West Virginia's 3rd congressional district

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district is an obsolete U.S. congressional district in southern West Virginia. At various times the district covered different parts of the state, but in its final form included the state's second-largest city, Huntington; included Bluefield, Princeton, and Beckley; and has a long history of coal mining (especially in the southwestern counties), forestry, and farming.[1]

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1863
Eliminated2020
Years active1863–2023
The district in its final form, from 2013 to 2023

The district was last represented by Republican Carol Miller. However, because West Virginia lost a congressional seat in the 2020 census, it was eliminated in 2023.[2] On October 22, 2021, Governor Jim Justice signed the new congressional map plans into law. Under the plan, all of the current 3rd would be part of the new 1st. Incumbent representative Miller announced her candidacy for the new 1st district.[3][4]

Character edit

The district grew in geographic size over the years, as it contained the area of the state that 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 recent 3rd district's history was found in the also obsolete 4th, 5th, and 6th districts.

The last version of the 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 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 major areas of the last version of the district included 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 did 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 followed the increasing Republican trend in West Virginia. While Bill Clinton twice carried the district handily in three-way races, Al Gore had 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%.

Obsolete edit

The district became obsolete following the 2020 United States census.[5]

Statewide election results edit

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 Shelley 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 27%

History edit

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 to include 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 last configuration dated 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] All of the counties of the last version of the district are now part of the 1st District.

List of members representing the district edit

Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history
District established December 7, 1863
 
Kellian Whaley
(Point Pleasant)
Unconditional Unionist December 7, 1863 –
March 3, 1867
38th
39th
Elected in 1863.
Re-elected in 1864.
Retired.
 
Daniel Polsley
(Point Pleasant)
Republican March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1869
40th Elected in 1866.
Retired.
 
John Witcher
(Guyandotte)
Republican March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
41st Elected in 1868.
Lost re-election.
 
Frank Hereford
(Union)
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
(Kanawha)
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
(Charleston)
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
(Nicholas)
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
(Charleston)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897
54th Elected in 1894.
Retired.
 
Charles Dorr
(Addison)
Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899
55th Elected in 1896.
Retired.
 
David Emmons Johnston
(Bluefield)
Democratic March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901
56th Elected in 1898.
Lost re-election.
 
Joseph H. Gaines
(Charleston)
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
(Charleston)
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1913
62nd Elected in 1910.
Lost re-election.


 
Samuel B. Avis
(Charleston)
Republican March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
63rd Elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.
 
Adam Brown Littlepage
(Charleston)
Democratic March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1917
64th Elected in 1914.
Redistricted to the 6th district.
 
Stuart F. Reed
(Clarksburg)
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
(Richwood)
Republican March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1927
69th Elected in 1924.
Lost re-election.
 
William S. O'Brien
(Buckhannon)
Democratic March 4, 1927 –
March 3, 1929
70th Elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.
 
John M. Wolverton
(Richwood)
Republican March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1931
71st Elected in 1928.
Lost re-election.
 
Lynn Hornor
(Clarksburg)
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.
(Weston)
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
(Glenville)
Republican January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1945
78th Elected in 1942.
Lost re-election.
 
Cleveland M. Bailey
(Clarksburg)
Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1947
79th Elected in 1944.
Lost re-election.
 
Edward G. Rohrbough
(Glenville)
Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1949
80th Elected in 1946.
Lost re-election.
 
Cleveland M. Bailey
(Clarksburg)
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.
(Charleston)
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
(Charleston)
Democratic June 30, 1980 –
January 3, 1981
Elected to finish Slack's term.
Lost re-election.
 
Mick Staton
(South Charleston)
Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1983
97th Elected in 1980.
Lost re-election.
 
Bob Wise
(Clendenin)
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
(Beckley)
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
(Huntington)
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
(Huntington)
Republican January 3, 2019 –
January 3, 2023
116th
117th
Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the 1st district.
District dissolved January 3, 2023

Recent election results edit

2000s edit

2000 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 146,807 91.3
Libertarian Jeff Robinson 13,979 8.7
Total votes 160,786 100.00
2002 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 87,783 70.2
Republican Paul Chapman 37,229 29.8
Total votes 125,012 100.00
2004 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 142,682 65.2
Republican Rick Snuffer 76,170 34.8
Total votes 218,852 100.00
2006 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 92,413 69.4
Republican Kim Wolfe 40,820 30.6
Total votes 133,233 100.00
2008 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 133,522 66.9
Republican Marty Gearheart 66,005 33.1
Total votes 199,527 100.00

2010s edit

2010 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 83,636 56.0
Republican Elliott Maynard 65,611 44.0
Total votes 149,247 100.00
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2012[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 108,199 53.9
Republican Rick Snuffer 92,238 46.1
Total votes 200,437 100.0
Democratic hold
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2014[9]
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
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2016[9]
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
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2018[10]
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

2020s edit

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2020[11]
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 edit

 
2003 - 2013

See also edit

References edit

Specific
  1. ^ "West Va.'s 3rd District Is not a Simple 'Trump Country' Race - Daily Yonder". www.dailyyonder.com. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  2. ^ Santucci, Katie Wadington and Jeanine. "Texas will gain 2 congressional seats. Seven states to lose 1 seat, Census Bureau data shows". USA TODAY. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  3. ^ WRITER, Charles Young SENIOR STAFF. "West Virginia's redistricted congressional map complete". WV News. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  4. ^ Rakich, Ryan Best, Aaron Bycoffe and Nathaniel (August 9, 2021). "What Redistricting Looks Like In Every State - West Virginia". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved October 23, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Merica, Dan; Stark, Liz (April 26, 2021). "Census Bureau announces 331 million people in US, Texas will add two congressional seats". CNN. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  6. ^ West Virginia Blue Book (pp 538, 2012 edition)
  7. ^ a b c d e f "West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District - Ballotpedia".
  8. ^ "WV SOS - Election Results Center - State And County Election Results". West Virginia Secretary of State Elections Results Center.
  9. ^ a b "West Virginia Statewide Results General Election – November 8, 2016 Official Results". West Virginia Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  10. ^ Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "November 3, 2020 General Election - Official Results". West Virginia State - Clarity Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
General

37°59′28″N 81°13′06″W / 37.99111°N 81.21833°W / 37.99111; -81.21833