Missouri's 7th congressional district explained

State:	Missouri
District Number:	7
Image Caption:	Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative:	Eric Burlison
Party:	Republican
Residence:	Ozark
Percent Urban:	59.28
Percent Rural:	40.72
Population:	790,923
Population Year:	2023
Median Income:	$60,685^[1]
Percent White:	82.8
Percent Hispanic:	6.1
Percent Black:	2.0
Percent Asian:	1.5
Percent Native American:	0.9
Percent More Than One Race:	6.0
Percent Other Race:	0.7
Cpvi:	R+24^[2]

Missouri's 7th congressional district consists of Southwest Missouri. The district includes Springfield, the home of Missouri State University, the Joplin, Missouri, metropolitan area, Missouri's 5th largest, and the popular tourist destination city of Branson. Located along the borders of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Northwest Arkansas, the district occupies part of the Bible Belt with a strong socially conservative trend. George W. Bush defeated John Kerry here 67% to 32% in the 2004 election. Republican John McCain defeated Democrat Barack Obama 63.1% to 35.3% in the 2008 election. Republican and Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney defeated Barack Obama 67.6% to 30.3% in the 2012 election. In the 2020 election, Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Joe Biden 69.91% to 28.93%. As of 2020, this district is the second most strongly Republican district in Missouri and is one of the most strongly Republican districts in the United States.

The district is currently represented by Republican Eric Burlison of Ozark.^[3]

Election results from statewide races

Year	Office	Results
2000	President	George W. Bush 62 – Al Gore 36%
2004	President	George W. Bush 67 – John Kerry 32%
2008	President	John McCain 62 – Barack Obama 35%
2012	President	Mitt Romney 68 – Barack Obama 30%
2016	President	Donald Trump 70 – Hillary Clinton 25%
2020	President	Donald Trump 70 – Joe Biden 28%

Composition

	County	Seat	Population
9	Barry	Cassville	35,265
43	Christian	Ozark	94,422
77	Greene	Springfield	304,611
97	Jasper	Carthage	125,056
109	Lawrence	Mount Vernon	38,872
119	McDonald	Pineville	23,903
145	Newton	Neosho	60,677
209	Stone	Galena	32,658
213	Taney	Forsyth	56,775
225	Webster	Marshfield	41,472

Cities and CDPs with 10,000 or more people

Springfield – 170,188
Joplin – 51,762
Nixa – 23,257
Ozark – 21,284
Republic – 18,750
Carthage – 15,522
Webb City – 13,031
Branson – 12,638
Neosho – 12,590

2,500 – 10,000 people

Monett – 9,576
Carl Junction – 8,143
Aurora – 7,512
Willard – 6,344
Battlefield – 5,990
Hollister – 4,583
Mount Vernon – 4,526
Rogersville – 3,897
Cassville – 3,190
Clever – 2,918
Forsyth – 2,730
Strafford – 2,561
Oronogo – 2,558

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history	District location
District created March 4, 1853
Samuel Caruthers		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855		Elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. Re-elected in 1856. Retired.
	Opposition	nowrap	March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857
	Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859
align=left	John W. Noell		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863			Elected in 1858. Re-elected in 1860. Redistricted to the .
Benjamin F. Loan		Union Emancipation	nowrap	March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865		Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. Lost re-election.
	Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1869
align=left	Joel F. Asper		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871			Elected in 1868. Retired.
align=left	Isaac C. Parker		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873			Elected in 1870. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Thomas T. Crittenden		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875			Elected in 1872. Retired.
align=left	John F. Philips		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877			Elected in 1874. Lost re-election.
align=left	Thomas T. Crittenden		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879			Elected in 1876. Retired.
align=left	Alfred M. Lay		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1879 – December 8, 1879			Elected in 1878. Died.
Vacant		nowrap	December 8, 1879 – January 26, 1880
align=left	John F. Philips		Democratic	nowrap	January 26, 1880 – March 3, 1881			Elected to finish Lay's term. Lost re-election.
align=left	Theron M. Rice		Greenback	nowrap	March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883			Elected in 1880. Retired.
align=left	Aylett H. Buckner		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885			Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1882. Retired.
align=left	John E. Hutton		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889			Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Retired.
align=left	Richard H. Norton		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1893			Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Lost re-election.
align=left	John T. Heard		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895			Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1892. Lost re-election.
align=left	John P. Tracey		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897			Elected in 1894. Lost re-election.
align=left	James Cooney		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1903			Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Lost renomination.
align=left	Courtney W. Hamlin		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905			Elected in 1902. Lost re-election.
align=left	John Welborn		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907			Elected in 1904. Lost re-election.
align=left	Courtney W. Hamlin		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1919			Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Lost renomination.
align=left	Samuel C. Major		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1921			Elected in 1918. Lost re-election.
align=left	Roscoe C. Patterson		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923			Elected in 1920. Lost re-election.
align=left	Samuel C. Major		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1929			Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Lost re-election.
align=left	John W. Palmer		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1931			Elected in 1928. Lost re-election.
align=left	Samuel C. Major		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1931 – July 28, 1931			Elected in 1930. Died.
Vacant		nowrap	July 28, 1931 – September 29, 1931
align=left	Robert D. Johnson		Democratic	nowrap	September 29, 1931 – March 3, 1933			Elected to finish Major's term. Redistricted to and lost renomination.
District inactive		nowrap	March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935		All representatives elected at-large on a general ticket
align=left	Dewey Short		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1957			Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Lost re-election.
align=left	Charles H. Brown		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1961			Elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Lost re-election.
align=left	Durward G. Hall		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1973			Elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Retired.
Gene Taylor	Republican	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1989		Elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Retired.	1973–1983
1983–1993
1983–1993	Mel Hancock	Republican	January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1997		Elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Retired.
1993–2003
1993–2003	Roy Blunt	Republican	January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2011		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. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
2003–2013
2003–2013	Billy Long	Republican	January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2023		Elected in 2010. Re-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.
2013–2023
align=left	Eric Burlison		Republican	January 3, 2023 – present		Elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024.	2023–present

Geography

Counties

There are a total of 10 counties included in MO-07.

Largest cities

The 10 largest cities in MO-07 are as follows.

Rank	City	County	Population (2010)	Population (2015 Estimates)
1	Springfield	Greene/Christian	159,498	166,810
2	Joplin	Jasper/Newton	50,150	51,818
3	Nixa	Christian	19,022	20,984
4	Ozark	Christian	17,820	19,120
5	Republic	Christian/Greene	14,751	16,005
6	Carthage	Jasper	14,378	14,319
7	Neosho	Newton	11,835	12,156
8	Branson	Taney/Stone	10,520	11,431
9	Webb City	Jasper	10,996	11,165
10	Bolivar	Polk	10,325	10,714

Median household incomes

Rank	County	Income (2008)
1	Christian	$50,200
2	Greene	$44,185
3	Newton	$43,872
4	Stone	$40,487
5	Jasper	$40,243
6	Taney	$39,771
7	Lawrence	$39,210
8	Barry	$35,889
9	McDonald	$33,448

Median family incomes

Rank	County	Income (2008)
1	Christian	$58,806
2	Greene	$56,047
3	Newton	$51,178
4	Jasper	$49,007
5	Taney	$47,664
6	Stone	$46,675
7	Lawrence	$45,843
8	Barry	$41,861
9	McDonald	$38,848

Prior elections

The table below shows how individual counties in MO-07 voted in the 2008 presidential election. U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) swept the district with 63.07 percent of the vote while U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) received 35.39 percent, a 27.68-percent margin of victory for the GOP. McCain received less than 60 percent in only Greene County, where Obama may have been helped by the college subplot presence of Missouri State University.

County			Difference
Newton	69.42	29.32	R + 40.10
McDonald	67.60	30.17	R + 37.43
Stone	68.02	30.69	R + 37.33
Taney	68.02	30.85	R + 37.17
Lawrence	67.70	30.64	R + 37.06
Christian	67.33	31.52	R + 35.81
Barry	66.63	31.62	R + 35.01
Jasper	65.67	32.62	R + 33.05
Polk	65.39	33.24	R + 32.15
Greene	57.06	41.26	R + 15.08

The table below shows how individual counties in MO-07 voted in the 2008 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary. Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) carried every county in MO-07 over U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) and former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Massachusetts).

County				Difference
Taney	55.89	25.90	14.17	H + 29.99
Polk	51.33	25.28	18.65	H + 26.05
Christian	48.46	24.37	22.75	H + 24.09
McDonald	48.71	25.55	14.75	H + 23.16
Lawrence	48.75	26.19	18.96	H + 22.56
Barry	49.69	28.31	15.33	H + 21.38
Newton	45.49	25.95	22.82	H + 19.54
Jasper	42.23	25.82	26.03	H + 16.20
Greene	42.48	27.09	25.17	H + 15.39
Stone	45.01	31.82	18.80	H + 13.19

The table below shows how individual counties in MO-07 voted in the 2008 Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary. Former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) carried every county in the district by convincing margins over U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois).

County			Difference
McDonald	68.39	26.00	C + 42.39
Barry	65.52	30.47	C + 35.05
Newton	65.55	31.46	C + 34.09
Polk	63.81	33.28	C + 30.53
Taney	63.69	33.74	C + 29.95
Lawrence	61.58	34.86	C + 26.72
Stone	61.76	35.17	C + 26.59
Jasper	60.42	36.39	C + 24.03
Christian	57.68	39.93	C + 17.75
Greene	54.94	42.77	C + 12.17

The table below shows how individual counties in MO-07 voted in the 2008 Missouri gubernatorial election. Former Attorney General and now Governor Jay Nixon (D) lost the district to his challenger, former U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof (R).

County			Difference
Newton	61.85	36.29	R + 25.56
McDonald	59.74	36.63	R + 23.11
Jasper	58.61	39.42	R + 19.19
Jasper	58.61	39.42	R + 19.19
Taney	51.16	46.31	R + 4.85
Stone	49.53	47.46	R + 2.07
Christian	49.65	47.73	R + 1.92
Barry	49.48	47.90	R + 1.58
Lawrence	49.15	47.94	R + 1.21
Polk	45.76	49.52	D + 3.76
Greene	42.84	54.45	D + 11.61

References

Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. 1989. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.
Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. 1982. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York.
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
https://www.census.gov/
https://www.census.gov/mycd/

Notes and References

Web site: My Congressional District.
Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List. 2023-01-10. Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022 . en.
Web site: Washington . U. S. Capitol Room H154 . p:225-7000 . DC 20515-6601 . Eric Burlison (Missouri (MO)), 118th Congress Profile . 2024-11-17 . Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . en.