Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district
Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district is one of five United States congressional districts in Oklahoma and covers approximately one-fourth of the state in the east. The district borders Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas and includes (in whole or in part) a total of 24 counties.[3]
Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district | |||
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Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district - since January 3, 2013. | |||
Representative |
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Distribution |
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Population (2019) | 747,337 | ||
Median household income | $45,207[1] | ||
Ethnicity |
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Cook PVI | R+24[2] |
Historically, the district has supported conservative Democrats, and was reckoned as a classic Yellow Dog Democrat district. However, the growing Republican trend in the state has overtaken the district since the start of the 21st century. In the last two elections, the Republican presidential candidate has carried it by the largest margin in the state. Urban voters represent a third of the district.[4]
The district is represented by Republican Markwayne Mullin, becoming only the second Republican after Tom Coburn to hold the seat since 1923. Mullin was first elected in 2012, following the retirement of four-term Democratic incumbent Dan Boren.
Geography
The district borders Kansas to the north, Missouri and Arkansas to the east, and Texas (along the Red River) to the south. It covers all or part of 26 counties. It includes the remainder of Rogers County (including the county seat of Claremore) that is not included in the 1st district, and then, also, all of the following counties: Adair, Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Mayes, Delaware, Cherokee, Okmulgee, Muskogee, Sequoyah, Okfuskee, McIntosh, Haskell, LeFlore, Hughes, Pittsburg, Latimer, Coal, Atoka, Pushmataha, McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, Marshall and Johnston.[3]
Some of the principal cities in the district include Miami, Claremore, Muskogee, Tahlequah, Okmulgee, McAlester, and Durant.
The northern half of the district includes most of the area of Oklahoma referred to as Green Country, while the southern half of the district includes a part of Oklahoma often referred to as Little Dixie. It contains the majority of lands in the Choctaw Nation and the Cherokee Nation, as well as smaller parts of the Creek and Chickasaw nations.
Demographics
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the district is 35.51 percent urban, 23.95 percent non-white, and has a population that is 2.40 percent Latino and 1.36 percent foreign-born.[4] The district has a higher percentage of Native Americans than any other congressional district in Oklahoma.[5] Its representative, Markwayne Mullin, is one of four Native Americans currently serving in Congress.[6]
Recent election results in statewide races
Congressional races
2004
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dan Boren | 179,579 | 65.9% | |
Republican | Wayland Smalley | 92,963 | 34.1% | |
Total votes | 272,542 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2006
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dan Boren (Incumbent) | 122,347 | 72.7% | |
Republican | Patrick K. Miller | 45,861 | 27.3% | |
Total votes | 168,208 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2008
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dan Boren (Incumbent) | 173,757 | 70.5% | |
Republican | Raymond J. Wickson | 72,815 | 29.5% | |
Total votes | 246,572 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2010
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dan Boren (Incumbent) | 108,203 | 56.2% | |
Republican | Charles Thompson | 83,226 | 43.5% | |
Total votes | 191,429 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2012
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Markwayne Mullin | 143,701 | 57.3% | |
Democratic | Rob Wallace | 96,081 | 38.3% | |
Independent | Michael G. Fulks | 10,830 | 4.3% | |
Total votes | 250,612 | 100.0% | ||
Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
2014
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Markwayne Mullin (Incumbent) | 110,925 | 70.0% | |
Democratic | Earl Everett | 38,964 | 24.6% | |
Independent | Jon Douthitt | 8,518 | 5.4% | |
Total votes | 158,407 | 100.0% | ||
Republican hold |
2016
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Markwayne Mullin (Incumbent) | 189,839 | 70.6% | |
Democratic | Joshua Harris-Till | 62,387 | 23.2% | |
Independent | John McCarthy | 16,644 | 6.2% | |
Total votes | 268,870 | 100.0% | ||
Republican hold |
2018
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Markwayne Mullin (Incumbent) | 140,451 | 65.0% | |
Democratic | Jason Nichols | 65,021 | 30.1% | |
Independent | John Foreman | 6,390 | 3.0% | |
Libertarian | Richard Castaldo | 4,140 | 1.9% | |
Total votes | 216,002 | 100.0% | ||
Republican hold |
2020
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Markwayne Mullin (incumbent) | 216,511 | 75.0 | |
Democratic | Danyell Lanier | 63,472 | 22.0 | |
Libertarian | Richie Castaldo | 8,544 | 3.0 | |
Total votes | 288,527 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
Politics
The district heavily favored conservative Democratic candidates, with only three Republicans taking the district. The district shifted Republican most notably in electing Tom Coburn, who vacated the seat due to a self-imposed term limit pledge (He was elected to the United States Senate 4 years later). It has since been held by Brad Carson and Dan Boren. Since the 2012 election, the 2nd district has elected a Republican to the House, the current Representative Markwayne Mullin.
The district's Democratic leanings stem partly from historic migration patterns into the state. The Little Dixie region of the district imported the people and culture of southern states such as Mississippi after Reconstruction.[10] Voter registration in Little Dixie runs as high as 90 percent Democratic.[10] Additionally, Native Americans in the region tend to vote for Democratic candidates and they have helped Democratic candidates win statewide elections.[5]
Historically this is where Democratic presidential candidates perform best in the state. Bill Clinton easily carried the district in 1992 and 1996. However, the district has been swept up in the growing Republican trend in Oklahoma. George W. Bush received 59 percent of the vote in this district in 2004. John McCain received 66 percent of the vote in this district in 2008.
Muskogee has produced six representatives, more than any other city in the district. Tahlequah has produced three representatives, the second most of any city in the district.
List of members representing the district
Historical district boundaries
References
- 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.
- Oklahoma's 2nd District (accessed May 24, 2010).
- Representative Dan Boren: District Demographics, That's My Congress (accessed May 11, 2010).
- "Paying Attention to the Native American Vote". www.pbs.org.
- "Cherokee Nation Honors U.S. Rep. Mullin". Times Record.
- "Oklahoma Secretary of State 2014 General Election". Oklahoma Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
- "Official Results - General Election — November 8, 2016". Oklahoma Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- "November 3, 2020 - Official Results". Oklahoma State Election Board.
- Gaddie, Ronald Keith, "Democratic Party," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived May 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (accessed May 24, 2010).
- 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