Alabama's 6th congressional district

Alabama's 6th congressional district is a United States congressional district in Alabama that elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It is composed of the wealthier portions of Birmingham, nearly all of Jefferson County outside Birmingham, and the entirety of Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Coosa, and Shelby counties.

"AL 6" redirects here. For Alabama State Route 6, see U.S. Route 82 in Alabama.

Alabama's 6th congressional district
Alabama's 6th congressional district - since January 3, 2013.
Representative
  Gary Palmer
R–Hoover
Area4,649 sq mi (12,040 km2)
Distribution
  • 69.17% urban[1]
  • 30.83% rural
Population (2016)706,308[2]
Median income$65,170[3]
Ethnicity
Occupation
Cook PVIR+26[4]

It is currently represented by Republican Gary Palmer.

Character

Once encompassing all of Birmingham and Jefferson County, Alabama's 6th congressional district is now the suburban Birmingham-area district, with nearly all of the urban precincts having been removed since 1992. Due to a continual process of redistricting by Republican state governments since the late 1990s, the 6th district has taken on an increasingly unusual shape (typical of gerrymandered districts) and become one of the most Republican districts in the country. In 2004 it voted 78% for Republican George W. Bush in the presidential election (in keeping with the current proportion of white majority of its population). John McCain swept the district in 2008, taking 75.91% of the vote while Barack Obama received 23.28%.

The demography of the district consists mostly of middle and upper middle-class white-collar white families whose adults work in Birmingham. Increasingly, the population of the Birmingham districts has become racially and politically polarized. Since the 1990s, most wealthier whites moved from the city to the suburbs, settling in newer housing in nearby Shelby County. The African American population of the region has remained largely in more urban areas, even as the upper-class live in income-related neighborhoods.

Birmingham was once the vanguard district for steel production and metalworking in the South, but restructuring of heavy industries hollowed out the economy of the city, taking many jobs with it. The economy of the 6th district since the late 20th century has centered on the banking industry (Birmingham is the second-largest banking area in the South) and health care/medical research. Voters are socially conservative; however, fiscal conservatism is the most salient feature of this district.

History

Alabama's 6th congressional district was originally created in 1843. It encompassed the northeastern portion of Alabama, approximately the modern counties of DeKalb, Jackson, Madison, Marshall, Etowah, St. Clair, Blount and Cullman.

The district had a population of 66,111 as of the 1840 U.S. Census, which made it the second least populous district in Alabama.[5] Neither Cullman County nor Etowah County existed at the time, so only the eastern portion of what today is Cullman County was in the district. In the case of St. Clair County, it appears that only about half of St. Clair County in 1843 was in the district.

The district was redrawn in 1855. This was done in time for the election of representatives to the 34th Congress which was held August 6, 1855. The new boundaries put Cherokee County in the 6th district and removed St. Clair County. These boundaries remained in place until the Civil War.

When Alabama again elected representatives to the U.S. Congress in 1868 for the halfway completed 40th Congress, the 6th district consisted of northwestern Alabama. The only county remaining in the district from before was Blount County. It also encompassed Jefferson, Marion, Walker, Morgan, Limestone, Franklin, Lauderdale and Winston counties. Colbert County did not exist at the time, but was part of Franklin County. This was one of the areas of Alabama where the Democrats soonest regained control after the Civil War.

In 1876, the 6th district was redrawn again. The sixth-most northern counties (including Colbert County which now existed) were transferred to the new Alabama 8th Congressional district, while the six counties southwestward from Jefferson County were transferred to the 6th district.

This set of boundaries only existed for one election. By the time of the 1878 election, Cullman County had been formed. It was in the 6th district, but Blount County was moved to the 8th district. The boundaries did not exactly correspond to county lines at that time, and with another change in county boundaries by 1880 even more area in the general vicinity of Blount County was moved to the 7th district. This process was continued in 1884 with the removal of Cullman County from the district.

The year of 1892 saw more changes in the boundaries of the 6th district. Winston County was moved to the 7th district. At the same time Jefferson County was placed in the new 9th district. By this time the 6th district consisted of west central Alabama. In the 1892 election there were about 22,000 votes cast in the 6th district as opposed to 30,000 cast in the 9th district.[6]

In 1902, Perry County and some other areas in the southern portion of Alabama's 9th Congressional district were transferred to the 6th district. The state legislature did not redistrict for several decades, resulting in urban and industrial areas being under-represented in congressional and state districts. It was forced to redistrict after a 1972 Supreme Court case based on the principle of one man-one vote.

Recent results in statewide elections
Year Office Results
2000 President Bush 74 - 25%
2004 President Bush 78 - 22%
2008 President McCain 76 - 23%
2012 President Romney 74 - 25%
2016 President Trump 71 - 26%

List of members representing the district
Member Party Years Cong
ress		 Electoral history
District created March 4, 1843

Reuben Chapman		 Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1847		 28th
29th		 Redistricted from the at-large district.
Re-elected in 1843.
Re-elected in 1845.
[data unknown/missing]

Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb		 Democratic March 4, 1847 –
January 30, 1861		 30th
31st
32nd
33rd
34th
35th
36th		 Elected in 1847.
Re-elected in 1849.
Re-elected in 1851.
Re-elected in 1853.
Re-elected in 1855.
Re-elected in 1857.
Re-elected in 1859.
Withdrew.
Vacant January 30, 1861 –
July 21, 1868		 36th
37th
38th
39th
40th		 Civil War and Reconstruction

Thomas Haughey		 Republican July 21, 1868 –
March 3, 1869		 40th Elected to finish the partial term.
[data unknown/missing]

William Crawford Sherrod		 Democratic March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871		 41st Elected in 1869.
[data unknown/missing]
Joseph Humphrey Sloss Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1875		 42nd
43rd		 Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
[data unknown/missing]

Goldsmith W. Hewitt		 Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1879		 44th
45th		 Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
[data unknown/missing]
Burwell Boykin Lewis Democratic March 4, 1879 –
October 1, 1880		 46th Elected in 1878.
Resigned to become President of the University of Alabama.
Vacant October 1, 1880 –
December 8, 1880
Newton Nash Clements Democratic December 8, 1880 –
March 3, 1881		 46th Elected to finish Lewis's term.
Had not been a candidate for the next term.

Goldsmith W. Hewitt		 Democratic March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1885		 47th
48th		 Elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
[data unknown/missing]
John Mason Martin Democratic March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1887		 49th Elected in 1884.
[data unknown/missing]

John H. Bankhead		 Democratic March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1907		 50th
51st
52nd
53rd
54th
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th		 Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
[data unknown/missing]

Richmond P. Hobson		 Democratic March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1915		 60th
61st
62nd
63rd		 Elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
[data unknown/missing]

William B. Oliver		 Democratic March 4, 1915 –
January 3, 1937		 64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
73rd
74th		 Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
[data unknown/missing]

Pete Jarman		 Democratic January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1949		 75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th		 Elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
[data unknown/missing]

Edward deGraffenried		 Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1953		 81st
82nd		 Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
[data unknown/missing]

Armistead I. Selden Jr.		 Democratic January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1963		 83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th		 Elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Redistricted to the at-large district.
District inactive January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1965		 88th All representatives elected at-large on a general ticket.

John H. Buchanan Jr.		 Republican January 3, 1965 –
January 3, 1981		 89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th		 Elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
[data unknown/missing]

Albert L. Smith Jr.		 Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1983		 97th Elected in 1980.
[data unknown/missing]

Ben Erdreich		 Democratic January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993		 98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd		 Elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
[data unknown/missing]

Spencer Bachus		 Republican January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2015		 103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th		 Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Retired.

Gary Palmer		 Republican January 3, 2015 –
present		 114th
115th
116th		 Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.

Recent election results

2002
2002 Alabama's 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Spencer T. Bachus III (Incumbent) 178,171 90%
Libertarian J. Holden McAllister 19,639 10
Write-in Write-ins 536 0.27
Majority 158,532 80
Total votes 198,346 100
Republican hold

2004
2004 Alabama's 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Spencer T. Bachus III (Incumbent) 264,819 99%
Write-in Write-ins 3,224 1
Majority 261,595 98
Total votes 268,043 100
Republican hold

2006
Main article: 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama
2006 Alabama's 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Spencer T. Bachus III (Incumbent) 163,514 98%
Write-in Write-ins 2,786 2
Majority 160,728 96
Total votes 166,300 100
Republican hold

2008
Main article: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama
2008 Alabama's 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Spencer T. Bachus III (Incumbent) 280,902 98%
Write-in Write-ins 6,335 2
Majority 274,567 96
Total votes 287,237 100
Republican hold

2010
Main article: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama
2010 Alabama's 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Spencer T. Bachus III (Incumbent) 205,288 100%
Majority 205,288 100
Total votes 205,288 100
Republican hold

2012
Main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama
2012 Alabama's 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Spencer T. Bachus III (Incumbent) 219,016 71%
Democratic Penny Bailey 88,102 29
Majority 130,914 42
Total votes 307,118 100
Republican hold

2014
Main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama
2014 Alabama's 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Gary Palmer 135,935 76%
Democratic Mark Lester 42,291 24
Majority 93,754 52
Total votes 178,449 100
Republican hold

2016
2016 Alabama 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Palmer (Incumbent) 245,313 74.96
Democratic David Putnam 83,709 24.95
No party Write-ins 284 0.09
Total votes 329,306 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2018
Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama
2018 Alabama's 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Gary Palmer (Incumbent) 192,542 69%
Democratic Danner Kline 85,644 31
Majority 106,898 38
Total votes 278,186 100
Republican hold

Historical district boundaries
2003 - 2013

See also

References
  1. Geography, US Census Bureau. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov.
  2. Bureau, Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  3. "My Congressional District".
  4. "Partisan Voting Index – Districts of the 115th Congress" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  5. Parson, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Michael J. Durbin. United States Congressional Districts and Data, 1843-1883 (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1986) p. 1
  6. United States Congressional Elections. Michael J. Dubin. p. 295
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