Kentucky's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Located in the heart of Appalachia in Southeastern Kentucky, it represents much of the Eastern Kentucky Coalfield. The rural district is the second most impoverished district in the nation[5] and, as of the 2010 U.S. census, has the highest percentage of White Americans in the nation. It contains the counties of Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Clay, Elliot, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, and parts of Bath, and Carter counties.[6] Within the district are the economic leading cities of Ashland, Pikeville, Prestonsburg, Middlesboro, Hazard, Jackson, Morehead, London, and Somerset. It is the most rural district in the United States, with 76.49% of its population in rural areas.[7] It has been represented by Republican Hal Rogers since 1981.

Kentucky's 5th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Distribution
  • 76.49% rural[1]
  • 23.51% urban
Population (2023)738,681[2]
Median household
income
$44,175[3]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+32[4]
Sign in front of the McCracken, Kentucky Courthouse (in Paducah, Kentucky) commemorating early members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Jackson Purchase (U.S. historical region). The "First District" in the title actually changed over time. It refers to the Jackson Purchase, which was in the 5th district from 1819 to 1823, the 12th district until 1833, and then the 1st district until the end of the sign's lineage in 1855.

With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+32, it is the most Republican district in Kentucky.[4] The 5th congressional district is one of the few ancestrally Republican regions south of the Ohio River. Much of the region now in the district strongly supported the Union in the Civil War, and identified with the Republicans after hostilities ceased. By contrast, the northeastern portion of the district borders West Virginia. Much of this section of the district was once part of the 7th congressional district, long a Democratic stronghold, which was disbanded in 1992 after the 1990 census. Geographically, the district consists of flat land areas to the west, to Appalachia highland mountains to the east and southeast. To the north and northeast of the district are rolling hills that end at the Ohio River.

Despite the district's strong Republican lean, it features Elliott County, which, before being carried by Donald Trump in 2016, had never voted for a Republican president since its founding in 1869, making it the longest Democratic voting streak. Until 2018, when the county gave Rogers 54.6% of its vote, the county had never voted for Rogers, despite him winning at least 65% of the vote in the district in every election except 1992.

Rogers is the dean of the Kentucky delegation and of the entire House of Representatives. Due in part to his seniority, Rogers has served in a number of leadership positions in the chamber.

Characteristics

edit
Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 2023[8]
Party Number of voters Percentage
Republican 312,498 55.12%
Democratic 216,402 38.17%
Other 20,645 3.65%
Independent 17,363 3.06%
Total 566,908 100%

Until January 1, 2006, Kentucky did not track party affiliation for registered voters who were neither Democratic nor Republican.[9] The Kentucky voter registration card does not explicitly list anything other than Democratic Party, Republican Party, or Other, with the "Other" option having a blank line and no instructions on how to register as something else.[10]

Recent statewide elections

edit
Election results from statewide races
Year Office Results
2000 President Bush 57–42%
2004 President Bush 61–39%
2008 President McCain 67–31%
2012 President Romney 75–23%
2016 President Trump 79–19%
Senate Paul 65–35%
2019 Governor Bevin 59–38%
Attorney General Cameron 67–33%
2020 President Trump 79–20%
Senate McConnell 73–23%
2022 Senate Paul 75–25%
2023 Governor Cameron 58–42%

Composition

edit
# County Seat Population
11 Bath Owingsville 12,975
13 Bell Pineville 23,317
19 Boyd Catlettsburg 47,826
25 Breathitt Jackson 12,953
43 Carter Grayson 26,366
51 Clay Manchester 19,648
63 Elliott Sandy Hook 7,245
71 Floyd Prestonsburg 34,423
95 Harlan Harlan 25,324
109 Jackson McKee 13,104
115 Johnson Paintsville 22,116
119 Knott Hindman 13,659
121 Knox Barbourville 29,794
125 Laurel London 63,296
127 Lawrence Louisa 16,000
129 Lee Beattyville 7,293
131 Leslie Hyden 9,864
133 Letcher Whitesburg 20,423
137 Lincoln Stanford 24,776
147 McCreary Whitley City 17,050
153 Magoffin Salyersville 11,228
159 Martin Inez 10,928
165 Menifee Frenchburg 6,286
175 Morgan West Liberty 14,283
189 Owsley Bonneville 4,001
193 Perry Hazard 27,133
195 Pike Pikeville 55,973
199 Pulaski Somerset 66,191
203 Rockcastle Mount Vernon 16,190
205 Rowan Morehead 24,409
231 Wayne Monticello 19,580
235 Whitley Williamsburg 36,825
237 Wolfe Campton 6,282

Cities of 10,000 or more people

edit

2,500 – 10,000 people

edit

List of members representing the district

edit
Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history Location
District created March 4, 1803
John Fowler
(Lexington)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1807
8th
9th
Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1803.
Re-elected in 1804.
Retired.
1803–1813
Clarke, Fayette, Jessamine, Montgomery, and Woodford counties
 
Benjamin Howard
(Lexington)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1807 –
April 10, 1810
10th
11th
Elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Resigned to become governor of the Louisiana Territory.
 
William T. Barry
(Lexington)
Democratic-Republican August 8, 1810 –
March 3, 1811
11th Elected to finish Howard's term.
Retired.
 
Henry Clay
(Lexington)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1811 –
March 3, 1813
12th Elected in 1810.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.
 
Samuel Hopkins
(Henderson)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1815
13th Elected in 1812.
Retired.
1813–1823
Breckinridge, Caldwell, Christian, Grayson, Henderson, Hopkins, Livingston, Muhlenberg, Ohio, and Union counties
 
Alney McLean
(Greenville)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1815 –
March 3, 1817
14th Elected in 1814.
Retired.
Anthony New
(Elkton)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1819
15th Elected in 1816.
Retired.
 
Alney McLean
(Greenville)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1819 –
March 3, 1821
16th Elected in 1818.
Retired.
Anthony New
(Elkton)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1821 –
March 3, 1823
17th Elected in 1820.
Retired.
 
John T. Johnson
(Georgetown)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
18th Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1822.
Retired.
1823–1833
[data missing]
 
James Johnson
(Great Crossings)
Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –
August 13, 1826
19th Elected in 1824.
Died.
Vacant August 13, 1826 –
December 7, 1826
Robert L. McHatton
(Georgetown)
Jacksonian December 7, 1826 –
March 3, 1829
19th
20th
Elected to finish Johnson's term.
Re-elected in 1827.
Retired.
 
Richard M. Johnson
(Great Crossings)
Jacksonian March 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1833
21st
22nd
Elected in 1829.
Re-elected in 1831.
Redistricted to the 13th district.
Vacant March 4, 1833 –
August 6, 1834
23rd House declared new election after election was contested. 1833–1843
Garrard County added to the district.
 
Robert P. Letcher
(Lancaster)
Anti-Jacksonian August 6, 1834 –
March 3, 1835
Elected to finish the vacant term.
Retired.
 
James Harlan
(Harrodsburg)
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837
24th
25th
Elected in 1835.
Re-elected in 1837.
Retired.
Whig March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
 
Simeon H. Anderson
(Lancaster)
Whig March 4, 1839 –
August 11, 1840
26th Elected in 1839.
Died.
Vacant August 11, 1840 –
December 7, 1840
 
John B. Thompson
(Harrodsburg)
Whig December 7, 1840 –
March 3, 1843
26th
27th
Elected to finish Anderson's term.
Re-elected in 1841.
Retired.
James W. Stone
(Taylorsville)
Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Elected in 1843.
Lost re-election.
1843–1853
[data missing]
Bryan Young
(Elizabethtown)
Whig March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
29th Elected in 1845.
Retired.
 
John B. Thompson
(Harrodsburg)
Whig March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1851
30th
31st
Elected in 1847.
Re-elected in 1849.
Retired.
James W. Stone
(Elizabethtown)
Democratic March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
32nd Elected in 1851.
Lost re-election.
Clement S. Hill
(Lebanon)
Whig March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
33rd Elected in 1853.
Retired.
1853–1863
[data missing]
 
Joshua Jewett
(Elizabethtown)
Democratic March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1859
34th
35th
Elected in 1855.
Re-elected in 1857.
Lost re-election as an Opposition Party candidate.
Vacant March 4, 1855 –
December 3, 1860
36th
 
John Y. Brown
(Elizabethtown)
Democratic December 3, 1860 –
March 3, 1861
Elected in 1859 but did not take seat until 2nd session because did not meet age requirement for office.
Retired.
 
Charles A. Wickliffe
(Bardstown)
Union Democratic March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
37th Elected in 1861.
Retired.
 
Robert Mallory
(La Grange)
Union Democratic March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1865
38th Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1863.
Lost re-election.
1863–1873
[data missing]
 
Lovell Rousseau
(Louisville)
Unconditional Union March 4, 1865 –
July 21, 1866
39th Elected in 1865.
Resigned following his assault of Rep. Josiah Grinnell.
Vacant July 21, 1866 –
December 3, 1866
 
Lovell Rousseau
(Louisville)
Unconditional Union December 3, 1866 –
March 3, 1867
Elected to finish his own term.
Lost re-election.
 
Asa Grover
(Louisville)
Democratic March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1869
40th Elected in 1867.
Retired.
 
Boyd Winchester
(Louisville)
Democratic March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1873
41st
42nd
Elected in 1868.
Re-elected in 1870.
Retired.
 
Elisha Standiford
(Louisville)
Democratic March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Elected in 1872.
Renominated but declined.
1873–1883
[data missing]
 
Edward Y. Parsons
(Louisville)
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
July 8, 1876
44th Elected in 1874.
Died.
Vacant July 8, 1876 –
August 12, 1876
 
Henry Watterson
(Louisville)
Democratic August 12, 1876 –
March 3, 1877
Elected to finish Parsons's term.
Retired.
 
Albert S. Willis
(Louisville)
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1887
45th
46th
47th
48th
49th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Lost renomination.
1883–1893
[data missing]
 
Asher G. Caruth
(Louisville)
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1895
50th
51st
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Lost renomination.
1893–1903
[data missing]
 
Walter Evans
(Louisville)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1899
54th
55th
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Lost re-election.
 
Oscar Turner
(Louisville)
Democratic March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901
56th Elected in 1898.
Retired.
 
Harvey S. Irwin
(Louisville)
Republican March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1903
57th Elected in 1900.
Lost re-election.
 
J. Swagar Sherley
(Louisville)
Democratic March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1919
58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Lost re-election.
1903–1933
[data missing]
 
Charles F. Ogden
(Louisville)
Republican March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1923
66th
67th
Elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Retired.
 
Maurice Thatcher
(Louisville)
Republican March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1933
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
District inactive March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
73rd
 
Brent Spence
(Fort Thomas)
Democratic January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1963
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
Redistricted from the at-large district and 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.
Retired.
1935–1943
[data missing]
1943–1953
[data missing]
1953–1963
[data missing]
 
Eugene Siler
(Williamsburg)
Republican January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1965
88th Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1962.
Retired.
1963–1965
[data missing]
 
Tim Lee Carter
(Tompkinsville)
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.
Retired.
1965–1973
[data missing]
1973–1983
[data missing]
 
Hal Rogers
(Somerset)
Republican January 3, 1981 –
present
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
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.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.
1983–1993
[data missing]
1993–2003
[data missing]
2003–2013
 
2013–2023
 
2023–present
 

Recent election results

edit

2002

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2002)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 137,986 78.29
Democratic Sidney Jane Bailey 38,254 21.71
Total votes 176,240 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2004

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2004)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 177,579 100.00
Total votes 177,579 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2006

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2006)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 147,261 73.76
Democratic Kenneth Stepp 52,384 26.24
Total votes 199,645 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2008

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2008)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 177,024 84.11
Independent Jim Holbert 33,444 15.89
Total votes 210,468 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2010

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2010)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 151,019 77.43
Democratic Jim Holbert 44,034 22.58
Total votes 195,053 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2012

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2012)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 195,408 77.90
Democratic Kenneth S. Stepp 55,447 22.10
Total votes 250,855 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2014

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2014)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 171,350 78.30
Democratic Kenneth S. Stepp 47,617 21.70
Total votes 218,967 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2016

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2016)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 221,242 100.00
Total votes 221,242 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2018

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2018)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 172,093 78.9
Democratic Kenneth Stepp 45,890 21.0
Independent Bill Ray (write-in) 34 0.1
Total votes 218,017 100.0
Republican hold

2020

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2020)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 250,660 84.2
Democratic Matthew Best 46,993 15.8
Total votes 297,653 100.0
Republican hold

2022

edit
Kentucky's 5th Congressional District Election (2022)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers* 177,712 82.1
Democratic Conor Halblieb 38,549 17.8
Stephan William (write-in) 9 0.004
Total votes 216,270 100
Republican hold

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov. US Census Bureau Geography. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "My Congressional District Bureau". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.
  4. ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "Rich, poor, young, old: Congressional districts at a glance". September 15, 2017.
  6. ^ "Kentucky Congressional District 5 2000-2010.jpg". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "Congressional Districts – 113th Congress Demographics – Urban Rural Patterns". proximityone.com. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  8. ^ "Registration Statistics". Kentucky State Board of Elections. January 2022.
  9. ^ "Kentucky Administrative Regulations 31KAR4:150". Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. November 2005. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  10. ^ "Register To Vote". Kentucky State Board of Elections. August 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2014.

37°22′08″N 83°31′19″W / 37.36889°N 83.52194°W / 37.36889; -83.52194