# West Virginia's 3rd congressional district

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district is an obsolete U.S. congressional district in southern West Virginia. At various times the district covered different parts of the state, but in its final form included the state's second-largest city, Huntington; included Bluefield, Princeton, and Beckley; and has a long history of coal mining (especially in the southwestern counties), forestry, and farming.
The district was last represented by Republican Carol Miller. However, because West Virginia lost a congressional seat in the 2020 census, it was eliminated in 2023. On October 22, 2021, Governor Jim Justice signed the new congressional map into law. Under the plan, the old 3rd essentially became the new 1st. Incumbent representative Miller transferred to the new 1st district.

## Character

The district grew in geographic size over the years, as it contained the area of the state that lost the most population. Most of the congressmen listed below prior to the 1992 election cycle actually represented other parts of the state, as most of the recent 3rd district's history was found in the also obsolete 4th, 5th, and 6th districts.
The last version of the 3rd district began to take shape in the 1960s. For much of its history, the 4th district had been focused on Huntington and the mill towns and farm communities north of that city along the Ohio River, while the 5th and 6th districts were focused on the then safely Democratic coal fields. In the 1970 redistricting, the 5th (which had absorbed most of the 6th due to population loss 10 years earlier) was eliminated, and most of its territory was merged into the 4th to form what is now the western half of the 3rd. In the 1990 redistricting the old 4th was renumbered as the 3rd and took in what is now the eastern half of its current shape from a previous version of the 2nd district.
The major areas of the last version of the district included the industrial and university city of Huntington, the coal producing southwestern part of the state, and the more conservative farm and timber region of the southeastern part of the state. 2010 census figures again showed a major population loss, and Mason County was transferred from the 2nd to the 3rd district. This did not change the character of the district in a significant way.
Despite the strength of Democrats at the local and state level, in presidential elections the district followed the increasing Republican trend in West Virginia. While Bill Clinton twice carried the district handily in three-way races, Al Gore had just narrowly won the district in 2000 with 51% of the vote. George W. Bush won the district in 2004 with 53% of the vote, and John McCain carried the district in 2008 with 55.76% of the vote, continuing the district, and the state's rightward shift despite a large shift towards the Democrats nationally in 2008. In 2012, the district shifted significantly towards the Republicans yet again, with Republican Mitt Romney defeating President Barack Obama 65.0% to 32.8% in the district. In 2016, the district shifted even further towards the Republican Party, with Republican Donald Trump defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton (wife of Bill Clinton, who carried the district by significant margins in the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections), by a massive margin of 72.5% to 23.3%.

## Obsolete

The district became obsolete following the 2020 United States census.

## Election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 55% - 42% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 65% - 33% |
| 2012 | Senate | Manchin 65% - 32% |
| 2012 | Governor | Ray Tomblin 54% - 42% |
| 2012 | Attorney General | McGraw 53% - 47% |
| 2012 | Auditor | Gainer III 61% - 39% |
| 2012 | Secretary of State | Tennant 64% - 36% |
| 2012 | Treasurer | Perdue 59% - 41% |
| 2014 | Senate | Moore Capito 61% - 36% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 73% - 23% |
| 2016 | Governor | Justice 55% - 38% |
| 2016 | Attorney General | Morrisey 49% - 46% |
| 2018 | Senate | Manchin 49% - 47% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 73% - 25% |
| 2020 | Senate | Moore Capito 73% - 25% |
| 2020 | Governor | Justice 68% - 27% |
| 2020 | Attorney General | Morrisey 65% - 35% |

## History

The third district, as originally formed in 1863, included Kanawha, Jackson, Mason, Putnam, Cabell, Clay, Wayne, Logan, Boone, Braxton, Nicholas, Roane and McDowell counties. It was essentially the successor of Virginia's 12th congressional district.
In 1882, the district was reformed to include Logan, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, Boone, Kanawha, Fayette, Clay, Nicholas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, Webster, Pocahontas, and Upshur counties. In 1902, Logan, Wyoming, McDowell, Raleigh, Boone and Mercer were removed. In 1916 the district was, more or less, renumbered as the new 6th district, and the 3rd was totally reconstituted as Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Calhoun, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Braxton, Clay, Nicholas, and Webster counties. In 1934, Fayette was added. In 1952, Wirt was added. In 1962, the district was again totally broken up and reconstituted as Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Nicholas and Raleigh. In 1972, Raleigh was removed and Ritchie, Wirt, Gilmer, Calhoun, Mason, Jackson, Roane, Braxton, Putnam, Lincoln, and Boone were added. In 1982, Lewis was added.
The district's last configuration dated from the 1990 round of redistricting. From 1992 to 2002, it consisted of Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Webster, and Wyoming. In 2002, Nicholas was added. For the 2012 cycle, Mason was added. All of the counties of the last version of the district are now part of the 1st District.

## List of members representing the district

| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established December 7, 1863 |||||
| Kellian Whaley (Point Pleasant) | Union | December 7, 1863 – March 3, 1867 | 38th 39th | Elected in 1863. Re-elected in 1864. Retired. |
| Daniel Polsley (Point Pleasant) | Republican | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1869 | 40th | Elected in 1866. Retired. |
| John Witcher (Guyandotte) | Republican | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | Elected in 1868. Lost re-election. |
| Frank Hereford (Union) | Democratic | March 4, 1871 – January 31, 1877 | 42nd 43rd 44th | Elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Retired to run for U.S. Senator and resigned when elected. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 31, 1877 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | |
| John E. Kenna (Kanawha) | Democratic | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883 | 45th 46th 47th | Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882, but resigned when elected U.S. Senator. |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 4, 1883 – May 15, 1883 | 48th | |
| Charles P. Snyder (Charleston) | Democratic | May 15, 1883 – March 3, 1889 | 48th 49th 50th | Elected to finish Kenna's term. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Retired. |
| John D. Alderson (Nicholas) | Democratic | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1895 | 51st 52nd 53rd | Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Lost re-election. |
| James Hall Huling (Charleston) | Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Elected in 1894. Retired. |
| Charles Dorr (Addison) | Republican | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Elected in 1896. Retired. |
| David Emmons Johnston (Bluefield) | Democratic | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901 | 56th | Elected in 1898. Lost re-election. |
| Joseph H. Gaines (Charleston) | Republican | March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1911 | 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st | Elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Lost re-election. |
| Adam Brown Littlepage (Charleston) | Democratic | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 | 62nd | Elected in 1910. Lost re-election. |
| Samuel B. Avis (Charleston) | Republican | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 | 63rd | Elected in 1912. Lost re-election. |
| Adam Brown Littlepage (Charleston) | Democratic | March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917 | 64th | Elected in 1914. Redistricted to the 6th district. |
| Stuart F. Reed (Clarksburg) | Republican | March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1925 | 65th 66th 67th 68th | Elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Retired. |
| John M. Wolverton (Richwood) | Republican | March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1927 | 69th | Elected in 1924. Lost re-election. |
| William S. O'Brien (Buckhannon) | Democratic | March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1929 | 70th | Elected in 1926. Lost re-election. |
| John M. Wolverton (Richwood) | Republican | March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1931 | 71st | Elected in 1928. Lost re-election. |
| Lynn Hornor (Clarksburg) | Democratic | March 4, 1931 – September 23, 1933 | 72nd 73rd | Elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 23, 1933 – November 28, 1933 | 73rd | |
| Andrew Edmiston Jr. (Weston) | Democratic | November 28, 1933 – January 3, 1943 | 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th | Elected to finish Hornor's term. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Lost re-election. |
| Edward G. Rohrbough (Glenville) | Republican | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1945 | 78th | Elected in 1942. Lost re-election. |
| Cleveland M. Bailey (Clarksburg) | Democratic | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947 | 79th | Elected in 1944. Lost re-election. |
| Edward G. Rohrbough (Glenville) | Republican | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 | 80th | Elected in 1946. Lost re-election. |
| Cleveland M. Bailey (Clarksburg) | Democratic | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1963 | 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | 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. Redistricted to the 1st district and lost re-election. |
| John M. Slack Jr. (Charleston) | Democratic | January 3, 1963 – March 17, 1980 | 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th | Redistricted from the 6th district and 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. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | March 17, 1980 – June 30, 1980 | 96th | |
| John G. Hutchinson (Charleston) | Democratic | June 30, 1980 – January 3, 1981 | 96th | Elected to finish Slack's term. Lost re-election. |
| Mick Staton (South Charleston) | Republican | January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983 | 97th | Elected in 1980. Lost re-election. |
| Bob Wise (Clendenin) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Redistricted to the 2nd district. |
| Nick Rahall (Beckley) | Democratic | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2015 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th 113th | Redistricted from the 4th district and 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 re-election. |
| Evan Jenkins (Huntington) | Republican | January 3, 2015 – September 30, 2018 | 114th 115th | Elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Resigned to become Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. |
| Vacant | Vacant | September 30, 2018 – January 3, 2019 | 115th | |
| Carol Miller (Huntington) | Republican | January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | 116th 117th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Redistricted to the 1st district. |
| District dissolved January 3, 2023 |||||

## Recent election results
### 2000s

2000 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nick Rahall (incumbent) | 146,807 | 91.3 |
| | Libertarian | Jeff Robinson | 13,979 | 8.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 160,786 | 100.00 |
2002 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nick Rahall (incumbent) | 87,783 | 70.2 |
| | Republican | Paul Chapman | 37,229 | 29.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 125,012 | 100.00 |
2004 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nick Rahall (incumbent) | 142,682 | 65.2 |
| | Republican | Rick Snuffer | 76,170 | 34.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 218,852 | 100.00 |
2006 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nick Rahall (incumbent) | 92,413 | 69.4 |
| | Republican | Kim Wolfe | 40,820 | 30.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 133,233 | 100.00 |
2008 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nick Rahall (incumbent) | 133,522 | 66.9 |
| | Republican | Marty Gearheart | 66,005 | 33.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 199,527 | 100.00 |

### 2010s

2010 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nick Rahall (incumbent) | 83,636 | 56.0 |
| | Republican | Elliott Maynard | 65,611 | 44.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 149,247 | 100.00 |
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nick Rahall (incumbent) | 108,199 | 53.9 |
| | Republican | Rick Snuffer | 92,238 | 46.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 200,437 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Evan Jenkins | 77,713 | 55.3 |
| | Democratic | Nick Rahall (incumbent) | 62,688 | 44.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 140,401 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Evan Jenkins (incumbent) | 140,741 | 67.9 |
| | Democratic | Matt Detch | 49,708 | 24.0 |
| | Libertarian | Zane Lawhorn | 16,883 | 8.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 207,332 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Carol Miller | 98,645 | 56.4 |
| | Democratic | Richard Ojeda | 76,340 | 43.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 174,985 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020s

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Carol Miller (incumbent) | 161,585 | 71.3 |
| | Democratic | Hilary Turner | 64,927 | 28.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 226,512 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |