# Kansas's 1st congressional district

Kansas's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kansas. Commonly known as "The Big First", the district encompasses all or part of 60 counties spanning more than half of the state, making it the seventh-largest district in the nation that does not cover an entire state.
Located within the district are Manhattan, Salina, Dodge City, Garden City, Hays, McPherson, Hutchinson, and Lawrence. From 2011 to 2017, the district was represented by Republican Tim Huelskamp, who was originally elected in 2010 to succeed fellow Republican Jerry Moran, who in turn ran successfully for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Sam Brownback. Huelskamp was re-elected twice in 2012 and 2014 but lost the 2016 Republican primary for a fourth term to obstetrician Roger Marshall.
Marshall won re-election in 2018, then he was elected to the United States Senate in 2020. He was replaced in the House by former Lieutenant Governor Tracey Mann of Salina. Mann is the first representative for the district to reside east of US Highway 281 since the district assumed its current configuration in the 88th Congress.
With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+18, it is the most Republican district in Kansas. Republicans dominate every level of government, often winning by over 65 percent of the vote on the occasion that they face any opposition at all. Since its creation in 1875, it has elected a Democrat once. In general, Riley County and Douglas County are the only counties in the district where Democrats are competitive, due to the sizable presence of the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. It covers two time zones (it includes all of Kansas's share of the Mountain Time Zone) and parts of three television markets (Topeka and Wichita, as well as Lincoln, Nebraska). Due to its size, its congressman usually becomes a statewide political figure. Proving this, since it assumed its present configuration in 1963, four of the district's former congressmen were later elected to the U.S. Senate: Bob Dole, Pat Roberts, Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall.
The district typically gives its congressmen very long tenures in Washington. From 1963 until 2011, it was held by just four members: Dole, Keith Sebelius, Roberts and Moran.

## History

Kansas had a single representative in the U.S. House of Representatives until after the 1870 U.S. census, which showed that the state was entitled to three members of the lower chamber of the national legislature. In 1872 three representatives-at-large were elected, but by the act of March 2, 1874, the legislature divided the state into three districts. The 1st congressional district was composed of the counties of Leavenworth, Doniphan, Brown, Nemaha, Marshall, Washington, Republic, Jewell, Smith, Phillips, Norton, Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Mitchell, Cloud, Clay, Ottawa, Ellis, Ellsworth, Russell, Saline, Dickinson, Lincoln, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Jefferson, Atchison, Davis (Geary), "and all that territory lying north of the second standard parallel".
No changes were made in until after the 1880 U.S. census, which gave the state seven representatives. On March 5, 1883, Governor George Washington Glick approved an act of the legislature which reduced the 1st congressional district to only include the counties of Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Atchison, Jefferson and Leavenworth. The apportionment was amended by the act of March 13, 1897, which placed Shawnee County in the 1st congressional district and Pottawatomie County in the 4th congressional district.
Although the 1890 U.S. census showed the population of Kansas to be large enough to entitle the state to eight representatives, no additional district was created until 1905. By the act of March 9, 1905, the state was divided into eight districts with the 1st congressional district being composed of the counties of Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Atchison, Jefferson, Leavenworth and Shawnee.
The district's current configuration dates from the 1960 U.S. census, when Kansas was reduced from six districts to five. The old 2nd congressional district was eliminated, and most of its territory was merged with the old 6th congressional district—represented by Bob Dole—to form the new 1st district. It has remained more or less the same since then, and has been considerably enlarged due to the state's population shifts to the eastern side of the state bordering Missouri.
The state's current districting dates from the 1990 U.S. census, when Kansas was reduced from five districts to four. The current borders were established in 2012 by a panel of three federal judges, after the Kansas Legislature failed to pass new district maps.
Reapportionment in 2022 moved the entirety of Lawrence, home of one of the state's universities, The University of Kansas, from the 2nd congressional district to the 1st congressional district. Most of Jackson, all of Jefferson and the remaining part of Marshall counties moved from the 2nd congressional district to the district. The entirety of Marshall County is now in the district. The counties of Chase, Geary, Lyon, Marion, Morris and Wabaunsee all moved from the district to the 2nd congressional district. Also, more of Pawnee County moved to the 4th congressional district although the county still remains split.

### 2000 census demographics

Following redistricting after the U.S. census in 2000, there were 672,091 people, 260,490 households, and 177,858 families residing in the district. The population density was 11.7 per square mile (4.5/km$^2$) over a land area of 57,373 square miles (148,595 km$^2$) (roughly the same size as the state of Illinois). There were 292,436 housing units at an average density of 5.1 per square mile (2.0/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the district is 89.02% White, 2.14% Black or African American, 0.95% Asian, 0.52% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 5.62% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.85% of the population.
There were 260,490 households, out of which 34.52% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 7.65% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.72% were non-families. 27.58% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.75% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the district the population distribution by age was 26.46% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 26.27% from 25 to 44, 21.41% from 45 to 64, and 16.36% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.9 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.
The median income for a household in the district is $34,869, and the median income for a family was $42,292. Males had a median income of $29,662 versus $20,851 for females. The per capita income for the district was $17,255. About 7.8% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Among the population aged 16 years and older, 65.1% was in the civilian labor force and 0.4% were in the armed forces. Of the employed civilian workers, 16.3% were government workers and 11.4% were self-employed. Management, professional, and related occupations employed 29.4% of the work force and sales and office occupations an additional 23.4%. Only 2.7% were employed in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. The largest employment by industry was: educational, health and social services, 22.7%; manufacturing, 13.8%; retail trade, 11.7%; and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining, 10.1%.

## Composition

The 1st district includes the entirety of the following counties with the exception of Douglas and Jackson, which it shares with the 2nd district, and Pawnee, which it shares with the 4th district. The only Douglas County city within the district is Lawrence (portions of which are also shared with the 2nd district); Jackson County cities include Soldier, Circleville, Holton, Denison, Mayetta, Hoyt, and Delia; Pawnee County cities within the district include Burdett, Rozel, and portions of Larned.
| # | County | Seat | Population |
| 9 | Barton | Great Bend | 24,899 |
| 23 | Cheyenne | St. Francis | 2,636 |
| 25 | Clark | Ashland | 1,847 |
| 27 | Clay | Clay Center | 8,007 |
| 29 | Cloud | Concordia | 8,854 |
| 39 | Decatur | Oberlin | 2,712 |
| 41 | Dickinson | Abilene | 18,445 |
| 45 | Douglas | Lawrence | 120,553 |
| 51 | Ellis | Hays | 28,810 |
| 53 | Ellsworth | Ellsworth | 6,357 |
| 55 | Finney | Garden City | 37,466 |
| 57 | Ford | Dodge City | 33,980 |
| 63 | Gove | Gove City | 2,735 |
| 65 | Graham | Hill City | 2,376 |
| 67 | Grant | Ulysses | 7,147 |
| 69 | Gray | Cimarron | 5,743 |
| 71 | Greeley | Tribune | 1,181 |
| 75 | Hamilton | Syracuse | 2,437 |
| 81 | Haskell | Sublette | 3,630 |
| 83 | Hodgeman | Jetmore | 1,655 |
| 85 | Jackson | Holton | 13,368 |
| 87 | Jefferson | Oskaloosa | 18,327 |
| 89 | Jewell | Mankato | 2,847 |
| 93 | Kearney | Lakin | 3,823 |
| 101 | Lane | Dighton | 1,529 |
| 105 | Lincoln | Lincoln | 2,920 |
| 109 | Logan | Oakley | 2,665 |
| 113 | McPherson | McPherson | 30,091 |
| 117 | Marshall | Marysville | 9,933 |
| 119 | Meade | Meade | 3,911 |
| 123 | Mitchell | Beloit | 5,719 |
| 129 | Morton | Elkhart | 2,580 |
| 135 | Ness | Ness City | 2,618 |
| 137 | Norton | Norton | 5,330 |
| 141 | Osborne | Osborne | 3,427 |
| 143 | Ottawa | Minneapolis | 5,818 |
| 145 | Pawnee | Larned | 6,126 |
| 147 | Phillips | Phillipsburg | 4,761 |
| 149 | Pottawatomie | Westmoreland | 26,382 |
| 153 | Rawlins | Atwood | 2,463 |
| 155 | Reno | Hutchinson | 61,497 |
| 157 | Republic | Belleville | 4,627 |
| 159 | Rice | Lyons | 9,260 |
| 161 | Riley | Manhattan | 71,402 |
| 163 | Rooks | Stockton | 4,778 |
| 165 | Rush | La Crosse | 2,830 |
| 167 | Russell | Russell | 6,723 |
| 169 | Saline | Salina | 53,098 |
| 171 | Scott | Scott City | 4,922 |
| 175 | Seward | Liberal | 21,067 |
| 179 | Sheridan | Hoxie | 2,423 |
| 181 | Sherman | Goodland | 5,844 |
| 183 | Smith | Smith Center | 3,590 |
| 187 | Stanton | Johnson City | 1,901 |
| 189 | Stevens | Hugoton | 5,077 |
| 193 | Thomas | Colby | 7,865 |
| 195 | Trego | WaKeeney | 2,731 |
| 199 | Wallace | Sharon Springs | 1,509 |
| 201 | Washington | Washington | 5,504 |
| 203 | Wichita | Leoti | 2,082 |

## List of members representing the district

| Member (District residence) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District map and location |
| District created March 4, 1875 ||||||
| William A. Phillips (Salina) | Republican | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | 44th 45th | Redistricted from the at-large district and Re-elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Lost renomination. | |
| John A. Anderson (Manhattan) | Republican | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1885 | 46th 47th 48th | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Redistricted to the 5th district. | |
| Edmund N. Morrill (Hiawatha) | Republican | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1891 | 49th 50th 51st | Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Retired. | |
| Case Broderick (Holton) | Republican | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1899 | 52nd 53rd 54th 55th | Elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Lost renomination. | |
| Charles Curtis (Topeka) | Republican | March 4, 1899 – January 28, 1907 | 56th 57th 58th 59th | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906 but resigned when elected U.S. senator. | |
| Daniel R. Anthony Jr. (Leavenworth) | Republican | May 23, 1907 – March 3, 1929 | 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th | Elected to finish Curtis's term. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-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. Retired. | |
| William Lambertson (Fairview) | Republican | March 4, 1929 – January 3, 1945 | 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th | 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. Lost renomination. | |
| Albert M. Cole (Holton) | Republican | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1953 | 79th 80th 81st 82nd | Elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Lost re-election. | |
| Howard S. Miller (Hiawatha) | Democratic | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | 83rd | Elected in 1952. Lost re-election. | |
| William H. Avery (Wakefield) | Republican | January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1963 | 84th 85th 86th 87th | Elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Redistricted to the 2nd district. | |
| Bob Dole (Russell) | Republican | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1969 | 88th 89th 90th | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
| Keith Sebelius (Norton) | Republican | January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1981 | 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th | Elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Retired. | |
| Pat Roberts (Dodge City) | Republican | January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1997 | 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th | 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. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
| Jerry Moran (Hays) | Republican | January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2011 | 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th | 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. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | |
| Jerry Moran (Hays) | Republican | January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2011 | 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th | 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. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 2003–2013 |
| Tim Huelskamp (Fowler) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017 | 112th 113th 114th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Lost renomination. | 2003–2013 |
| Tim Huelskamp (Fowler) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017 | 112th 113th 114th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Lost renomination. | 2013–2023 |
| Roger Marshall (Great Bend) | Republican | January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2021 | 115th 116th | Elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 2013–2023 |
| Tracey Mann (Salina) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 |
| Tracey Mann (Salina) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present |

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 62% - 35% |
| 2008 | Senate | Roberts 70% - 30% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 65% - 32% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 63% - 30% |
| 2016 | Senate | Moran 70% - 25% |
| 2018 | Governor | Kobach 46% - 43% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | Schwab 57% - 40% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Schmidt 66% - 34% |
| 2018 | Treasurer | LaTurner 64% - 36% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 64% - 34% |
| 2020 | Senate | Marshall 60% - 35% |
| 2022 | Senate | Moran 68% - 29% |
| 2022 | Governor | Schmidt 52% - 44% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Schwab 66% - 31% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Kobach 57% - 43% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Johnson 62% - 34% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 65% - 33% |

## Recent election results
### 2002

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2002) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jerry Moran* | 186,850 | 91.10 |
| | Libertarian | Jack Warner | 18,250 | 8.90 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 205,100 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2004) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jerry Moran* | 239,776 | 90.72 |
| | Libertarian | Jack Warner | 24,517 | 9.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 264,293 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2006) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jerry Moran* | 153,298 | 78.65 |
| | Democratic | John Doll | 38,820 | 19.92 |
| | Reform | Sylvester Cain | 2,792 | 1.43 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 194,910 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2008) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jerry Moran* | 214,549 | 81.88 |
| | Democratic | James Bordonaro | 34,771 | 13.27 |
| | Reform | Kathleen Burton | 7,145 | 2.73 |
| | Libertarian | Jack Warner | 5,562 | 2.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 262,027 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2010) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tim Huelskamp | 142,281 | 73.76 |
| | Democratic | Alan Jilka | 44,068 | 22.85 |
| | Libertarian | Jack Warner | 6,537 | 3.39 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 192,886 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tim Huelskamp (incumbent) | 211,337 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 211,337 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tim Huelskamp (incumbent) | 138,764 | 67.97 |
| | Democratic | James Sherow | 65,397 | 32.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 204,161 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Roger Marshall | 166,051 | 66.24% |
| | Independent | Alan LaPolice | 66,218 | 26.41% |
| | Libertarian | Kerry Burt | 18,415 | 7.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 250,684 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Roger Marshall (incumbent) | 153,082 | 68.1 |
| | Democratic | Alan LaPolice | 71,558 | 31.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 224,640 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tracey Mann | 208,229 | 71.2 |
| | Democratic | Kali Barnett | 84,393 | 28.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 292,622 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

Kansas's 1st congressional district election (2022) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tracey Mann (incumbent) | 161,333 | 67.7 |
| | Democratic | Jimmy Beard | 77,092 | 32.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 238,425 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |