# Texas's 13th congressional district

Texas's 13th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Texas that includes most of the Texas Panhandle, parts of Texoma and northwestern parts of North Texas. The principal cities in the district are Amarillo, Gainesville and Wichita Falls. It winds across the Panhandle into the South Plains, then runs east across the Red River Valley. Covering over 40,000 square miles (100,000 km$^2$), it is the 19th-largest district by area in the nation, the 14th-largest that does not cover an entire state, as well as the second-largest in Texas behind the 23rd congressional district. After the 2020 census was completed, the 13th district was heavily redrawn to incorporate Denton, an increasingly Democratic-leaning suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex which had previously anchored the 26th district. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+26, it is one of the most Republican districts in Texas.
The district has been represented in the United States House of Representatives by Republican Ronny Jackson since 2021, and previously by Republican Mac Thornberry, from 1995 until his decision not to run for reelection in 2020. The district's current configuration dates from 1973, when the Panhandle-based 18th district was merged with the Texoma-based 13th. The merged district contained more of the old 18th's territory.
The Panhandle had been one of the first areas of Texas to break away from a Solid South voting pattern. While the region's voters began splitting their tickets as early as the 1940s (and actually elected a Republican during a 1950 special election), Democrats continued to hold most local offices, as well as most of the area's seats in the state legislature, well into the 1990s. As late as 1976, Jimmy Carter won 33 of the 44 counties in the district, getting 60% to 70% of the vote in many of them.
Since Thornberry's ouster of three-term Democrat Bill Sarpalius in 1994, however, a Democrat has only crossed the 30 percent mark in 1996, 1998 and 2000. Republicans now dominate at nearly every level of government, routinely winning by landslide margins when they face any opposition at all. By the turn of the millennium, there were almost no elected Democrats left above the county level.
In 2012, Barack Obama took just 18.5% of the vote in the 13th, his lowest percentage of any congressional district in the nation. In 2016, it was Hillary Clinton's second largest margin of defeat in a congressional district after Alabama's 4th. She received an even lower percentage than President Obama four years prior, gathering 16.9% of the vote compared to Donald Trump's 79.9%.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 73% - 26% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 77% - 23% |
| 2014 | Senate | Cornyn 82% - 18% |
| 2014 | Governor | Abbott 79% - 21% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 73% - 22% |
| 2018 | Senate | Cruz 71% - 28% |
| 2018 | Governor | Abbott 74% - 24% |
| 2018 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 69% - 28% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Paxton 71% - 27% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 72% - 26% |
| 2020 | Senate | Cornyn 73% - 25% |
| 2022 | Governor | Abbott 75% - 24% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 73% - 24% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Paxton 73% - 24% |
| 2022 | Comptroller of Public Accounts | Hegar 75% - 23% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 73% - 26% |
| 2024 | Senate | Cruz 71% - 27% |

## 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:
Archer County (6)
    All 6 communities
Armstrong County (2)
    Claude, Washburn
Baylor County (1)
    Seymour
Briscoe County (2)
    Quitaque, Silverton
Carson County (4)
    All 4 communities
Childress County (1)
    Childress
Clay County (6)
    All 6 communities
Collingsworth County (4)
    All 4 communities
Cottle County (1)
    Paducah
Dallam County (2)
    Dalhart (shared with Hartley County), Texline
Deaf Smith County (1)
    Hereford
Denton County (2)
    Denton (part; also 26th), Krum
Dickens County (2)
    Dickens, Spur
Donley County (4)
    All 4 communities
Foard County (1)
    Crowell
Gray County (4)
    All 4 communities
Hall County (4)
    All 4 communities
Hansford County (3)
    All 3 communities
Hardeman County (2)
    Chillicothe, Quanah
Hartley County (3)
    All 3 communities
Hemphill County (2)
    Canadian, Glazier
Hutchinson County (5)
    All 5 communities
King County (1)
    Guthrie
Knox County (4)
    All 4 communities
Lipscomb County (5)
    All 5 communities
Moore County (3)
    All 3 communities
Montague County (7)
    All 7 communities
Motley County (2)
    Matador, Roaring Springs
Ochiltree County (3)
    All 3 communities
Oldham County (4)
    All 4 communities
Potter County (3)
    All 3 communities
Randall County (8)
    All 8 communities
Roberts County (1)
    Miami
Sherman County (2)
    Stratford, Texhoma
Wheeler County (4)
    All 4 communities
Wilbarger County (4)
    All 4 communities
Wichita County (6)
    All 6 communities
Wise County (6)
    Alvord, Bridgeport, Chico, Decatur (part; also 26th), Lake Bridgeport, Runaway Bay

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Term | Cong ress | Election history |
| District established March 4, 1893 |||||
| Jeremiah V. Cockrell (Anson) | Democratic | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897 | 53rd 54th | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. [data missing] |
| John H. Stephens (Vernon) | Democratic | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1917 | 55th 56th 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th | Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-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. [data missing] |
| J. Marvin Jones (Amarillo) | Democratic | March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1919 | 65th | Elected in 1916. Redistricted to the 18th district. |
| Lucian W. Parrish (Henrietta) | Democratic | March 4, 1919 – March 27, 1922 | 66th 67th | Elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 27, 1922 – May 22, 1922 | 67th | |
| Guinn Williams (Decatur) | Democratic | May 22, 1922 – March 3, 1933 | 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected to finish Parrish's term. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. [data missing] |
| William D. McFarlane (Graham) | Democratic | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1939 | 73rd 74th 75th | Elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. [data missing] |
| Ed Gossett (Wichita Falls) | Democratic | January 3, 1939 – July 31, 1951 | 76th 77th 78th 79th 80th 81st 82nd | 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. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 31, 1951 – September 8, 1951 | 82nd | |
| Frank N. Ikard (Wichita Falls) | Democratic | September 8, 1951 – December 15, 1961 | 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | Elected to finish Gossett's term. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Resigned. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 15, 1961 – January 27, 1962 | 87th | |
| Graham B. Purcell Jr. (Wichita Falls) | Democratic | January 27, 1962 – January 3, 1973 | 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd | Elected to finish Ikard's term. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Lost reelection after redistricting. |
| Bob Price (Pampa) | Republican | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975 | 93rd | Redistricted from the 18th district and re-elected in 1972. Lost reelection. |
| Jack Hightower (Vernon) | Democratic | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1985 | 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th | Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Lost reelection. |
| Beau Boulter (Amarillo) | Republican | January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1989 | 99th 100th | Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. |
| Bill Sarpalius (Amarillo) | Democratic | January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 | 101st 102nd 103rd | Elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Lost reelection. |
| Mac Thornberry (Amarillo) | Republican | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2021 | 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th | Elected in 1994. Reelected in 1996. Reelected in 1998. Reelected in 2000. Reelected in 2002. Reelected in 2004. Reelected in 2006. Reelected in 2008. Reelected in 2010. Reelected in 2012. Reelected in 2014. Reelected in 2016. Reelected in 2018. Retired. |
| Ronny Jackson (Amarillo) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Election results

Often in recent years, the incumbent has either run unopposed or has only a third/fourth party candidate who is opposing them. Generally, the incumbent gets over 70% of the vote, even during years with huge opposition party pickups.
Texas 13th congressional district 1994 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry | 79,466 | 55.42 |
| | Democratic | Bill Sarpalius (incumbent) | 63,923 | 44.58 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 143,389 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 1996 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 116,098 | 66.87 |
| | Democratic | Samuel Brown Silverman | 56,066 | 32.29 |
| | Independent | Don Harkey | 1,463 | 0.84 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 173,627 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 1998 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 81,141 | 67.92 |
| | Democratic | Mark Harmon | 37,027 | 30.99 |
| | Libertarian | Georganne Baker Payne | 1,298 | 1.09 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 119,466 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2000 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 117,995 | 67.63 |
| | Democratic | Curtis Clinesmith | 54,343 | 31.15 |
| | Libertarian | Brad Clardy | 2,137 | 1.22 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 174,475 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 119,401 | 79.27 |
| | Democratic | Zane Reese | 31,218 | 20.73 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 150,619 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 189,448 | 92.31 |
| | Libertarian | John Robert Deek | 15,793 | 7.69 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 205,241 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 108,107 | 74.35 |
| | Democratic | Roger J. Waun | 33,460 | 23.01 |
| | Libertarian | Keith Dyer | 3,829 | 2.63 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 145,396 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 180,078 | 77.65 |
| | Democratic | Roger James Waun | 51,841 | 22.35 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 231,919 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 113,201 | 87.05 |
| | Independent | Keith Dyer | 11,192 | 8.61 |
| | Libertarian | John T. Burwell Jr. | 5,650 | 4.34 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 130,043 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 187,775 | 90.98 |
| | Libertarian | John Robert Deek | 12,701 | 6.15 |
| | Green | Keith F. Houston | 5,912 | 2.86 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 206,388 | 100.00 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 110,842 | 84.3 |
| | Democratic | Mike Minter | 16,822 | 12.8 |
| | Libertarian | Emily Pivoda | 2,863 | 2.2 |
| | Green | Don Cook | 924 | 0.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 131,451 | 100 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 199,050 | 90.0 |
| | Libertarian | Calvin DeWeese | 14,725 | 6.7 |
| | Green | H.F. "Rusty" Tomlinson | 7,467 | 3.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 221,242 | 100 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mac Thornberry (incumbent) | 168,090 | 81.6 |
| | Democratic | Greg Sagan | 34,859 | 16.9 |
| | Libertarian | Calvin DeWeese | 3,144 | 1.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 206,093 | 100 |
Texas 13th congressional district 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ronny Jackson | 217,124 | 79.4 |
| | Democratic | Gus Trujillo | 50,477 | 18.5 |
| | Libertarian | Jack B. Westbrook | 5,907 | 2.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 273,508 | 100 |
Texas's 13th congressional district 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ronny Jackson (incumbent) | 161,767 | 75.3 |
| | Democratic | Kathleen Brown | 52,910 | 24.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 214,677 | 100 |