Mobile, Alabama, is the focus of this district, which extends north along the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers. Timber production remains the biggest source of contributions to the local economy, however recently gulf coast condominium developments in Baldwin county represent new economic possibilities.
Politically, this area was one of the first in Alabama to shake off its Democratic roots. It was one of five districts to swing Republican in 1964, when Barry Goldwaterswept the state. The GOP has held the district in every House election since then, usually by landslide margins; indeed, a Democrat has only managed 40 percent of the vote once since the current GOP run began in the district. However, conservative Democrats continued to hold most state and local offices well into the 1990s.
It supported George W. Bush with 60% of the vote in 2000, and with 64% in 2004. In 2008, John McCain received 61.01% of the vote in the district while 38.38% supported Barack Obama.
The 1st district traditionally gives its representatives very long tenures in Washington: only nine people have represented the seat in Congress since 1897, with all but two holding the seat for at least 10 years.
The Allen v. Milligan ruling reshaped the 1st and 2nd districts; rather than splitting the southern border to an east and west district, 1st was changed to represent all south border counties as well as Coffee, Dale, and Henry Counties.
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