New York's 8th congressional district explained

State:New York
District Number:8
Image Caption:Interactive map of district boundaries
Representative:Hakeem Jeffries
Party:Democratic
Residence:Brooklyn
Percent Urban:99.99
Percent Rural:0.01
Population:754,074[1]
Population Year:2022
Median Income:$58,631[2]
Percent White:27.6
Percent Hispanic:16.8
Percent Black:41.8
Percent Asian:8.5
Percent More Than One Race:4.2
Percent Other Race:1.1
Cpvi:D+26[3]

New York's 8th congressional district for the U.S. House of Representatives is in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is currently represented by Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader.

From 1993 to 2013, the district covered much of the west side of Manhattan, and western coastal sections of Brooklyn. However, after decennial redistricting, it was redrawn to take in much of the territory previously in the 10th district. It now encompasses majority African-American and Caribbean-American Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Canarsie, East New York, Ocean Hill, Spring Creek, and East Flatbush; the mostly white neighborhoods of Bergen Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Howard Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, and Sea Gate; and mixed neighborhoods like Clinton Hill, Flatlands, Fort Greene, Ozone Park, Brighton Beach, and Coney Island.[4] Most of the old 8th was renumbered as the 10th.

Recent statewide election results

YearOfficeResults
1992PresidentClinton 77–17%
1996PresidentClinton 77–16%
2000PresidentGore 74–18%
2004PresidentKerry 72–27%
2008PresidentObama 86–14%
2012PresidentObama 89–10%
2016PresidentClinton 85–14%
2020PresidentBiden 82–16%

History

1913–1963:

Parts of Brooklyn1963–1983:

Parts of Queens1983–1993:

Parts of Bronx, Nassau, Queens1993–2013:

Parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan2013–2023:

Parts of Brooklyn, Queens2023–present:

Parts of Brooklyn

Various New York districts have been numbered "8" over the years, including areas in New York City and various parts of upstate New York. The state's congressional districts had been redrawn in a manner that puts much of the territory of the old 10th Congressional district into the new 8th Congressional district. The election had a few competitors for what was then an open seat, with the 10th incumbent congressman Edolphus Towns retiring. State assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries faced off against New York City Councilman Charles Barron.[5] Jeffries won the primary and ultimately the general election.[6] [7]

List of members representing the district

1793–1833: one seat

RepresentativePartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral historyLocation
District established March 4, 1793
Henry Glen
Pro-Administrationnowrap March 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1795
Elected in 1793.
Re-elected in 1794.
Re-elected in 1796.
Re-elected in 1798.
Lost re-election.
1793–1803
Federalistnowrap March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1801
align=left
Killian K. Van Rensselaer
Federalistnowrap March 4, 1801 –
March 3, 1803
Elected in 1800.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
Henry W. Livingston
Federalistnowrap March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1807
Elected in 1802.
Re-elected in 1804.
1803–1813
align=left James I. Van Alen
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1809
Elected in 1806.
Lost re-election.
align=left John Thompson
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1809 –
March 3, 1811
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1808.
align=left Benjamin Pond
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1811 –
March 3, 1813
Elected in 1810.
align=left
Samuel Sherwood
Federalistnowrap March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1815
Elected in 1812.
1813–1823
Delaware and Greene counties
Vacantnowrap March 4, 1815 –
December 26, 1815
Credentials had been issued for John Adams (Fed.), but Adams did not take or claim the seat, see 1814 United States House of Representatives elections in New York.
align=left
Erastus Root
Democratic-Republicannowrap December 26, 1815 –
March 3, 1817
Successfully contested Adams's election.
align=left Dorrance Kirtland
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1819
Elected in 1816.
align=left Robert Clark
Democratic-Republicannowrap March 4, 1819 –
March 3, 1821
Elected in 1818.
Vacantnowrap March 4, 1821 –
December 3, 1821
Elections were held in April 1821. It is unclear when results were announced or credentials issued.
align=left Richard McCarty
Democratic-Republicannowrap December 3, 1821 –
March 3, 1823
Elected in 1821.
James Strong
Adams-Clay Federalistnowrap March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
Elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Re-elected in 1828.
1823–1833
Columbia County
Anti-Jacksoniannowrap March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1831
align=left John King
Jacksoniannowrap March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833
Elected in 1830.

1833–1843: two seats

From 1833 to 1843, two seats were apportioned to the district, elected at-large on a general ticket.

Cong
ress
Years Seat A Seat B
RepresentativePartyElectoral historyRepresentativePartyElectoral history
nowrap March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835
align=left
John Adams
JacksonianElected in 1832.
Aaron Vanderpoel
JacksonianElected in 1832.
nowrap March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837
align=left Valentine Efner
JacksonianElected in 1834.Re-elected in 1834.
Lost re-election.
nowrap March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
align=left
Zadock Pratt
DemocraticElected in 1836.
Retired.
align=left Robert McClellan
DemocraticElected in 1836
nowrap March 4, 1839 –
March 3, 1841
align=left John Ely
DemocraticElected in 1838.align=left
Aaron Vanderpoel
DemocraticElected in 1838.
Retired.
nowrap March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1843
align=left Jacob Houck Jr.
DemocraticElected in 1840.align=left Robert McClellan
DemocraticElected in 1840.

1843–present: one seat

The 8th district was a Queens-based seat until the 1992 redistricting. At that time much of the old 8th district became the 5th district. The new 8th district was created by cobbling together portions of the Manhattan-based 17th district and the 13th district in Brooklyn.

RepresentativePartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral historyDistrict location
align=left Richard D. Davis
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
Redistricted from 5th district and re-elected in 1842.
align=left William W. Woodworth
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
Elected in 1844.
align=left Cornelius Warren
Whignowrap March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1849
Elected in 1846.
align=left
Ransom Halloway
Whignowrap March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851
Elected in 1848.
align=left
Gilbert Dean
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
Elected in 1850.
Redistricted to 12th district
align=left
Francis B. Cutting
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
Elected in 1852.
align=left
Abram Wakeman
Whignowrap March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857
Elected in 1854.
align=left rowspan=2
Horace F. Clark
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
Elected in 1856.
Re-elected in 1858.
Anti-Lecompton Democratnowrap March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
align=left Isaac C. Delaplaine
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
Elected in 1860.
align=left
James Brooks
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1863 –
April 7, 1866
Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
align=left
William E. Dodge
Republicannowrap April 7, 1866 –
March 3, 1867
Successfully contested election of James Brooks to
align=left
James Brooks
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1873
Elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
Re-elected in 1870.
Redistricted to 6th district
align=left John D. Lawson
Republicannowrap March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
Elected in 1872.
align=left
Elijah Ward
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
Elected in 1874.
align=left
Anson G. McCook
Republicannowrap March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
align=left John J. Adams
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
Redistricted from 7th district and re-elected in 1882.
align=left
Samuel S. Cox
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1885 –
May 20, 1885
Elected in 1884.
Resigned to become Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Ottoman Empire
Vacantnowrap May 20, 1885 –
November 3, 1885
align=left
Timothy J. Campbell
Democraticnowrap November 3, 1885 –
March 3, 1889
Elected to finish Cox's term.
Re-elected in 1886.
align=left
John H. McCarthy
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1889 –
January 14, 1891
Elected in 1888.
Resigned to become Justice of the City Court of New York City
Vacantnowrap January 14, 1891 –
March 3, 1891
align=left
Timothy J. Campbell
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
Elected in 1890.
align=left
Edward J. Dunphy
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895
Redistricted from 7th district and re-elected in 1892.
align=left
James J. Walsh
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1895 –
June 2, 1896
Elected in 1894.
Unseated in contested election.
align=left
John M. Mitchell
Republicannowrap June 2, 1896 –
March 3, 1899
Successfully contested election of James J. Walsh.
Re-elected in 1896.
align=left
Daniel J. Riordan
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901
Elected in 1898.
align=left
Thomas J. Creamer
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1903
Elected in 1900.
align=left
Timothy D. Sullivan
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1903 –
July 27, 1906
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Resigned.
Vacantnowrap July 27, 1906 –
November 6, 1906
align=left
Daniel J. Riordan
Democraticnowrap November 6, 1906 –
March 3, 1913
Elected to finish Sullivan's term.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Redistricted to 11th district.
align=left
Daniel J. Griffin
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1913 –
December 31, 1917
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Resigned on election as sheriff of Kings County.
Vacantnowrap January 1, 1918 –
March 5, 1918
align=left
William E. Cleary
Democraticnowrap March 5, 1918 –
March 3, 1921
Elected in 1918.
align=left
Charles G. Bond
Republicannowrap March 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1923
Elected in 1920.
align=left
William E. Cleary
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1927
Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
align=left
Patrick J. Carley
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1927 –
January 3, 1935
Elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
align=left
Richard J. Tonry
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1937
Elected in 1934.
align=left
Donald L. O'Toole
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1945
Elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Redistricted to 13th district
align=left
Joseph L. Pfeifer
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1951
Redistricted from 3rd district and re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
align=left
Victor Anfuso
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1951 –
January 3, 1953
Elected in 1950.
Retired.
align=left
Louis B. Heller
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1953 –
July 21, 1954
Redistricted from 7th district and re-elected in 1952.
Resigned.
Vacantnowrap July 22, 1954 –
January 2, 1955
align=left
Victor Anfuso
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1955 –
January 3, 1963
Elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Retired to run for New York Supreme Court
align=left
Benjamin Rosenthal
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1983
Redistricted from 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.
Re-elected in 1980.
Redistricted to 7th district
align=left
James H. Scheuer
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993
Redistricted from 11th district and re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Retired.

Jerry Nadler
DemocraticJanuary 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2013
Redistricted from 17th 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 10th district.
1993–2003
2003–2013
Parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan

Hakeem Jeffries
DemocraticJanuary 3, 2013 –
present
Elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
2013–2023
Parts of Brooklyn, Queens
2023–2025
Parts of Brooklyn
2025–present
Parts of Brooklyn
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Recent election results

In New York 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").

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New York congressional districts by urban and rural population and land area. June 8, 2017. United States Census Bureau. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191121071056/https://www2.census.gov/geo/relfiles/cdsld13/36/ur_cd_36.txt. November 21, 2019. November 21, 2019.
  2. Web site: My Congressional District.
  3. Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List. 2023-01-10. Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022 . en.
  4. Web site: "Substantially the same"? Redistricting maps tell a different story than Cuomo's. March 16, 2012. January 7, 2023.
  5. Web site: The People's Republic faces a great challenge! - New York Amsterdam News: Opinion . 2012-05-26 . https://archive.today/20120718070133/http://www.amsterdamnews.com/opinion/the-people-s-republic-faces-a-great-challenge/article_e6379964-953e-11e1-92d0-0019bb2963f4.html . 2012-07-18 . dead.
  6. News: New York Congressional Primaries - Election Results. The New York Times.
  7. Web site: 2012 New York House Results . Politico.