Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district


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 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, and also Harper, Ellis, Woodward, Woods, Major, Alfalfa, Grant, Garfield, Kay, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Creek, Payne, Lincoln, Logan, Kingfisher, Blaine, Canadian, Dewey, Custer, Rogers 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.

Demographics

Half of the district's inhabitants are urban and 3 percent of adults working in the district use public transportation, ride a bike, or walk. The district's population is 5 percent Latino and 3 percent foreign-born.

Results from recent statewide elections

Politics

The political success of the Republican party in the region is tied to the state's settlement patterns. Northwest Oklahoma was settled out of Kansas while southeast was settled by Southerners that brought with them Democratic traditions.
The Great Depression hurt the GOP, but it has since regained its place in the state, and the growing social conservative bent in the state has allowed it to overtake the Democrats. It is now one of the most Republican districts in the nation.
George W. Bush received 72 percent of the district's vote in 2004.

List of members representing the district

Historical district boundaries