Kentucky's 3rd congressional district explained

State:	Kentucky
District Number:	3
Image Caption:	Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative:	Morgan McGarvey
Party:	Democratic
Residence:	Louisville
Distribution Ref:	^[1]
Percent Urban:	99.33
Percent Rural:	0.67
Population:	742,826^[2]
Population Year:	2022
Median Income:	$63,327^[3]
Percent White:	61.9
Percent Hispanic:	7.7
Percent Black:	22.0
Percent Asian:	3.3
Percent More Than One Race:	4.4
Percent Other Race:	0.7
Cpvi:	D+9^[4]

Kentucky's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It encompasses almost all of Louisville Metro, which, since the merger of 2003, is consolidated with Jefferson County, though other incorporated cities exist within the county, such as Shively and St. Matthews. The far eastern portions of Louisville Metro are part of the 2nd congressional district.

The district is currently represented by Democrat Morgan McGarvey. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+9, it is the only Democratic district in Kentucky.^[4]

Characteristics

The district's character is very different from the rest of Kentucky. It is entirely contained within Jefferson County, and in contrast to the rest of the state, it is urban and leans Democratic. It has the highest percentage of African Americans in the state, who are concentrated in and near Louisville. It is a cosmopolitan, diverse district, with major businesses, health care organizations and universities.

Until January 1, 2006, Kentucky did not track party affiliation for registered voters who were neither Democratic nor Republican.^[5] The Kentucky voter registration card does not explicitly list anything other than Democratic Party, Republican Party, or Other, with the "Other" option having a blank line and no instructions on how to register as something else.^[6]

Year (Sept.)	Democratic		Republican		Other		Independent		Libertarian		Green		Constitution		Reform		Socialist Worker's		Male		Female		Registered
Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%	Voters	%
2017	328,432	57.835	183,755	32.358	35,988	6.337	17,632	3.105	1,568	0.276	421	0.074	58	0.01	4	0.001	21	0.004	261,561	46.059	306,317	53.941	567,879	100
2018	335,172	57.984	185,426	32.078	36,011	6.23	19,204	3.322	1,724	0.298	397	0.069	63	0.011	7	0.001	40	0.007	266,355	46.079	311,688	53.921	578,044	100
2019	343,512	58.24	187,470	31.784	36,222	6.141	20,313	3.444	1,832	0.311	347	0.059	78	0.013	6	0.001	38	0.006	272,144	46.14	317,525	53.834	589,818	100
2020	354,146	58.045	194,002	31.797	34,855	5.713	24,185	3.964	2,317	0.38	408	0.067	116	0.019	24	0.004	73	0.012	282,897	46.367	326,906	53.58	610,126	100
2021	352,605	57.916	192,258	31.579	35,335	5.804	25,549	4.196	2,407	0.395	437	0.072	122	0.02	26	0.004	82	0.013	282,681	46.431	325,822	53.517	608,821	100
2022																								100

Recent statewide elections

Election results from statewide races
Year	Office	Results
2000	Kentucky	Gore 50–48%
2004	Kentucky	Kerry 51–49%
2008	Kentucky	Obama 56–43%
2012	Kentucky	Obama 56–43%
2016	Kentucky	Clinton 55–40%
2016	Senate	Gray 60–40%
2019	Governor	Beshear 68–30%
2019	Attorney General	Stumbo 61–39%
2020	Kentucky	Biden 60–38%
2020	Senate	McGrath 61–36%
2022	Senate	Booker 60–40%
2023	Governor	Beshear 71–29%

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history	Location
District created March 4, 1803
align=left	Matthew Walton		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1807		Elected in 1803. Re-elected in 1804. Retired.	1803–1813 Breckinridge, Bullitt, Green, Hardin, Jefferson, Nelson, and Washington counties
align=left	John Rowan		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1809		Elected in 1806. Retired.
align=left	Henry Crist		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1811		Elected in 1808. Retired.
align=left	Stephen Ormsby		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813		Elected in 1810. Redistricted to the and lost re-election.
align=left	Richard M. Johnson		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1819		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1812. Re-elected in 1814. Re-elected in 1816. Retired.	1813–1823 Boone, Campbell, Franklin, Gallatin, Harrison, Pendleton, and Scott counties
align=left	William Brown		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1821		Elected in 1818. Retired.
align=left	John T. Johnson		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823		Elected in 1820. Redistricted to the .
align=left rowspan=2	Henry Clay		Democratic-Republican	nowrap	March 3, 1823 – March 3, 1825		Elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of State.	1823–1833 Clark, Fayette, and Woodford counties
	Anti-Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1825 – March 6, 1825
Vacant		nowrap	March 6, 1825 – August 1, 1825
align=left	James Clark		Anti-Jacksonian	nowrap	August 1, 1825 – March 3, 1831		Elected to finish Clay's term and seated December 5, 1825. Re-elected in 1827. Re-elected in 1829. Renominated but declined.
align=left	Chilton Allan		Anti-Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833		Elected in 1831. Redistricted to the .
align=left	Christopher Tompkins		Anti-Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835		Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1833. Retired to run for state representative.	1833–1843
align=left rowspan=2	Joseph R. Underwood		Anti-Jacksonian	nowrap	March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837		Elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. Re-elected in 1839. Re-elected in 1841. Retired.
	Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843
align=left	Henry Grider		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847		Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1845. Retired.	1843–1853
align=left	Samuel Peyton		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849		Elected in 1847. Lost re-election.
align=left	Finis McLean		Whig	nowrap	March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851		Elected in 1849. Retired.
Presley Ewing	Whig	March 4, 1851 – September 27, 1854		Elected in 1851. Re-elected in 1853. Died.
1853–1863				Elected in 1851. Re-elected in 1853. Died.
	Vacant		nowrap	September 27, 1854 – December 4, 1854
	align=left	Francis Bristow		Whig		nowrap	December 4, 1854 – March 3, 1855	Elected to finish Ewing's term Lost re-election.
	align=left	Warner Underwood		Know Nothing	nowrap	March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1859		Elected in 1855. Re-elected in 1857. Retired.
	align=left	Francis Bristow		Opposition	nowrap	March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861		Elected in 1859. Retired.
	Henry Grider	Unionist	March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1865		Elected in 1861. Re-elected in 1863. Re-elected in 1865. Died.
1863–1873
		Democratic	nowrap			March 4, 1865 – September 7, 1866
	Vacant		nowrap	September 7, 1866 – December 3, 1866
	align=left	Elijah Hise		Democratic		nowrap	December 3, 1866 – May 8, 1867	Elected to finish Grider's term. Also elected to the next full term. Died.
	Vacant		nowrap	May 8, 1867 – December 5, 1867
	align=left	Jacob Golladay		Democratic	nowrap	December 5, 1867 – February 28, 1870		Elected to finish Hise's term. Re-elected in 1868. Resigned.
	Vacant		nowrap	February 28, 1870 – May 10, 1870
	align=left	Joseph H. Lewis		Democratic	nowrap	May 10, 1870 – March 3, 1873		Elected to finish Golladay's term Re-elected in 1870. Retired.
align=left	Charles W. Milliken		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877		Elected in 1872. Re-elected in 1874. Retired.	1873–1883
align=left	John W. Caldwell		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883		Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Retired.	1873–1883
align=left	John E. Halsell		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887		Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Lost renomination.	1883–1893
align=left	W. Godfrey Hunter		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889		Elected in 1886. Lost re-election.
Isaac Goodnight	Democratic	March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1895		Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Retired.
1893–1903
	align=left	W. Godfrey Hunter		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897		Elected in 1894. Lost re-election.
	align=left	John S. Rhea		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1897 – March 25, 1902		Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Lost contested election.
	align=left	J. McKenzie Moss		Republican	nowrap	March 25, 1902 – March 3, 1903		Won contested election. Lost re-election.
align=left	John S. Rhea		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905		Elected in 1902. Retired.	1903–1913
align=left	James M. Richardson		Democratic	nowrap	March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907		Elected in 1904. Lost re-election.
align=left	Addison James		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909		Elected in 1906. Lost re-election.
Robert Y. Thomas Jr.	Democratic	March 4, 1909 – September 3, 1925		Elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Died.
1913–1933
	Vacant		nowrap	September 3, 1925 – December 26, 1925
	align=left	John W. Moore		Democratic	nowrap	December 26, 1925 – March 3, 1929		Elected to finish Thomas's term. Re-elected in 1926. Lost re-election.
	align=left	Charles W. Roark		Republican	nowrap	March 4, 1929 – April 5, 1929		Elected in 1928. Died.
	Vacant		nowrap	April 5, 1929 – June 1, 1929
	align=left	John W. Moore		Democratic	nowrap	June 1, 1929 – March 3, 1933		Elected to finish Roark's term. Re-elected in 1930. Retired.
District inactive		nowrap	March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935		See .
Emmet O'Neal	Democratic	January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1947		Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Lost re-election.	1935–1943
1943–1953
1943–1953	align=left	Thruston B. Morton		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1953		Elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Retired.
align=left	John M. Robsion Jr.		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1959		Elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Lost re-election.	1953–1963
align=left	Frank W. Burke		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1963		Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Lost re-election.	1953–1963
align=left	Gene Snyder		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965		Elected in 1962. Lost re-election.	1963–1973
align=left	Charles R. Farnsley		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967		Elected in 1964. Retired.
align=left	William O. Cowger		Republican	nowrap	January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1971		Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Lost re-election.
Romano Mazzoli	Democratic	January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1995		Elected in 1970. Re-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. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Retired.
1973–1983
1983–1993
1993–2003
	align=left	Mike Ward		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997		Elected in 1994. Lost re-election.
	Anne Northup	Republican	January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2007		Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Lost re-election.
2003–2013
2003–2013	John Yarmuth	Democratic	January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2023		Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Retired.
2013–2023
align=left	Morgan McGarvey		Democratic	nowrap	January 3, 2023 – present		Elected in 2022.	2023–present

Election results

1930s

1938

1940s

1948

1950s

1958

1960s

1968

1970s

1978

1980s

1988

1990s

1998

2000s

2008

2010s

2018

2020s

2022

References

Specific

General

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

External links

38.25°N -130°W

Notes and References

Web site: Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based. US Census Bureau Geography. census.gov. February 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170717230259/https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/cd_state.html. July 17, 2017. dead.
Web site: My Congressional District. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. census.gov. February 11, 2018. June 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210630005202/https://www.census.gov/mycd/?st=21&cd=03. live.
Web site: My Congressional District Bureau. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. census.gov. February 11, 2018. June 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210630005202/https://www.census.gov/mycd/?st=21&cd=03. live.
Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List. January 10, 2023. Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. en. December 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221227115112/https://www.cookpolitical.com/cook-pvi/2022-partisan-voting-index/district-map-and-list. live.
Web site: Kentucky Administrative Regulations 31KAR4:150. Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. November 2005. February 6, 2014. September 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160911092826/http://www.lrc.ky.gov/kar/031/004/150.htm. dead.
Web site: Register To Vote. Kentucky State Board of Elections. August 2003. February 6, 2014. February 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202142737/http://elect.ky.gov/registertovote/pages/default.aspx. live.