# Texas's 4th congressional district

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. Austin College in Sherman, Texas is located within the district. 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). It is currently represented by Pat Fallon.

## 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:
Bowie County (2)
    Hooks, Leary
Collin County (6)
    Celina (part; also 3rd and 26th), Dallas (part; also 3rd, 5th, 6th, 24th, 30th, 32nd, and 33rd; shared with Dallas, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties), Frisco (part; also 3rd and 26th; shared with Denton County), Hebron (part; also 26th; shared with Denton County), Plano (part; also 3rd, 26th, and 32nd; shared with Denton County), Prosper (part; also 3rd and 26th, shared with Denton County), McKinney (part; also 3rd),
Delta County (2)
    Cooper, Pecan Gap (shared with Fannin County)
Denton County (1)
    Frisco (part; also 3rd and 26th; shared with Collin County)
Fannin County (13)
    All 13 communities
Grayson County (19)
    All 19 communities
Hopkins County (4)
    All 4 communities
Hunt County (3)
    Hawk Cove, Quinlan (part; also 3rd), West Tawakoni
Lamar County (10)
    All 10 communities
Rains County (4)
    All 4 communities
Red River County (0)
    No incorporated or census-recognized communities
Rockwall County (10)
    All 10 communities

## History

Texas has had at least four congressional districts since the State's senators and representatives were re-seated in Congress 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.
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.
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.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 66% - 33% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 71% - 29% |
| 2014 | Senate | Cornyn 75% - 25% |
| 2014 | Governor | Abbott 71% - 29% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 65% - 30% |
| 2018 | Senate | Cruz 63% - 37% |
| 2018 | Governor | Abbott 68% - 31% |
| 2018 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 63% - 35% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Paxton 62% - 36% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 62% - 36% |
| 2020 | Senate | Cornyn 64% - 34% |
| 2022 | Governor | Abbott 66% - 33% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 64% - 34% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Paxton 64% - 33% |
| 2022 | Comptroller of Public Accounts | Hegar 68% - 31% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 65% - 33% |
| 2024 | Senate | Cruz 63% - 35% |

## List of members representing the district

| Name | Party | Years | Cong– ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1863 |||||
| District inactive | District inactive | March 4, 1863 – March 31, 1870 | 37th 38th 39th 40th 41st | Civil War and Reconstruction | Civil War and Reconstruction |
| Edward Degener (San Antonio) | Republican | March 31, 1870 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | Elected in 1870. Lost renomination. |
| John Hancock (Austin) | Democratic | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875 | 42nd 43rd | Elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Redistricted to the 5th district. |
| Roger Q. Mills (Corsicana) | 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. |
| David B. Culberson (Jefferson) | 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 (Sulphur Springs) | Democratic | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Elected in 1896. Retired, then died on the last day of the term. |
| John Levi Sheppard (Texarkana) | Democratic | March 4, 1899 – October 11, 1902 | 56th 57th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | October 11, 1902 – November 15, 1902 | 57th | |
| Morris Sheppard (Texarkana) | Democratic | November 15, 1902 – March 3, 1903 | 57th | Elected to finish Sheppard's term. Redistricted to the 1st district. |
| Choice B. Randell (Sherman) | 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. |
| Sam Rayburn (Bonham) | 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 | Vacant | November 16, 1961 – January 30, 1962 | 87th | |
| Ray Roberts (McKinney) | 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 (Rockwall) | 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. |
| Ralph Hall (Rockwall) | Republican | January 5, 2004 – January 3, 2015 | 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. |
| John Ratcliffe (Heath) | 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. |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 22, 2020 – January 3, 2021 | 116th | |
| Pat Fallon (Frisco) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Recent elections
### 2004

US House election, 2004: Texas District 4 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hall (incumbent) | 182,866 | 68.2 |
| | Democratic | Jim Nickerson | 81,585 | 30.4 |
| | Libertarian | Kevin D. Anderson | 3,491 | 1.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 267,942 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

US House election, 2006: Texas District 4 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hall (incumbent) | 106,495 | 64.43 |
| | Democratic | Glenn Melancon | 55,278 | 33.34 |
| | Libertarian | Kurt G. Helm | 3,496 | 2.11 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 165,269 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

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

### 2010

US House election, 2010: Texas District 4 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Hall (incumbent) | 136,338 | 73.18 |
| | Democratic | VaLinda Hathcox | 40,975 | 21.99 |
| | Libertarian | Jim D. Prindle | 4,729 | 2.53 |
| | Independent | Shane Shepard | 4,224 | 2.27 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 186,286 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

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

### 2014

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

### 2016

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

### 2018

US House election, 2018: Texas District 4 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 249,245 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

US House election, 2020: Texas District 4 :
| Party | 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 | Total votes | Total votes | 337,803 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

US House election, 2022: Texas District 4 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Pat Fallon (incumbent) | 170,781 | 66.7 |
| | Democratic | Iro Omere | 79,179 | 30.9 |
| | Libertarian | John Simmons | 6,049 | 2.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 255,368 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |