# Texas's 17th congressional district

Texas's 17th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives includes a strip of Central Texas and Deep East Texas stretching from Nacogdoches to Waco and Round Rock, including former President George W. Bush's McLennan County ranch. The district is currently represented by Republican Pete Sessions.
From 2005 to 2013, it was an oblong district stretching from south of Tarrant County to Grimes County in the southeast. The 2012 redistricting made its area more square, removing the northern and southeastern portions, adding areas southwest into the northern Austin suburbs and east into Freestone and Leon counties. The district included two major universities, Texas A&M University in College Station and Baylor University in Waco.
Before 2005, the district stretched from the Abilene area to the outer western fringes of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

## History

After the 2003 Texas redistricting, engineered by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, TX-17 was (along with MS-4) the most heavily Republican district in the nation to be represented by a Democrat, according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, which rated it R+20. The district was drawn to make it Republican-dominated and unseat its longtime incumbent, conservative Democrat Chet Edwards. While several of his colleagues were defeated by Republicans in 2004, Edwards held on to the seat in the 2004, 2006 and 2008 elections.
But in the 2010 Congressional elections, the district elected Republican Bill Flores over Edwards by a margin of 61.8% to 36.6%. Flores was the first Republican to be elected to represent the district since its creation in 1919. Flores retired after five terms and former Texas 32nd district Congressman Pete Sessions, a Waco native, was elected in 2020.
After passage of civil rights legislation and other changes, through the late 20th and early 21st centuries, white conservatives began to shift into the Republican Party in Texas. They first supported presidential candidates, and gradually more Republicans for local, state and national office, resulting in the 2010 switch in party representation.

## 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:
Angelina County (7)
    All 7 communities
Falls County (5)
    All 5 communities
Freestone County (1)
    Teague
Houston County (5)
    All 5 communities
Leon County (8)
    All 8 communities
Limestone County (6)
    All 6 communities
McLennan County (23)
    All 23 communities
Milam County (9)
    All 9 communities
Nacogdoches County (6)
    All 6 communities
Robertson County (4)
    All 4 communities
Travis County (2)
    Pflugerville (part; also 10th, 35th, and 37th; shared with Williamson County), Round Rock (part; also 31st; shared with Travis County)
Trinity County (3)
    All 3 communities
Walker County (2)
    Huntsville (part; also 8th), Riverside
Williamson County (5)
    Coupland, Hutto (part; also 31st), Pflugerville (part; also 10th, 35th, and 37th; shared with Travis County), Round Rock (part; also 31st; shared with Travis County), Thrall (part; also 31st)

## List of members representing the district

| Member (Residence) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1919 |||||
| Thomas L. Blanton (Abilene) | Democratic | March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1929 | 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th | Redistricted from the 16th district and re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Retired to run for U.S. Senator (lost nomination). |
| Robert Q. Lee (Cisco) | Democratic | March 4, 1929 – April 18, 1930 | 71st | Elected in 1928. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 18, 1930 – May 20, 1930 | 71st | |
| Thomas L. Blanton (Abilene) | Democratic | May 20, 1930 – January 3, 1937 | 71st 72nd 73rd 74th | Elected to finish Lee's term. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Lost renomination. |
| Clyde L. Garrett (Eastland) | Democratic | January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1941 | 75th 76th | Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Lost renomination. |
| Sam M. Russell (Stephenville) | Democratic | January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1947 | 77th 78th 79th | Elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Retired. |
| Omar Burleson (Anson) | Democratic | January 3, 1947 – December 31, 1978 | 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th | 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 | |
| Charles Stenholm (Abilene) | Democratic | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2005 | 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th | Elected in 1978. Re-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. Redistricted to the 19th district and lost re-election. |
| Chet Edwards (Waco) | Democratic | January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2011 | 109th 110th 111th | Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Lost re-election. |
| Bill Flores (Bryan) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2021 | 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Retired. |
| Pete Sessions (Waco) | Republican | January 3, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. |

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 61% - 38% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 65% - 35% |
| 2014 | Senate | Cornyn 72% - 28% |
| 2014 | Governor | Abbott 69% - 31% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 62% - 34% |
| 2018 | Senate | Cruz 61% - 39% |
| 2018 | Governor | Abbott 64% - 34% |
| 2018 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 59% - 38% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Paxton 60% - 38% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 61% - 38% |
| 2020 | Senate | Cornyn 61% - 36% |
| 2022 | Governor | Abbott 65% - 34% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Patrick 64% - 34% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Paxton 63% - 34% |
| 2022 | Comptroller of Public Accounts | Hegar 66% - 32% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 64% - 35% |
| 2024 | Senate | Cruz 62% - 36% |

## Election results

US House election, 2022: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Pete Sessions (incumbent) | 144,408 | 66.48 | +10.5 |
| | Democratic | Mary Jo Woods | 72,801 | 33.52 | −7.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 217,209 | 100.0 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +10.5 | |
US House election, 2020: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Pete Sessions | 171,390 | 55.9 | −0.9 |
| | Democratic | Rick Kennedy | 125,565 | 40.92 | −0.4 |
| | Libertarian | Ted Brown | 9,918 | 3.2 | +1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45,825 | 14.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 306,873 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -0.9 | |
US House election, 2018: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Bill Flores (incumbent) | 134,841 | 56.8 | −4.01 |
| | Democratic | Rick Kennedy | 98,070 | 41.3 | +6.06 |
| | Libertarian | Clark Patterson | 4,440 | 1.9 | −2.05 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36,771 | 15.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 237,351 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -4.01 | |
US House election, 2016: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Bill Flores (incumbent) | 149,417 | 60.81 | −3.77 |
| | Democratic | William Matta | 86,603 | 35.24 | +2.84 |
| | Libertarian | Clark Patterson | 9,708 | 3.95 | +0.93 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53,106 | 21.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 245,728 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -3.77 | |
US House election, 2014: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Bill Flores (incumbent) | 85,807 | 64.58 | −15.35 |
| | Democratic | Nick Haynes | 43,049 | 32.4 | |
| | Libertarian | Shawn Michael Hamilton | 4,009 | 3.02 | −17.05 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 38,749 | 29.16 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 132,865 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -15.35 | |
US House election, 2012: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Bill Flores (incumbent) | 143,284 | 79.93 | +34.8 |
| | Libertarian | Ben Easton | 35,978 | 20.07 | 119 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 107,306 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 179,262 | | 4.23 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +18.14 | |
US House election, 2010: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Bill Flores | 106,275 | 61.79 | +16.28 |
| | Democratic | Chet Edwards (incumbent) | 62,926 | 36.59 | −16.39 |
| | Libertarian | Richard Kelly | 2,787 | 1.62 | +0.11 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 43,349 | 25.2 | +17.73 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 171,988 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | +16.34 | |
US House election, 2008: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Chet Edwards (incumbent) | 134,592 | 52.98 | −5.14 |
| | Republican | Rob Curnock | 115,581 | 45.51 | +5.21 |
| | Libertarian | Gardner C. Osbourne | 3,849 | 1.51 | −0.07 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,011 | 7.47 | −10.35 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 254,022 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | -5.18 | |
US House election, 2006: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Chet Edwards (incumbent) | 92,478 | 58.12 | +6.92 |
| | Republican | Van Taylor | 64,142 | 40.30 | −7.11 |
| | Libertarian | Guillermo Acosta | 2,504 | 1.58 | +0.19 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 28,336 | 17.82 | +14.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 159,124 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | +7.02 | |
US House election, 2004: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Chet Edwards | 125,309 | 51.20 | −0.17 |
| | Republican | Arlene Wohlgemuth | 116,049 | 47.41 | +0.03 |
| | Libertarian | Clyde Garland | 3,390 | 1.39 | +0.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,260 | 3.79 | −0.19 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 244,748 | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | -0.1 | |
US House election, 2002: Texas District 17 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Charlie Stenholm (incumbent) | 84,136 | 51.37 |
| | Republican | Rob Beckham | 77,622 | 47.38 |
| | Libertarian | Fred Jones | 2,046 | 1.25 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,514 | 3.98 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 163,804 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Swing | |