Alabama's 3rd congressional district

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Alabama's 3rd congressional district
District map as of 2002
Current Representative		Mike Rogers (R)
Area	7,988 mi² (20,688 km²)
Distribution	53.3% urban, 46.7% rural
Population (2000)	635,300
Median income	$30,806
Ethnicity	64.9% White, 32.2% Black, 0.6% Asian, 1.2% Hispanic, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% other
Occupation	33.1% blue collar, 51.7% white collar, 15.2% gray collar
Cook PVI	R+9

Alabama's Third Congressional District is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Lee, Macon, Randolph, Russell, Talladega, and Tallapoosa. It also includes parts of Montgomery and Coosa Counties.

It is currently represented by Republican Mike Rogers, and was formerly represented by Bob Riley, who serves as the current Governor of Alabama.

[edit] Character

Alabama's 3rd Congressional District is geographically and culturally centered around Lineville, Alabama. The area is heavily influenced by the presence of the military. Calhoun County is home to the Anniston Army Depot and formerly the home of Fort McClellan until its closure in 1999. Clay County has one of the highest concentrations of guard enlistments and reservists in the state and in the South for that matter. There is also a large military installation located at Phenix City which plays a very large part in the surrounding economy.

Auburn University, the state's flagship land-grant university, is located in the district in the eponymous city of Auburn in Lee County.

Politically, this was once the Heartland of the Democratic Party, home to an abundance of populist white Democrats. However, Republicans took control of the seat in 1997 and continue to hold it today.

The district's character in recent years has been affected by new industries. The manufacturing sector has grown along with business brought by the interstate in Talledega County. Employment has also been steadily moving away from farming and the military and into the industrial sectors. The district has seen an average wage increase of 22% during the last three years.

While considered a Republican stronghold for a decade, some speculate that this district is becoming one of the more competitive in the South. Former President George W. Bush won 58% of the vote here in 2004, and the district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R+4.

In 2008, John McCain carried the 3rd District with 56.21% of the vote to Barack Obama's 43.04%.

[edit] Representation

A visual representation of party control of Alabama's 3rd Congressional District. The district first elected a member for the 18th congress.

1. ^ Died in office on May 8, 1838.
2. ^ Elected on September 4, 1838 to fill the vacancy left by Lawler.
3. ^ For the 27th Congress all 5 of Alabama's representatives were elected at-large
4. ^ Resigned on April 22, 1844 to fill a Senate vacancy.
5. ^ Elected on December 2, 1844 to fill the vacancy left by Lewis. Resigned on September 1, 1846 for personal reasons.
6. ^ Elected on December 7, 1846 to fill the vacancy left by Yancey
7. ^ Resigned on November 5, 1894 to become governor.
8. ^ Elected on November 6, 1894 to fill the vacancy left by Oates
9. ^ Left office on May 25, 1914 to become a judge.
10. ^ Elected on June 29, 1914 to fill the vacancy left by Clayton
11. ^ Died in office on November 22, 1943
12. ^ Elected on March 14, 1944 to fill the vacancy left by Steagall. Died in office on December 25, 1971.
13. ^ Elected on April 4, 1972 to fill the vacancy left by her husband George.
14. ^ Died in office on December 13, 1988
15. ^ Elected on April 4, 1989 to fill the vacancy left by Nichols.

[edit] Election results

[edit] 2004

[edit] 2006

^[1]

[edit] 2008

^[2]

[edit] External links

• CNN coverage of the 2006 election
• CNN coverage of the 2004 election
• CNN coverage of the 2002 election
• CNN coverage of the 2000 election

[edit] References