# Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district

Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district is the largest congressional district in the state, covering an area of 34,088.49 square miles, over 48 percent the state's land mass. The district is bordered by New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and the Texas panhandle. Altogether, the district includes (in whole or in part) a total of 32 counties, and covers more territory than the state's other four districts combined. It is one of the largest districts in the nation that does not cover an entire state.
The district has been represented by Republican Frank Lucas since 2003.
Prior to 2003, most of the territory now in the 3rd district was in the 6th district. Meanwhile, from 1915 to 2003, the 3rd district was located in southeastern Oklahoma, an area known as Little Dixie. It had a dramatically different voting history from the current 3rd; only one Republican ever won it. It was the district of Carl Albert, Speaker of the House from 1971 to 1977.

## Geography

The district borders New Mexico to the west, Colorado and Kansas to the north, and the Texas panhandle to the south. To the far west, the district includes the three counties of the Oklahoma Panhandle (Cimarron, Texas, Beaver), and also Harper, Ellis, Woodward, Woods, Major, Alfalfa, Grant, Garfield, Kay, Noble, Osage, Pawnee, Creek, Payne, Lincoln, Logan, Kingfisher, Blaine, Canadian, Dewey, Custer, Roger Mills, Beckham, Washita, Caddo, Kiowa, Greer, Harmon, and Jackson.
Some of the principal cities in the district include Guymon, Ponca City, Cheyenne, Enid, Stillwater, Yukon, Guthrie, Sapulpa and Altus. It also includes slivers of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

## History

The political success of the Republican party in the region reflects changing patterns of party affiliation similar to changes across the South. Although northwest Oklahoma was settled by migrants from Kansas, who favored the Republican Party and the Union during the Civil War, the southeast was settled by conservative white Southerners. For decades they were affiliated with the United States Democratic Party and traditions of that region.
The Great Depression hurt the GOP. Since the late 20th century, party affiliations have changed, and today most white conservatives belong to the Republican Party here. It is now one of the most Republican districts in the nation. George W. Bush received 72 percent of the district's presidential vote in 2004.
Unlike the previous 3rd congressional district, a largely rural area, today half of the district's inhabitants are classified as urban, and 3 percent of adults working in the district use public transportation, ride a bike, or walk. The district's population is 5 percent Latino and 3 percent foreign-born.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 69% - 29% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 71% - 29% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 70% - 25% |
| 2016 | Senate | Lankford 72% - 20% |
| 2018 | Governor | Stitt 59% - 37% |
| 2018 | Lt. Governor | Pinnell 67% - 30% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Hunter 69% - 31% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 70% - 27% |
| 2020 | Senate | Inhofe 68% - 28% |
| 2022 | Senate (Reg.) | Lankford 70% - 26% |
| 2022 | Senate (Spec.) | Mullin 67% - 30% |
| 2022 | Governor | Stitt 61% - 36% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Pinnell 70% - 26% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Russ 70% - 25% |

## 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:
Alfalfa County (11)
    All 11 communities
Beaver County (6)
    All 6 communities
Beckham County (6)
    All 6 communities
Blaine County (10)
    All 10 communities
Caddo County (13)
    All 13 communities
Canadian County (6)
    Calumet, Cedar Lake, El Reno, Mustang, Oklahoma City (part; also 4th and 5th; shared with Cleveland, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties), Union City
Cimarron County (4)
    All 4 communities
Creek County (13)
    Bristow, Depew, Drumright, Kellyville, Lawrence Creek, Manford, Milfay, Oilton, Olive, Sapulpa (part; also 1st; shared with Tulsa County), Shamrock, Shroud, Slick
Custer County (7)
    All 7 communities
Dewey County (7)
    All 7 communities
Ellis County (4)
    All 4 communities
Garfield County (15)
    All 15 communities
Grant County (9)
    All 9 communities
Harmon County (2)
    Gould, Hollis
Harper County (4)
    All 4 communities
Jackson County (9)
    All 9 communities
Kay County (1)
    All 11 communities
Kingfisher County (6)
    All 6 communities
Kiowa County (8)
    All 8 communities
Logan County (5)
    Crescent, Crescent Springs, Lovell, Marshall, Mulhall (shared with Payne County), Orlando (shared with Payne County)
Major County (7)
    All 7 communities
Noble County (7)
    All 7 communities
Oklahoma County (1)
    Oklahoma City (part; also 4th and 5th; shared with Canadian, Cleveland, and Pottawatomie counties)
Osage County (23)
    All 23 communities
Pawnee County (11)
    All 11 communities
Payne County (12)
    All 12 communities
Roger Mills County (5)
    All 5 communities
Texas County (7)
    All 7 communities
Washita County (11)
    All 11 communities
Woods County (7)
    All 7 communities
Woodward County (5)
    All 5 communities

## List of members representing the district

| Name | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | Location |
| District established November 16, 1907 ||||||
| James S. Davenport (Vinita) | Democratic | November 16, 1907 – March 3, 1909 | 60th | Elected in 1907. Lost re-election. | |
| Charles E. Creager (Muskogee) | Republican | March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1911 | 61st | Elected in 1908. Lost re-election. | |
| James S. Davenport (Vinita) | Democratic | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1915 | 62nd 63rd | Elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Redistricted to the 1st district. | |
| Charles D. Carter (Ardmore) | Democratic | March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1927 | 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th | Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Lost renomination. | |
| Wilburn Cartwright (McAlester) | Democratic | March 4, 1927 – January 3, 1943 | 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th | 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. Lost renomination. | |
| Paul Stewart (Antlers) | Democratic | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1947 | 78th 79th | Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Retired. | |
| Carl Albert (McAlester) | Democratic | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1977 | 80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th | 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. Retired. | |
| Wes Watkins (Ada) | Democratic | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1991 | 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st | Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Retired to run for Oklahoma Governor. | |
| Bill Brewster (Marietta) | Democratic | January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997 | 102nd 103rd 104th | Elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Retired. | |
| Wes Watkins (Stillwater) | Republican | January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003 | 105th 106th 107th | Elected again in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Retired. | |
| Frank Lucas (Cheyenne) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – present | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Redistricted from the 6th district and 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. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2003–2013 |
| Frank Lucas (Cheyenne) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – present | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Redistricted from the 6th district and 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. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 |
| Frank Lucas (Cheyenne) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – present | 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Redistricted from the 6th district and 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. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present |

## Recent election results
### 2012

Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 201,744 | 75.3 |
| | Democratic | Timothy Ray Murray | 53,472 | 20.0 |
| | Independent | William M. Sanders | 12,787 | 4.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 268,003 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 133,335 | 78.6 |
| | Democratic | Frankie Robbins | 36,270 | 21.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 169,605 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 227,525 | 78.3 |
| | Democratic | Frankie Robbins | 63,090 | 21.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 290,615 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 172,913 | 73.9 |
| | Democratic | Frankie Robbins | 61,152 | 26.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 234,065 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 242,677 | 78.5 |
| | Democratic | Zoe Midyett | 66,501 | 21.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 309,178 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

Oklahoma's 3rd congressional district, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank Lucas (incumbent) | 147,418 | 74.5 |
| | Democratic | Jeremiah Ross | 50,354 | 25.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 197,772 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |