, Manford, Milfay, Oilton, Olive, Sapulpa (part; also 1st; shared with Tulsa County), Shamrock, Shroud, Slick
Custer County (7)
- All 7 communities
Dewey County (7)
- All 7 communities
Ellis County (4)
- All 4 communities
Garfield County (15)
- All 15 communities
Grant County (9)
- All 9 communities
Harmon County (2)
Harper County (4)
- All 4 communities
Jackson County (9)
- All 9 communities
Kay County (1)
- All 11 communities
- All 6 communities
Kiowa County (8)
- All 8 communities
Logan County (5)
- Crescent, Crescent Springs, Lovell, Marshall, Mulhall (shared with Payne County), Orlando (shared with Payne County)
Major County (7)
- All 7 communities
Noble County (7)
- All 7 communities
Oklahoma County (1)
- Oklahoma City (part; also 4th and 5th; shared with Canadian, Cleveland, and Pottawatomie counties)
Osage County (23)
- All 23 communities
Pawnee County (11)
- All 11 communities
Payne County (12)
- All 12 communities
- All 5 communities
Texas County (7)
- All 7 communities
Washita County (11)
- All 11 communities
Woods County (7)
- All 7 communities
Woodward County (5)
- All 5 communities
List of members representing the district
Recent election results
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 201,744 | 75.3 | |
| Democratic | Timothy Ray Murray | 53,472 | 20.0 | |
| Independent | William M. Sanders | 12,787 | 4.8 | |
| Total votes | 268,003 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2014
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 133,335 | 78.6 | |
| Democratic | Frankie Robbins | 36,270 | 21.4 | |
| Total votes | 169,605 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2016
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 227,525 | 78.3 | |
| Democratic | Frankie Robbins | 63,090 | 21.7 | |
| Total votes | 290,615 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 172,913 | 73.9 | |
| Democratic | Frankie Robbins | 61,152 | 26.1 | |
| Total votes | 234,065 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2020
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 242,677 | 78.5 | |
| Democratic | Zoe Midyett | 66,501 | 21.5 | |
| Total votes | 309,178 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2022
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 147,418 | 74.5 | |
| Democratic | Jeremiah Ross | 50,354 | 25.4 | |
| Total votes | 197,772 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
See also
References
- ^ "My Congressional District".
- ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ a b Gaddie, Ronald Keith. Republican Party Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed February 11, 2010).
- ^ a b Representative Frank Lucas, That's My Congress (accessed June 1, 2010).
- ^ https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::f726bcb3-b750-44b2-9d0b-e2df90fe6fa5
- ^ oklahoma 2020 pres-by-newCD. docs.google.com (Report).
- ^ OK 2022 US Senate races by CD. docs.google.com (Report).
- ^ https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST40/CD118_OK03.pdf
- ^ "Oklahoma Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election".
- ^ "Oklahoma Elections – 2014". Oklahoma Secretary of State. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- ^ "Oklahoma Elections — 2018". Oklahoma State Election Board. The State of Oklahoma. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ "November 3, 2020 - Official Results". Oklahoma State Election Board.
- ^ "November 8 2022 Oklahoma Official results". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
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