Michigan's 15th congressional district
Michigan's 15th congressional district is an obsolete congressional district in the state of Michigan.
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Historically, the district's politics have been dominated by the Dingell family since its creation after the 1930 United States Census. Its first congressman, John D. Dingell, Sr., was elected in 1932 and served until his death in 1955. His son, John, Jr. won a special election to succeed him; upon Dingell Jr.'s own retirement in 2015, his wife Debbie Dingell won his seat and is now the incumbent. As such, the district (even after it was absorbed by the 13th district in 2013) has been represented continuously by a Dingell for the last 89 years.
The 15th district historically had left-of-center voting tendencies. Its last Cook PVI rating was D+13, meaning it supported Democratic candidates at a rate of 13 percentage points greater than the national average.
This district became obsolete for the 113th Congress in 2013 as congressional district lines were redrawn to accommodate the loss of the seat due to reapportionment as a result of the 2010 Census. Most of the district's territory, including Ann Arbor and Dingell's home in Dearborn, became part of the new 12th district, which had previously been based in Oakland, and Macomb Counties.
Along with the 1st district and the now-defunct 16th district, the 15th has been historically frequently represented by politicians of Polish descent. Three of the district's six elected representatives (Dingell Jr. was elected twice and before that he was a representative from 16th district, which was later dissolved) have been Polish-Americans.
Major cities from 2003 to 2013
Voting
| Election results from presidential races | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 66 - 33% |
| 2004 | President | Kerry 62 - 38% |
| 2000 | President | Gore 60 - 38% |
| 1996 | President | Clinton 87 - 10% |
| 1992 | President | Clinton 82 - 13% |
List of representatives
| Representative | Party | Tenure | Congress | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District created | March 3, 1933 | |||
 | Democratic | March 3, 1933 – September 19, 1955 | 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th | Died |
| Vacant | September 19, 1955 – December 13, 1955 | 84th | ||
 | Democratic | December 13, 1955 – January 3, 1965 | 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th | Redistricted to the 16th district |
 | Democratic | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1993 | 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Redistricted to the 13th district |
 | Democratic | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1997 | 103rd 104th | Redistricted from the 13th district; Lost renomination |
 | Democratic | January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003 | 105th 106th 107th | Redistricted to the 13th district |
 | Democratic | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013 | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th | Redistricted from the 16th district; Redistricted to the 12th district |
| District eliminated | January 3, 2013 | |||
References
- U.S. Representatives 1837-2003, Michigan Manual 2003-2004
- 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