# Texas's 6th congressional district

Texas's 6th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives is in an area that includes Hill, Ellis, Navarro, Anderson, and Cherokee counties to the south and southeast of the Dallas/Fort Worth area plus the southeast corner of Tarrant County, a sliver of Dallas County and northern Freestone County. As of the 2010 census, the 6th district represented 698,498 people. The district is currently represented by Republican Jake Ellzey.
The district was represented by Joe Barton from 1985 until 2019. Other notable representatives include Olin "Tiger" Teague and Phil Gramm. The latter served as a Democrat, then notably resigned and ran as a Republican to win the ensuing special election.
A special election to fill the seat was held on May 1, 2021, with the winner being determined in a July 27 runoff after no candidate received a majority of the vote. In the runoff, Republican state representative Jake Ellzey defeated fellow Republican Susan Wright (the widow of Ron Wright and the endorsee of former President Donald Trump), winning the seat.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 64% - 35% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 67% - 33% |
| 2014 | Senate | Cornyn 73% - 27% |
| 2014 | Governor | Abbott 70% - 30% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 64% - 32% |
| 2018 | Senate | Cruz 61% - 38% |
| 2018 | Governor | Abbott 66% - 33% |
| 2018 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 61% - 37% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Paxton 61% - 37% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 61% - 37% |
| 2020 | Senate | Cornyn 62% - 35% |
| 2022 | Governor | Abbott 65% - 34% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 63% - 34% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Paxton 63% - 34% |
| 2022 | Comptroller of Public Accounts | Hegar 66% - 32% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 64% - 35% |
| 2024 | Senate | Cruz 60% - 37% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Anderson County (4)
    All 4 communities
Cherokee County (11)
    All 11 communities
Dallas County (3)
    Dallas (part; also 3rd, 4th, 5th, 24th, 30th, 32nd, and 33rd; shared with Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties), Grand Prairie (part; also 30th and 33rd; shared with Ellis and Tarrant counties), Irving (part; also 24th and 33rd)
Ellis County (20)
    All 20 communities
Freestone County (4)
    Fairfield, Kirvin, Streetman (shared with Navarro County), Wortham
Hill County (14)
    All 14 communities
Johnson County (8)
    Alvarado, Burleson (part; also 25th; shared with Tarrant County), Coyote Flats (part; also 25th), Grandview, The Homesteads, Keene (part; also 25th), Mansfield (part; also 33rd, shared with Ellis and Tarrant counties), Venus (shared with Ellis County)
Navarro County (19)
    All 19 communities
Tarrant County (3)
    Arlington (part; also 25th and 33rd), Grand Prairie (part; also 30th and 33rd; shared with Dallas and Ellis counties), Mansfield (part; also 33rd, shared with Ellis and Johnson counties)

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1875 |||||
| Gustav Schleicher (Cuero) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – January 10, 1879 | 44th 45th | Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 10, 1879 – April 15, 1879 | 45th | |
| Christopher C. Upson (San Antonio) | Democratic | April 15, 1879 – March 3, 1883 | 46th 47th | Elected to finish Schleicher's term. Re-elected in 1880. Lost renomination. |
| Olin Wellborn (Dallas) | Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887 | 48th 49th | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Lost renomination. |
| Jo Abbott (Hillsboro) | Democratic | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1897 | 50th 51st 52nd 53rd 54th | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Retired. |
| Robert E. Burke (Dallas) | Democratic | March 4, 1897 – June 5, 1901 | 55th 56th 57th | Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | June 5, 1901 – July 13, 1901 | 57th | |
| Dudley G. Wooten (Dallas) | Democratic | July 13, 1901 – March 3, 1903 | 57th | Elected to finish Burke's term. Lost renomination. |
| Scott Field (Calvert) | Democratic | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1907 | 58th 59th | Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Retired. |
| Rufus Hardy (Corsicana) | Democratic | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1923 | 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th | Elected in 1906. 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. Retired. |
| Luther Alexander Johnson (Corsicana) | Democratic | March 4, 1923 – July 17, 1946 | 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th 78th 79th | 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. Resigned to become U.S. Tax Judge. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 17, 1946 – August 24, 1946 | 79th | |
| Olin E. Teague (College Station) | Democratic | August 24, 1946 – December 31, 1978 | 79th 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th | Elected to finish Johnson's term. 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. 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. Retired, then resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 31, 1978 – January 3, 1979 | 95th | |
| Phil Gramm (College Station) | Democratic | January 3, 1979 – January 5, 1983 | 96th 97th 98th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Resigned to run as a Republican. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 5, 1983 – February 12, 1983 | 98th | |
| Phil Gramm (College Station) | Republican | February 12, 1983 – January 3, 1985 | 98th | Re-elected to finish his own term. Retired to run for U.S. senator. |
| Joe Barton (Ennis) | Republican | January 3, 1985 – January 3, 2019 | 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | 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. Retired due to scandal. |
| Ron Wright (Arlington) | Republican | January 3, 2019 – February 7, 2021 | 116th 117th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 7, 2021 – July 30, 2021 | 117th | |
| Jake Ellzey (Midlothian) | Republican | July 30, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish Wright's term. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Election results

US House election, 2004: Texas District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joe Barton (incumbent) | 168,767 | 66.0 | −4.3 |
| | Democratic | Morris Meyer | 83,609 | 32.7 | +5.0 |
| | Libertarian | Stephen Schrader | 3,251 | 1.3 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 255,627 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -4.7 | |
US House election, 2006: Texas District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joe Barton (incumbent) | 91,927 | 60.5 | −5.5 |
| | Democratic | David Harris | 56,369 | 37.1 | +4.4 |
| | Libertarian | Carl Nulsen | 3,740 | 2.5 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 152,036 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
US House election, 2008: Texas District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joe Barton (incumbent) | 174,008 | 62.0 | +1.5 |
| | Democratic | Ludwig Otto | 99,919 | 35.6 | −1.5 |
| | Libertarian | Max Kock, III | 6,655 | 2.4 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 280,582 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
US House election, 2010: Texas District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joe Barton (incumbent) | 107,140 | 65.9 | +3.9 |
| | Democratic | David Cozad | 50,717 | 31.2 | −4.4 |
| | Libertarian | Byron Severns | 4,700 | 2.9 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 162,557 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
US House election, 2012: Texas District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joe Barton (incumbent) | 145,019 | 58.0 | −7.9 |
| | Democratic | Kenneth Sanders | 98,053 | 39.2 | +8.0 |
| | Libertarian | Hugh Chauvin | 4,847 | 1.9 | −1.0 |
| | Green | Brandon Parmer | 2,017 | 0.8 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 249,936 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
US House election, 2014: Texas District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joe Barton (incumbent) | 92,334 | 61.1 | +3.1 |
| | Democratic | David Cozad | 55,027 | 36.4 | −2.8 |
| | Libertarian | Hugh Chauvin | 3,635 | 2.4 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 150,996 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
US House election, 2016: Texas District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Joe Barton (incumbent) | 159,444 | 58.3 | −2.8 |
| | Democratic | Ruby Faye Woolridge | 106,667 | 39.0 | +2.6 |
| | Green | Darrel Smith | 7,185 | 2.6 | +2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 273,296 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
US House of Representatives elections, 2018: Texas District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Ron Wright | 135,779 | 53.1 | −5.2 |
| | Democratic | Jana Lynne Sanchez | 116,040 | 45.4 | +6.4 |
| | Libertarian | Jason Harber | 3,724 | 1.5 | −0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 255,543 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2020 United States House of Representatives elections: Texas District 6 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Ron Wright (incumbent) | 179,507 | 52.8 | −0.3 |
| | Democratic | Stephen Daniel | 149,530 | 44.0 | −1.4 |
| | Libertarian | Melanie A. Black | 10,955 | 3.2 | +1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 339,992 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |
2021 Texas's 6th congressional district special election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Susan Wright | 15,052 | 19.21 |
| | Republican | Jake Ellzey | 10,851 | 13.85 |
| | Democratic | Jana Sanchez | 10,497 | 13.39 |
| | Republican | Brian Harrison | 8,476 | 10.81 |
| | Democratic | Shawn Lassiter | 6,964 | 8.89 |
| | Republican | John Anthony Castro | 4,321 | 5.51 |
| | Democratic | Tammy Allison Holloway | 4,238 | 5.41 |
| | Democratic | Lydia Bean | 2,920 | 3.73 |
| | Republican | Michael Wood | 2,503 | 3.19 |
| | Republican | Michael Ballantine | 2,224 | 2.84 |
| | Republican | Dan Rodimer | 2,086 | 2.66 |
| | Democratic | Daryl J. Eddings Sr. | 1,652 | 2.11 |
| | Republican | Mike Egan | 1,543 | 1.97 |
| | Democratic | Patrick Moses | 1,189 | 1.52 |
| | Democratic | Manuel R. Salazar III | 1,119 | 1.43 |
| | Republican | Sery Kim | 888 | 1.13 |
| | Republican | Travis Rodermund | 460 | 0.59 |
| | Independent | Adrian Mizher | 351 | 0.45 |
| | Democratic | Brian K. Stephenson | 271 | 0.35 |
| | Libertarian | Phil Gray | 265 | 0.34 |
| | Democratic | Matthew Hinterlong | 252 | 0.32 |
| | Republican | Jennifer Garcia Sharon | 150 | 0.19 |
| | Democratic | Chris Suprun | 102 | 0.13 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,374 | 100 |
| General election |||||
| | Republican | Jake Ellzey | 20,837 | 53.27 |
| | Republican | Susan Wright | 18,279 | 46.73 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,116 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
This special election took place after Wright died from health complications related to COVID-19 on February 7, 2021.

## Historical district boundaries

Early in the district's history, it stretched from the southern Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs all the way to Houston's northern suburbs. As Houston and DFW grew, the district shrank gradually northward, reaching its current boundaries today.

### 2012 redistricting

The 2012 redistricting process removed all of Trinity, Houston, Leon, Freestone, and Limestone counties from the district, while making the district more compact in southeastern Tarrant County.