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 (in whole or in part) 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.

Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Distribution
  • 50.71% urban
  • 49.29% rural
Population (2023)803,437
Median household
income
$56,616[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+24[2]

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

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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 (Cimarron, Texas, Beaver), and also Harper, Ellis, Woodward, Woods, Major, Alfalfa, Grant, Garfield, Kay, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Creek, Payne, Lincoln, Logan, Kingfisher, Blaine, Canadian, Dewey, Custer, Roger 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.

History

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The political success of the Republican party in the region reflects changing patterns of party affiliation similar to changes across the South. Although northwest Oklahoma was settled by migrants from Kansas, who favored the Republican Party and the Union during the Civil War, the southeast was settled by conservative white Southerners. For decades they were affiliated with the United States Democratic Party and traditions of that region.[3]

The Great Depression hurt the GOP.[3] Since the late 20th century, party affiliations have changed, and today most white conservatives belong to the Republican Party here. It is now one of the most Republican districts in the nation. George W. Bush received 72 percent of the district's presidential vote in 2004.

Unlike the previous 3rd congressional district, a largely rural area, today half of the district's inhabitants are classified as urban, and 3 percent of adults working in the district use public transportation, ride a bike, or walk.[4] The district's population is 5 percent Latino and 3 percent foreign-born.[4]

Results from recent statewide elections

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Year Office Results
2000 President Bush 66% - 34%
2004 President Bush 72% - 28%
2008 President McCain 73% - 27%
2012 President Romney 74% - 26%
2016 President Trump 74% - 21%
2020 President Trump 75% - 23%

List of members representing the district

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Name Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history Location
District established November 16, 1907
 
James S. Davenport
(Vinita)
Democratic November 16, 1907 –
March 3, 1909
60th Elected in 1907.
Lost re-election.
 
Charles E. Creager
(Muskogee)
Republican March 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1911
61st Elected in 1908.
Lost re-election.
 
James S. Davenport
(Vinita)
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1915
62nd
63rd
Elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Redistricted to the 1st district.
 
Charles D. Carter
(Ardmore)
Democratic March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1927
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Lost renomination.
 
Wilburn Cartwright
(McAlester)
Democratic March 4, 1927 –
January 3, 1943
70th
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
Elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Lost renomination.
 
Paul Stewart
(Antlers)
Democratic January 3, 1943 –
January 3, 1947
78th
79th
Elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Retired.
 
Carl Albert
(McAlester)
Democratic January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1977
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
Elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Retired.
 
Wes Watkins
(Ada)
Democratic January 3, 1977 –
January 3, 1991
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
Elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Retired to run for Oklahoma Governor.
 
Bill Brewster
(Marietta)
Democratic January 3, 1991 –
January 3, 1997
102nd
103rd
104th
Elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired.
 
Wes Watkins
(Stillwater)
Republican[1] January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2003
105th
106th
107th
Elected again in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Retired.
 
Frank Lucas
(Cheyenne)
Republican January 3, 2003 –
present
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.
2003–2013 
2013–2023 
2023–present 

Recent election results

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2012

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Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2012[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lucas (incumbent) 201,744 75.3
Democratic Timothy Ray Murray 53,472 20.0
Independent William M. Sanders 12,787 4.8
Total votes 268,003 100.0
Republican hold

2014

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Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2014[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lucas (incumbent) 133,335 78.6
Democratic Frankie Robbins 36,270 21.4
Total votes 169,605 100.0
Republican hold

2016

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Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lucas (incumbent) 227,525 78.3
Democratic Frankie Robbins 63,090 21.7
Total votes 290,615 100.0
Republican hold

2018

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Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2018[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lucas (incumbent) 172,913 73.9
Democratic Frankie Robbins 61,152 26.1
Total votes 234,065 100.0
Republican hold

2020

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Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2020[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lucas (incumbent) 242,677 78.5
Democratic Zoe Midyett 66,501 21.5
Total votes 309,178 100.0
Republican hold

2022

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Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2022[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Lucas (incumbent) 147,418 74.5
Democratic Jeremiah Ross 50,354 25.4
Total votes 197,772 100.0
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "My Congressional District".
  2. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Gaddie, Ronald Keith. Republican Party Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed February 11, 2010).
  4. ^ a b Representative Frank Lucas, That's My Congress (accessed June 1, 2010).
  5. ^ "Oklahoma Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election".
  6. ^ "Oklahoma Elections – 2014". Oklahoma Secretary of State. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  7. ^ "Oklahoma Elections — 2018". Oklahoma State Election Board. The State of Oklahoma. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  8. ^ "November 3, 2020 - Official Results". Oklahoma State Election Board.
  9. ^ "November 8 2022 Oklahoma Official results". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Home district of the speaker
January 21, 1971 – January 3, 1977
Succeeded by

36°00′N 98°30′W / 36.0°N 98.5°W / 36.0; -98.5