Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district

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Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district is one of five United States congressional districts in Oklahoma and covers approximately one-fourth of the state in the east. The district borders Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas and includes (in whole or in part) a total of 24 counties.[3] With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+29, it is the most Republican district in Oklahoma, a state with an all-Republican congressional delegation.[2]

Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Distribution
  • 64.49% rural
  • 35.51% urban
Population (2023)811,280
Median household
income
$51,974[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+29[2]

Historically, the district has supported conservative Democrats, and was reckoned as a classic Yellow dog Democrat district. However, the growing Republican trend in the state has overtaken the district since the start of the 21st century. In the last two elections, the Republican presidential candidate has carried it by the largest margin in the state. Urban voters comprise a third of the district.[4]

The district is represented by Republican Josh Brecheen, becoming only the third Republican to hold the seat since 1923. Brecheen was first elected in 2022, following the retirement of five-term Republican incumbent Markwayne Mullin, who was elected to the United States Senate.

Geography

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The district borders Kansas to the north, Missouri and Arkansas to the east, and Texas (along the Red River) to the south. It covers all or part of 26 counties. It includes the remainder of Rogers County (including the county seat of Claremore) that is not included in the 1st district, and then, also, all of the following counties: Adair, Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Mayes, Delaware, Cherokee, Okmulgee, Muskogee, Sequoyah, Okfuskee, McIntosh, Haskell, LeFlore, Hughes, Pittsburg, Latimer, Coal, Atoka, Pushmataha, McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, Marshall and Johnston.[3]

Some of the principal cities in the district include Miami, Claremore, Muskogee, Tahlequah, Okmulgee, McAlester, and Durant.

The northern half of the district includes most of the area of Oklahoma referred to as Green Country, while the southern half of the district includes a part of Oklahoma often referred to as Little Dixie. It contains the majority of lands in the Choctaw Nation and the Cherokee Nation, as well as smaller parts of the Creek and Chickasaw nations.

History

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In the 20th century, the district heavily favored conservative Democratic candidates, being represented in the House only by Democrats from 1923 to 1994. The district's Democratic leanings stem partly from historic migration patterns into the state– the Little Dixie region of the district imported the people and culture of southern states such as Mississippi after Reconstruction.[5] Voter registration in Little Dixie ran as high as 90 percent Democratic in the past.[5] Additionally, Native Americans in the region tend to vote for Democratic candidates and they have helped Democratic candidates win statewide elections.[6]

The district first shifted Republican in electing Tom Coburn in 1994, who vacated the seat due to a self-imposed term limit pledge (he was elected to the United States Senate 4 years later). It was held by conservative Democrats Brad Carson and Dan Boren from 2001 to 2012. Since the 2012 election, the 2nd district has been safely Republican at all levels including the House: it was represented by Markwayne Mullin from 2013. Mullin assumed office as a U.S. Senator in 2023, and was succeeded as the Representative from the 2nd district by fellow Republican Josh Brecheen.

Presidentially, this was the best-performing district for Democrats in the 20th century; Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win the district, easily carrying it in 1992 and 1996. Since then it has been safely Republican: George W. Bush received 59 percent of the vote in this district in 2004, John McCain received 66 percent of the vote in this district in 2008, and in 2020, Donald Trump won one of the highest percentages for a Republican presidential candidate, winning 76% of the vote to only 22% for the Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Muskogee has produced six representatives, more than any other city in the district. Tahlequah has produced three representatives, the second most of any city in the district.

According to the 2000 U.S. census, the district is 35.51 percent urban, 23.95 percent non-white, and has a population that is 2.40 percent Latino and 1.36 percent foreign-born.[4] The district has a higher percentage of Native Americans than any other congressional district in Oklahoma.[6] Its representative, Josh Brecheen, is one of four Native Americans currently serving in Congress.[7]

Results from recent statewide elections

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Presidential races

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Year Results
2000 Bush 53–47%
2004 Bush 59–41%
2008 McCain 66–34%
2012 Romney 68–32%
2016 Trump 73–23%
2020 Trump 76–22%

Recent election results

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2004

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2004 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Boren 179,579 65.9%
Republican Wayland Smalley 92,963 34.1%
Total votes 272,542 100.00%
Democratic hold

2006

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2006 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Boren (Incumbent) 122,347 72.7%
Republican Patrick K. Miller 45,861 27.3%
Total votes 168,208 100.00%
Democratic hold

2008

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2008 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Boren (Incumbent) 173,757 70.5%
Republican Raymond J. Wickson 72,815 29.5%
Total votes 246,572 100.00%
Democratic hold

2010

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2010 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Boren (Incumbent) 108,203 56.5%
Republican Charles Thompson 83,226 43.5%
Total votes 191,429 100.00%
Democratic hold

2012

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Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2012[citation needed]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Markwayne Mullin 143,701 57.3%
Democratic Rob Wallace 96,081 38.3%
Independent Michael G. Fulks 10,830 4.3%
Total votes 250,612 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

2014

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Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2014[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Markwayne Mullin (Incumbent) 110,925 70.0%
Democratic Earl Everett 38,964 24.6%
Independent Jon Douthitt 8,518 5.4%
Total votes 158,407 100.0%
Republican hold

2016

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Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2016[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Markwayne Mullin (Incumbent) 189,839 70.6%
Democratic Joshua Harris-Till 62,387 23.2%
Independent John McCarthy 16,644 6.2%
Total votes 268,870 100.0%
Republican hold

2018

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Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Markwayne Mullin (Incumbent) 140,451 65.0%
Democratic Jason Nichols 65,021 30.1%
Independent John Foreman 6,390 3.0%
Libertarian Richard Castaldo 4,140 1.9%
Total votes 216,002 100.0%
Republican hold

2020

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Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2020[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Markwayne Mullin (incumbent) 216,511 75.0
Democratic Danyell Lanier 63,472 22.0
Libertarian Richie Castaldo 8,544 3.0
Total votes 288,527 100.0
Republican hold

2022

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Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2022[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Josh Brecheen 167,843 72.4
Democratic Naomi Andrews 54,194 23.3
Independent "Bulldog" Ben Robinson 9,635 4.1
Total votes 231,672 100.0
Republican hold

List of members representing the district

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Name Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history
District established November 15, 1907
 
Elmer L. Fulton
(Oklahoma City)
Democratic November 16, 1907 –
March 3, 1909
60th Elected in 1907.
Lost re-election.
 
Dick T. Morgan
(Woodward)
Republican March 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1915
61st
62nd
63rd
Elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Redistricted to the 8th district.
 
William Hastings
(Tahlequah)
Democratic March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1921
64th
65th
66th
Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Lost re-election.
 
Alice Robertson
(Muskogee)
Republican March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1923
67th Elected in 1920.
Lost re-election.
 
William Hastings
(Tahlequah)
Democratic March 4, 1923 –
January 3, 1935
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
73rd
Elected again in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Retired.
 
John C. Nichols
(Eufaula)
Democratic January 3, 1935 –
July 3, 1943
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
Elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Resigned to become vice president of Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc.
Vacant July 3, 1943 –
March 28, 1944
78th
 
William G. Stigler
(Stigler)
Democratic March 28, 1944 –
August 21, 1952
78th
79th
80th
81st
82nd
Elected to finish Nichols's term.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Died.
Vacant August 21, 1952 –
January 3, 1953
82nd
 
Ed Edmondson
(Muskogee)
Democratic January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1973
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
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.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 
Clem McSpadden
(Claremore)
Democratic January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1975
93rd Elected in 1972.
Retired to run for Governor of Oklahoma.
 
Ted Risenhoover
(Tahlequah)
Democratic January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1979
94th
95th
Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Lost renomination.
 
Mike Synar
(Muskogee)
Democratic January 3, 1979 –
January 3, 1995
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
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.
Lost renomination.
 
Tom Coburn
(Muskogee)
Republican January 3, 1995 –
January 3, 2001
104th
105th
106th
Elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Retired to practice medicine.
 
Brad Carson
(Claremore)
Democratic January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2005
107th
108th
Elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 
Dan Boren
(Muskogee)
Democratic January 3, 2005 –
January 3, 2013
109th
110th
111th
112th
Elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Retired.
 
Markwayne Mullin
(Westville)
Republican January 3, 2013 –
January 3, 2023
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
Elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
 
Josh Brecheen
(Coalgate)
Republican January 3, 2023 –
present
118th Elected in 2022.

Historical district boundaries

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2003–2013
 
2013–2023

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  2. ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Oklahoma's 2nd District (accessed May 24, 2010).
  4. ^ a b Representative Dan Boren: District Demographics, That's My Congress (accessed May 11, 2010).
  5. ^ a b Gaddie, Ronald Keith, "Democratic Party," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Archived May 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (accessed May 24, 2010).
  6. ^ a b "Paying Attention to the Native American Vote". www.pbs.org.
  7. ^ "Cherokee Nation Honors U.S. Rep. Mullin". Times Record.
  8. ^ "Oklahoma Secretary of State 2014 General Election". Oklahoma Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  9. ^ "Official Results – General Election — November 8, 2016". Oklahoma Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  10. ^ "November 3, 2020 – Official Results". Oklahoma State Election Board.
  11. ^ "November 8 2022 Oklahoma Official results". results.okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved November 9, 2022.

35°00′N 95°42′W / 35.0°N 95.7°W / 35.0; -95.7