Kentucky's 2nd congressional district
Kentucky's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Located in west central Kentucky, the district includes Bowling Green, Owensboro, and Elizabethtown. The district has not seen an incumbent defeated since 1884.
Kentucky's 2nd congressional district | |||
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![]() Kentucky's 2nd congressional district - since January 3, 2013. | |||
Representative |
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Distribution |
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Population (2016) | 754,967[2] | ||
Median income | $50,289[3] | ||
Ethnicity |
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Cook PVI | R+19[4] |
The district is currently represented by Republican Brett Guthrie.
Former Representative Democrat William Natcher is noted for holding the record for most consecutive roll call votes in the history of Congress - more than 18,000 votes.
Characteristics
The district is similar in character to the 1st district. While Democrats still hold most local offices in the district, they tend to be very conservative on social issues, a trend that leads them to vote Republican in most national elections.
As of June 2016, there were 532,145 registered voters: 267,853 (50.33%) Democrats, 222,631 (41.84%) Republicans, and 29,501 (5.54%) "Others". All of the "Others" included 11,071 (2.08%) Independents, 843 (0.16%) Libertarians, 146 (0.02%) Greens, 65 (0.01%) Constitutionalists, 16 (0.003%) Reforms, and 19 (0.003%) Socialists.[5]
Until January 1, 2006, Kentucky did not track party affiliation for registered voters who were neither Democratic nor Republican.[6] The Kentucky voter registration card does not explicitly list anything other than Democratic Party, Republican Party, or Other, with the "Other" option having a blank line and no instructions on how to register as something else.[7]
Kentucky counties within the 2nd congressional district: Barren, Boyle, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Daviess, Edmonson, Garrard, Grayson, Green, Hancock, Hardin, Hart, Jessamine (partial), LaRue, Meade, Mercer, Nelson, Spencer (partial), Warren, Washington (partial)
Recent presidential elections
Election results from presidential races | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Office | Results |
2000 | President | Bush 62 - 37% |
2004 | President | Bush 65 - 34% |
2008 | President | McCain 61 - 38% |
2012 | President | Romney 63 - 35% |
2016 | President | Trump 68 - 27% |
List of members representing the district
Member | Party | Years | Cong ress |
Electoral history | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alexander D. Orr | Anti-Administration | November 8, 1792 – March 3, 1795 |
3rd 4th 5th |
Elected September 7, 1792. Re-elected in 1793. Re-elected in 1795. Retired. |
1792–1797: "Northern district": Bourbon, Fayette, Mason, Scott, and Woodford counties |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1797 | ||||
John Fowler | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1803 |
6th 7th 8th |
Elected in 1797. Re-elected in 1799. Re-elected in 1801. Redistricted to the 5th district. |
1797–1803: "Northern district": Bourbon, Campbell, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Mason, Scott, and Woodford counties |
John Boyle | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1809 |
9th 10th 11th |
Elected in 1803. Re-elected in 1804. Re-elected in 1806. Retired. |
1803–1813 [data unknown/missing] |
Samuel McKee | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1813 |
12th | Elected in 1808. Re-elected in 1810. Redistricted to the 7th district. | |
![]() Henry Clay |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1813 – January 19, 1814 |
13th | Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1812. Resigned to accept a position as diplomatic envoy to Great Britain. |
1813–1823 [data unknown/missing] |
Vacant | January 19, 1814 – March 29, 1814 | ||||
Joseph H. Hawkins | Democratic-Republican | March 29, 1814 – March 3, 1815 |
Elected to finish Clay's term. Retired. | ||
Vacant | March 3, 1815 – October 30, 1815 |
14th | Henry Clay was re-elected in 1814, but the Governor declared the seat vacant as Clay was out of the country. | ||
![]() Henry Clay |
Democratic-Republican | October 30, 1815 – March 3, 1821 |
14th 15th 16th |
Elected to finish his vacant term. Re-elected in 1816. Re-elected in 1818. Retired. | |
Samuel H. Woodson | Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823 |
17th | Elected in 1820. Redistricted to the 7th district. | |
![]() Thomas Metcalfe |
Adams-Clay Democratic-Republican | March 3, 1823 – March 3, 1825 |
18th 19th 20th |
Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1827. Resigned to run for Governor of Kentucky. |
1823–1833 Bourbon, Bracken, Mason, Nicholas counties |
Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – June 1, 1828 | ||||
Vacant | June 1, 1828 – December 1, 1828 |
20th | |||
![]() John Chambers |
Anti-Jacksonian | December 1, 1828 – March 3, 1829 |
[data unknown/missing] | ||
Nicholas D. Coleman | Jacksonian | March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831 |
21st | [data unknown/missing] | |
Thomas A. Marshall | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 |
22nd | [data unknown/missing] Redistricted to the 12th district. | |
Albert G. Hawes | Jacksonian | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 |
23rd 24th |
Redistricted from the 11th district. [data unknown/missing] |
1833–1843 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() Edward Rumsey |
Whig | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 |
25th | [data unknown/missing] | |
Philip Triplett | Whig | March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843 |
26th 27th |
[data unknown/missing] | |
Willis Green | Whig | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 |
28th | Redistricted from the 6th district. [data unknown/missing] |
1843–1853 [data unknown/missing] |
John H. McHenry | Whig | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 |
29th | [data unknown/missing] | |
![]() Beverly L. Clarke |
Democratic | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 |
30th | [data unknown/missing] | |
James L. Johnson | Whig | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 |
31st | [data unknown/missing] | |
Benjamin E. Grey | Whig | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1855 |
32nd 33rd |
[data unknown/missing] | |
1853–1863 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
John P. Campbell Jr. | Know Nothing | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 |
34th | [data unknown/missing] | |
![]() Samuel Peyton |
Democratic | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 |
35th 36th |
[data unknown/missing] | |
![]() James S. Jackson |
Unionist | March 4, 1861 – December 13, 1861 |
37th | [data unknown/missing] Resigned to enter the Union Army. | |
Vacant | December 13, 1861 – December 1, 1862 | ||||
![]() George H. Yeaman |
Unionist | December 1, 1862 – March 3, 1865 |
37th 38th |
[data unknown/missing] Lost re-election. | |
1863–1873 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
![]() Burwell C. Ritter |
Democratic | March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 |
39th | [data unknown/missing] | |
Vacant | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1869 |
40th | |||
![]() William N. Sweeney |
Democratic | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 |
41st | [data unknown/missing] | |
![]() Henry D. McHenry |
Democratic | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 |
42nd | [data unknown/missing] | |
![]() John Y. Brown |
Democratic | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877 |
43rd 44th |
[data unknown/missing] | 1873–1883 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() James A. McKenzie |
Democratic | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883 |
45th 46th 47th |
[data unknown/missing] | |
James F. Clay | Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 |
48th | [data unknown/missing] | 1883–1893 [data unknown/missing] |
![]() Polk Laffoon |
Democratic | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 |
49th 50th |
[data unknown/missing] | |
![]() William T. Ellis |
Democratic | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1895 |
51st 52nd 53rd |
[data unknown/missing] | |
1893–1903 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
![]() John D. Clardy |
Democratic | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899 |
54th 55th |
[data unknown/missing] | |
![]() Henry D. Allen |
Democratic | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903 |
56th 57th |
[data unknown/missing] | |
![]() Augustus O. Stanley |
Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1915 |
58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd |
[data unknown/missing] | 1903–1913 [data unknown/missing] |
1913–1923 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
![]() David H. Kincheloe |
Democratic | March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1923 |
64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st |
[data unknown/missing] Resigned when appointed to the U.S. Customs Court. | |
March 4, 1923 – October 5, 1930 |
1923–1933 [data unknown/missing] | ||||
Vacant | October 5, 1930 – November 4, 1930 |
71st | |||
John L. Dorsey Jr. | Democratic | November 4, 1930 – March 3, 1931 |
[data unknown/missing] | ||
![]() Glover H. Cary |
Democratic | March 4, 1931 – March 3, 1933 |
72nd | [data unknown/missing] Redistricted to the at-large district. | |
District not used. | March 4, 1933 – March 3, 1935 | ||||
![]() Glover H. Cary |
Democratic | March 4, 1935 – December 5, 1936 |
74th | Redistricted from the at-large district. Died. |
1935–1943 [data unknown/missing] |
Vacant | December 5, 1936 – March 2, 1937 | ||||
Beverly M. Vincent | Democratic | March 2, 1937 – January 3, 1945 |
74th 75th 76th 77th 78th |
[data unknown/missing] Retired. | |
1943–1953 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
![]() Earle Clements |
Democratic | January 3, 1945 – January 6, 1948 |
79th 80th |
[data unknown/missing] Resigned when elected Governor of Kentucky. | |
![]() John A. Whitaker |
Democratic | April 17, 1948 – December 15, 1951 |
80th 81st 82nd |
[data unknown/missing] Died. | |
Vacant | December 15, 1951 – August 2, 1952 | ||||
![]() Garrett Withers |
Democratic | August 2, 1952 – April 30, 1953 |
82nd 83rd |
[data unknown/missing] Died. | |
1953–1963 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
![]() William Natcher |
Democratic | August 1, 1953 – March 29, 1994 |
83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd |
[data unknown/missing] Died. | |
1963–1973 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
1973–1983 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
1983–1993 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
1993–2003 [data unknown/missing] | |||||
Vacant | March 29, 1994 – May 24, 1994 |
103rd | |||
![]() Ron Lewis |
Republican | May 24, 1994 – January 3, 2009 |
103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th |
[data unknown/missing] Retired. | |
2003–2013![]() | |||||
![]() Brett Guthrie |
Republican | January 3, 2009 – Present |
111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th |
[data unknown/missing] | |
2013–Present![]() Counties: Barren, Boyle, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Daviess, Edmonson, Garrard, Grayson, Green, Hancock, Hardin, Hart, Jessamine (partial), LaRue, Meade, Mercer, Nelson, Spencer (partial), Warren, Washington (partial) |
Recent election results
2002
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ron Lewis (Incumbent) | 122,773 | 69.64% | |
Democratic | David Lynn Williams | 51,431 | 29.17% | |
Libertarian | Robert Guy Dyer | 2,084 | 1.18% | |
Total votes | 176,288 | 100.00% | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold | ||||
2004
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ron Lewis (Incumbent) | 185,394 | 67.92% | |
Democratic | Adam Smith | 87,585 | 32.08% | |
Total votes | 272,979 | 100.00% | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold | ||||
2006
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ron Lewis (Incumbent) | 118,548 | 55.41% | |
Democratic | Mike Weaver | 95,415 | 44.59% | |
Total votes | 213,963 | 100.00% | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold | ||||
2008
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brett Guthrie | 158,936 | 52.57% | |
Democratic | David E. Boswell | 143,379 | 47.43% | |
Total votes | 302,315 | 100.00% | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold | ||||
2010
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brett Guthrie (Incumbent) | 155,906 | 67.89% | |
Democratic | Ed Marksberry | 73,749 | 28.75% | |
Total votes | 229,655 | 100.00% | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold | ||||
2012
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brett Guthrie (Incumbent) | 181,508 | 64.30% | |
Democratic | David Lynn Williams | 89,541 | 31.72% | |
Independent | Andrew R. Beacham | 6,304 | 2.23% | |
Libertarian | Craig Astor | 4,914 | 1.74% | |
Total votes | 282,267 | 100.00% | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold | ||||
2014
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brett Guthrie (Incumbent) | 156,936 | 69.19% | |
Democratic | Ron Leach | 69,898 | 30.81% | |
Total votes | 226,834 | 100.00% | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold | ||||
2016
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brett Guthrie (Incumbent) | 251,823 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 251,823 | 100.00% | ||
Turnout | ||||
Republican hold | ||||
2018
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brett Guthrie (Incumbent) | 171,700 | 66.7% | |
Democratic | Hank Linderman | 79,964 | 31.1% | |
Independent | Thomas Loecken | 5,681 | 2.2% | |
Total votes | 257,345 | 100.0% | ||
Republican hold |
References
- Geography, US Census Bureau. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
- Bureau, Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
- Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
- "Partisan Voting Index – Districts of the 115th Congress" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- "Voter Stats" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-29.
- "Kentucky Administrative Regulations 31KAR4:150". Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. November 2005. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
- "Register To Vote". Kentucky State Board of Elections. August 2003. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
- 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