# New York's 28th congressional district

New York’s 28th congressional district is an obsolete congressional district for the United States House of Representatives. Before becoming obsolete in 2013, the district was based in Rochester, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, and included parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara and Orleans Counties. Its easternmost point was in Fairport at the home of its final representative, Democrat Louise Slaughter. Due to its gerrymandered shape it was sometimes known as "the earmuffs."
After congressional district lines were redrawn to accommodate the loss of the seat due to reapportionment as a result of the 2010 census, the "earmuffs" were dismantled. The western portion of the present 28th district became part of the new 27th district and the eastern portion of the 28th comprised the majority of the new 25th district, which is contained entirely in Monroe County.

## Voting

Election results from presidential races :
| Year | Office | Results |
| 1992 | President | Clinton 44–38% |
| 1996 | President | Clinton 55–36% |
| 2000 | President | Gore 60–35% |
| 2004 | President | Kerry 63–36% |
| 2008 | President | Obama 69–30% |

## History

2003–2013:
    Parts of Erie, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans
1993–2003:
    Parts of Monroe
1983–1993:
    All of Broome, Tioga, Ulster
    Parts of Delaware, Sullivan, Tompkins
1973–1983:
    Parts of Albany, Montgomery, Schenectady
1971–1973:
    All of Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Ulster
    Parts of Duchess, Montgomery, Sullivan
1963–1971:
    All of Columbia, Duchess, Greene, Schoharie, Ulster
1953–1963:
    All of Delaware, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan
1945–1953:
    Parts of Westchester
1913–1945:
    All of Albany
    Parts of Rensselaer

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1823 |||||
| William B. Rochester (Bath) | Crawford D-R | March 4, 1823 – April 21, 1823 | 18th | Redistricted from 20th district and re-elected in 1822. Resigned upon appointment as Judge of the Eighth Circuit Court. |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 21, 1823 – December 1, 1823 | 18th | |
| William Woods (Bath) | Adams-Clay DR | December 1, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th | Elected to finish Rochester's term. |
| Timothy H. Porter (Olean) | Adams | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 | 19th | Elected in 1824. Did not run for reelection. |
| John Magee (Bath) | Jacksonian | March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1831 | 20th 21st | Elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Unsuccessful candidate for reelection. |
| Grattan H. Wheeler (Wheeler) | Anti-Masonic | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 | 22nd | Elected in 1830. Did not run for reelection. |
| Frederick Whittlesey (Rochester) | Anti-Masonic | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | 23rd | Redistricted from 27th district and re-elected in 1832. |
| Timothy Childs (Rochester) | Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 | 24th 25th | Elected in 1834. |
| Timothy Childs (Rochester) | Whig | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | 24th 25th | Re-elected in 1836. Did not run for reelection. |
| Thomas Kempshall (Rochester) | Whig | March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 | 26th | Elected in 1838. Did not run for reelection. |
| Timothy Childs (Rochester) | Whig | March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | 27th | Elected in 1840. Did not run for reelection. |
| Thomas J. Paterson (Rochester) | Whig | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | 28th | Elected in 1842. Did not run for reelection. |
| Elias B. Holmes (Brockport) | Whig | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1849 | 29th 30th | Elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Did not run for reelection. |
| Abraham M. Schermerhorn (Rochester) | Whig | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | 31st 32nd | Elected in 1848. Re-elected in 1850. Did not run for reelection. |
| George Hastings (Mount Morris) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | 33rd | Elected in 1852. Did not run for reelection. |
| William H. Kelsey (Geneseo) | Opposition | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 | 34th 35th | Elected in 1854. |
| William H. Kelsey (Geneseo) | Republican | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859 | 34th 35th | Elected in 1856. Did not run for reelection. |
| William Irvine (Corning) | Republican | March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861 | 36th | Elected in 1858. Did not run for reelection. |
| Robert B. Van Valkenburgh (Bath) | Republican | March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | 37th | Elected in 1860. Redistricted to 27th district. |
| Freeman Clarke (Rochester) | Republican | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 | 38th | Elected in 1862. Did not run for reelection. |
| Roswell Hart (Rochester) | Republican | March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 | 39th | Elected in 1864. Unsuccessful candidate for reelection. |
| Lewis Selye (Rochester) | Ind. Republican | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1869 | 40th | Elected in 1866. Did not run for reelection. |
| Noah Davis (Albion) | Republican | March 4, 1869 – July 15, 1870 | 41st | Elected in 1868. Resigned after becoming United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. |
| Vacant | Vacant | July 16, 1870 – December 5, 1870 | 41st | |
| Charles H. Holmes (Albion) | Republican | December 6, 1870 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | Elected to finish Davis's term. |
| Freeman Clarke (Rochester) | Republican | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | Elected in 1870. Redistricted to 29th district. |
| Horace B. Smith (Elmira) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Redistricted from 27th district and re-elected in 1872. |
| Thomas C. Platt (Owego) | Republican | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | Redistricted from 27th district and re-elected in 1874. |
| Jeremiah W. Dwight (Dryden) | Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883 | 45th 46th 47th | Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Did not run for reelection. |
| Stephen C. Millard (Binghamton) | Republican | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | Elected in 1882. Redistricted to 26th district. |
| John Arnot Jr. (Elmira) | Democratic | March 4, 1885 – November 20, 1886 | 49th | redistricted from 29th district and re-elected in 1884. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 21, 1886 – March 3, 1887 | 49th | |
| Thomas S. Flood (Elmira) | Republican | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891 | 50th 51st | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Did not run for reelection. |
| Hosea H. Rockwell (Elmira) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. Did not run for reelection. |
| Sereno E. Payne (Auburn) | Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1903 | 53rd 54th 55th 56th 57th | Redistricted from 27th district and re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Redistricted to 31st district. |
| Charles L. Knapp (Lowville) | Republican | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1911 | 58th 59th 60th 61st | Redistricted from 24th district and re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. |
| Luther W. Mott (Oswego) | Republican | March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 | 62nd | Elected in 1910. Redistricted to 32nd district. |
| Peter G. Ten Eyck (Albany) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 | 63rd | Elected in 1912. Unsuccessful candidate for reelection. |
| Rollin B. Sanford (Albany) | Republican | March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1921 | 64th 65th 66th | Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Did not run for reelection. |
| Peter G. Ten Eyck (Albany) | Democratic | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923 | 67th | Elected in 1920. Did not run for reelection. |
| Parker Corning (Albany) | Democratic | March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1937 | 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th | 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. Retired. |
| William T. Byrne (Loudonville) | Democratic | January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1945 | 75th 76th 77th 78th | Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Redistricted to 32nd district. |
| Ralph A. Gamble (Larchmont) | Republican | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1953 | 79th 80th 81st 82nd | Redistricted from 25th district and re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Redistricted to 26th district. |
| Katharine St. George (Tuxedo Park) | Republican | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1963 | 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th | Redistricted from 29th district and re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Redistricted to 27th district. |
| J. Ernest Wharton (Richmondville) | Republican | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965 | 88th | Redistricted from 29th district and re-elected in 1962. |
| Joseph Y. Resnick (Ellenville) | Democratic | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1969 | 89th 90th | Elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Unsuccessful candidate for Democratic U.S. Senate nomination. |
| Hamilton Fish IV (Millbrook) | Republican | January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1973 | 91st 92nd | Elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Redistricted to 25th district. |
| Samuel S. Stratton (Amsterdam) | Democratic | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1983 | 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th | Redistricted from 29th district and re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Redistricted to 23rd district |
| Matthew F. McHugh (Ithaca) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd | Redistricted from 27th district and re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. |
| Louise Slaughter (Fairport) | Democratic | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2013 | 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th 112th | Redistricted from 30th 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. Redistricted to 25th district. |
| District dissolved January 3, 2013 |||||
The 28th District has included all or part of Rochester since 1992. The 2002 remap added parts of Buffalo and Niagara Falls. In the 1980s the 28th District was the southern tier seat now numbered the 22nd District. In the 1970s it was the Capitol District seat now numbered the 21st District. During the 1960s it was a Hudson Valley/Catskill seat including much of the present 19th District and parts of the 20th and 22nd District.
Prior to 1992 the Rochester area district was the 30th. Monroe County was split between two districts in the 1970s, the 34th District (which included much of the present 25th District) and the 35th District (which included much of the present 26th District).

## Election results

Note that in New York State electoral politics there are numerous minor parties at various points on the political spectrum. Certain parties will invariably endorse either the Republican or Democratic candidate for every office, hence the state electoral results contain both the party votes, and the final candidate votes (Listed as "Recap").
US House election, 2006: New York District 28 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Louise Slaughter (incumbent) | 111,386 | 73.2 | +0.6 |
| | Republican | John E. Donnelly | 40,844 | 26.8 | +2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 70,542 | 46.3 | −1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 152,230 | 100 | −30.8 |
US House election, 2004: New York District 28 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Louise Slaughter (incumbent) | 159,655 | 72.6 | +10.1 |
| | Republican | Mike Laba | 54,543 | 24.8 | −12.7 |
| | Independence | Francina Cartonia | 5,678 | 2.6 | +2.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 105,112 | 47.8 | +22.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 219,876 | 100 | +38.6 |
US House election, 2002: New York District 28 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Louise Slaughter (incumbent) | 99,057 | 62.5 | −3.2 |
| | Republican | Henry F. Wojtaszek | 59,547 | 37.5 | +4.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 39,510 | 24.9 | −8.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 158,604 | 100 | −31.3 |
US House election, 2000: New York District 28 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Louise Slaughter (incumbent) | 151,688 | 65.7 | +0.9 |
| | Republican | Mark C. Johns | 75,348 | 32.6 | +1.8 |
| | Green | Eve Hawkins | 2,292 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
| | Libertarian | Stephen C. Healey | 1,528 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 76,340 | 33.1 | −0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 230,856 | 100 | +25.8 |
US House election, 1998: New York District 28 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Louise Slaughter (incumbent) | 118,856 | 64.8 | +7.5 |
| | Republican | Richard A. Kaplan | 56,443 | 30.8 | −11.9 |
| | Conservative | Paul Britton | 4,963 | 2.7 | +2.7 |
| | Right to Life | Gerald D. Crawford | 3,196 | 1.7 | +1.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 62,413 | 34.0 | +19.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 183,458 | 100 | −21.1 |
US House election, 1996: New York District 28 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Louise Slaughter (incumbent) | 133,084 | 57.3 |
| | Republican | Geoff H. Rosenberger | 99,366 | 42.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33,718 | 14.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 232,450 | 100 |