Texas's 4th congressional district

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"TX-4" redirects here. TX-4 may also refer to Texas State Highway 4.

Texas's 4th congressional district
Texas US Congressional District 4 (since 2021).tif
Texas's 4th congressional district
Representative
  Pat Fallon
R–Sherman
Distribution
  • 51.15% rural[1]
  • 48.85% urban
Population (2019)782,743[2]
Median household
income		$60,060[2]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+28[3]

Texas's 4th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives is in an area of Northeast Texas, that includes some counties along the Red River northeast of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, as well as some outer eastern suburbs of the Metroplex. The district contains Texas A&M Commerce, Austin College, and Northeast Texas Community College. As of 2017, the 4th district represents 747,188 people who are predominantly white (80.8%) and middle-class (median family income is US$56,062, compared to $50,046 nationwide).[2] It is currently represented by Pat Fallon.

District[]

All or portions of the following counties are currently in the 4th congressional district:[4]

History[]

Texas has had at least four congressional districts since the state was readmitted to the Union after the Civil War. The district's current configuration is dated from 1903. It has traditionally given its congressmen very long tenures in Washington; only six men have represented it since then.

Once a reliably Democratic district, the district swung rapidly into the Republican column at the federal level as Dallas' suburbs spilled into the western portion of the district. In fact, it has not supported a Democrat for president since 1964. However, as late as 1996, Bill Clinton carried ten of the sixteen counties that are currently in this district; many of those counties were in the 1st district at the time. Additionally, conservative Democrats continued to hold most of the district's local offices well into the 2000s.

For many years, it was based in Tyler, but a controversial 2003 redistricting orchestrated by then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay drew it and neighboring Longview out of the 4th district and into neighboring 1st, which made it significantly more Republican. In the process, the 4th district was pushed slightly to the north, picking up Texarkana from the 1st district.

Ralph Hall, the one-time dean of the Texas congressional delegation, represented the district from 1981 to 2015. Originally a Democrat, he became a Republican in 2004. Hall's voting record had been very conservative—even by Texas Democratic standards—which served him well as the district abandoned its Democratic roots. By the turn of the century, he was the only elected Democrat above the county level in much of the district. He had been rumored as a party switcher for some time, and many experts believed he would almost certainly be succeeded by a Republican once he retired.

In 2014, Hall was defeated in the Republican primary by John Ratcliffe, who had served as the former United States Attorney for much of the 4th's territory, and was additionally the former mayor of Heath—a city coincidentally located near Hall's hometown of Rockwall. No Democrat even filed, though by this time, the district had become so heavily Republican that any Democratic candidate would have faced nearly impossible odds in any event. Underlining just how Republican this district was, the Democrats have only managed as much as 30% of the vote once since Hall's party switch.

In January 2015, Ratcliffe took office, and became only the fifth person to hold the seat. He ran unopposed for reelection in 2016, and defeated a nominal Democratic challenger in 2018.

In May 2020, Ratcliffe resigned his seat ahead of his swearing-in to become the 6th Director of National Intelligence.[5]

The district's best-known congressman was Sam Rayburn, the longtime Speaker of the House.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was born in the fourth district.

2012 redistricting[]

After the 2012 redistricting process, a large portion of Collin County had been removed, and replaced with the portion of Cass County that had been in Texas's 1st congressional district, all of Marion County, and a large portion of Upshur County.[4]

Election results from recent presidential races[]

Year Result
2000 Bush 66 - 34%
2004 Bush 70 - 29%
2008 McCain 69 - 30%
2012[6] Romney 74 - 25%
2016[6] Trump 75 - 22%
2020 Trump 74 - 24%

List of members representing the district[]

The district was created in 1869, one of two new districts that Texas gained after the 1860 Census, but was not filled due to the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Name Party Years Cong–
ress 		Electoral history
American Civil War/Reconstruction
Edward Degener.jpg
Edward Degener 		Republican March 31, 1870 –
March 3, 1871 		41st Elected in 1870.
Lost renomination.
John Hancock (Texas).jpg
John Hancock 		Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1875 		42nd
43rd 		Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Redistricted to the 5th district.
Roger Q. Mills - Brady-Handy.jpg
Roger Q. Mills 		Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1883 		44th
45th
46th
47th 		Redistricted from the at-large seat and re-elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Redistricted to the 9th district.
D.B. Culberson.jpg
David B. Culberson 		Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1897 		48th
49th
50th
51st
52nd
53rd
54th 		Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Retired.
John W. Cranford (Texas Congressman) 2.jpg
John W. Cranford 		Democratic March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899 		55th
56th 		Elected in 1896.
Retired, then died on the last day of the term.
John Levi Sheppard.jpg
John Levi Sheppard 		Democratic March 4, 1899 –
October 11, 1902 		56th
57th 		Elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Died.
Vacant October 11, 1902 –
November 15, 1902 		57th
Sheppard morris.jpg
Morris Sheppard 		Democratic November 15, 1902 –
March 3, 1903 		Elected to finish Sheppard's term.
Redistricted to the 1st district.
Choice B. Randell.jpg
Choice B. Randell 		Democratic March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1913 		58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd 		Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Rayburn-Sam-LOC.jpg
Sam Rayburn 		Democratic March 4, 1913 –
November 16, 1961 		63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th 		Elected in 1912.
Re-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.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-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.
Died.
Vacant November 16, 1961 –
January 30, 1962 		87th
Ray Roberts 1979 congressional photo.jpg
Ray Roberts 		Democratic January 30, 1962 –
January 3, 1981 		87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th 		Elected to finish Rayburn's term.
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.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Retired.
Ralph Hall, official photo portrait, color.jpg
Ralph Hall 		Democratic January 3, 1981 –
January 5, 2004 		97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th 		Elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-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.
Lost renomination.
Republican January 5, 2004 –
January 3, 2015
Congressman John Lee Ratcliffe.jpg
John Ratcliffe 		Republican January 3, 2015 –
May 22, 2020 		114th
115th
116th 		Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Resigned to become Director of National Intelligence.[5]
Vacant May 22, 2020 –
January 3, 2021 		116th
PatFallon.jpg
Pat Fallon 		Republican January 3, 2021 –
Present 		117th Elected in 2020.

Recent elections[]

2004[]

US House election, 2004: Texas District 4[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph Hall (incumbent) 182,866 68.2
Democratic 81,585 30.4
Libertarian 3,491 1.3
Total votes 267,942
Republican hold

2006[]

US House election, 2006: Texas District 4[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph Hall (incumbent) 106,495 64.43
Democratic 55,278 33.34
Libertarian 3,496 2.11
Total votes 165,269
Republican hold

2008[]

US House election, 2008: Texas District 4[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph Hall (incumbent) 206,906 68.79
Democratic 88,067 29.28
Libertarian 5,771 1.91
Total votes 300,744
Republican hold

2010[]

US House election, 2010: Texas District 4[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph Hall (incumbent) 136,338 73.18
Democratic 40,975 21.99
Libertarian 4,729 2.53
Independent 4,224 2.27
Total votes 186,286
Republican hold

2012[]

US House election, 2012: Texas District 4[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ralph Hall (incumbent) 182,679 72.97
Democratic 60,214 24.05
Libertarian 7,262 2.90
Write-In 188 0.08
Total votes 250,343
Republican hold

2014[]

US House election, 2014: Texas District 4[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Ratcliffe 115,085 100.00
Total votes 115,085
Republican hold

2016[]

US House election, 2016: Texas District 4[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Ratcliffe (incumbent) 216,643 87.99
Libertarian 29,577 12.01
Total votes 246,220
Republican hold

2018[]

US House election, 2018: Texas District 4[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Ratcliffe (incumbent) 188,667 75.7
Democratic Catherine Krantz 57,400 23.0
Libertarian Ken Ashby 3,178 1.3
Total votes 249,245 100.0
Republican hold

2020[]

US House election, 2020: Texas District 4
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pat Fallon 253,837 75.1
Democratic Russell Foster 76,326 22.6
Libertarian Lou Antonelli 6,334 1.9
Independent Tracy Jones (write-in) 1,306 0.4
Total votes 337,803 100.0
Republican hold

Historical district boundaries[]

2007 - 2013

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS BY URBAN AND RURAL POPULATION AND LAND AREA". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Bureau, Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  3. ^ "Arranged by State District" (PDF). Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  4. ^ a b http://gis1.tlc.state.tx.us/
  5. ^ a b "Divided Senate confirms Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe as director of national intelligence". May 22, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  7. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (November 2, 2004). "Race Summary Report". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  8. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (November 7, 2006). "Race Summary Report". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  9. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (November 4, 2008). "Race Summary Report". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  10. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (November 2, 2010). "Race Summary Report". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  11. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (November 6, 2012). "Race Summary Report". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  12. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (November 4, 2014). "Race Summary Report". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  13. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (November 8, 2016). "Race Summary Report". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  14. ^ Office of the Secretary of State (November 6, 2018). "Race Summary Report". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Home district of the Speaker of the House
September 16, 1940 – January 3, 1947 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Home district of the Speaker of the House
January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Home district of the Speaker of the House
January 3, 1955 – November 16, 1961 		Succeeded by

Coordinates: 33°18′19″N 95°25′17″W / 33.30528°N 95.42139°W / 33.30528; -95.42139

Retrieved from ""