| State: | Maryland |
| District Number: | 2 |
| Image Caption: | Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023 |
| Representative: | Dutch Ruppersberger |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Residence: | Cockeysville |
| English Area: | 359 |
| Percent Urban: | 98.3 |
| Percent Rural: | 1.7 |
| Population: | 772,153 |
| Population Year: | 2022 |
| Median Income: | $92,468[1] |
| Percent White: | 59.4 |
| Percent Hispanic: | 6.0 |
| Percent Black: | 23.7 |
| Percent Asian: | 6.1 |
| Percent More Than One Race: | 4.1 |
| Percent Other Race: | 0.7 |
| Percent Blue Collar: | 23 |
| Percent White Collar: | 61.5 |
| Percent Gray Collar: | 15.5 |
| Cpvi: | D+7[2] |
Maryland's 2nd congressional district elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives every two years. The district comprises parts of Carroll and Baltimore counties, as well as small portions of the Baltimore City. The seat has been represented by Dutch Ruppersberger of the Democratic Party since 2003.
When it was first organized in the late 1780s, the Maryland 2nd congressional district consisted of the northern portion of the eastern shore of Maryland and the area where the Susquehanna River empties into the Chesapeake Bay. It had a population of 55,008 in 1790.[3]
After the 1790 census, Maryland gained two seats in the house. The new 2nd district consisted of Howard County, Prince George's County and Anne Arundel County. The boundary ran on a line heading north-east from the north-west corner of the District of Columbia so that a small portion of Montgomery County was also in the 2nd district.[4]
This configuration remained the boundary of the district until the post–1830 census redistricting. At this time the 2nd district was moved back to the eastern shore region where it had been at first. The only change between the district's boundaries in 1790 and those in 1834 was that in the latter year Caroline County was part of the 2nd district.[5]
In the 1842 redistricting, which involved a decrease in the total number of representatives, Maryland went back to having only six members of the house. The second district was moved again and comprised the Maryland Panhandle, that is all of Maryland starting with Frederick County and going west.[6]
The post-1850 census redistricting caused another drastic redrawing of Maryland's congressional districts. The second district was moved back to the East side of the state. However this time it only had the eastern shore as far south as Kent County. However, going westward it included Harford County, northern and western Baltimore County, and the western and most southerly portions of Baltimore. It also took in Carroll County.[7]
In the 1862 redistricting process, Maryland was reduced to having only five congressional districts. The second was cut down in size though to only having Harford County, eastern and northern Baltimore County including some areas now within the city boundaries on Baltimore.[8]
In the 1872 redistricting, the number of Maryland districts was increased to six. However the area of the 2nd district increased. This was partly because it lost some of its area on the east side of Baltimore to the third district. It now also consisted of virtually all of Baltimore county, and the northern reaches of Baltimore. Cecil County was returned to its area, but Kent County remained in the first district. Carroll County was also put back in the second district. Thus the second district in 1873 was closer to that of 1853 than of 1871 in terms of the area within its boundaries.[9]
In 1890, there was a small portion of the city of Baltimore that was moved from the 4th district and placed in the 7th district. It appears this was in the general area where Freemont meets Fulton and then a little further south along Freemont.[10] These boundaries remained until the 1898 elections. In that year a few more north-west Baltimore neighborhoods were transferred from the 4th to the 2nd district, as well as a few north-central Baltimore neighborhoods.[11]
In 1902, another change was done to congressional district boundaries in Maryland. With the northward growth of population in Baltimore the 4th and 3rd districts boundaries were moved into areas previously in the 2nd district. however areas in north-west Baltimore that were closer to down-town were shifted into the 2nd district. Cecil County was moved to the first district. The arm of Baltimore County around Arbutus had long been in the 5th District but at this point it was transferred into the 2nd district.[12] These remained the boundaries of the 2nd district for the next 50 years.
In 1952, Maryland redrew its congressional districts because it had gained another seat in Congress. The 2nd district lost all of its area within the city of Baltimore, so it now consisted of Baltimore, Carroll and Harford Counties.[13]
In 1966, Maryland redrew its congressional districts to follow the rule of "One man, one vote". This was especially necessary since the state had been electing one of its congressmen at large in the previous two elections. A portion of Baltimore County along Baltimore's north-east border was removed from the 2nd district. The Arbutus section of Baltimore county was also removed from the district along with a slightly further north portion of the county reaching to about Garrison. Most of Carroll County was moved to the Maryland panhandle based 6th district.[14]
In 1972, Harford County was moved to the First District. The remaining portion of Carroll County was moved to the 6th district. However the Garrison area of Baltimore County, all of Baltimore county east of Baltimore and even a very small part of Baltimore itself were moved back into the second district.[14]
In 1982, some of the areas that had been in the 2nd district just north and west of Baltimore were moved into Maryland's 3rd congressional district. At the same time, a part of Harford County was moved back into the 2nd congressional district.[15]
In 2012, the district was found to be the eleventh least compact congressional district in the United States.[16]
| Year | Office | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | President | Bush 55%–41% | |
| 2004 | President | Kerry 54%–45% | |
| 2008 | President | Obama 60%–38% | |
| 2012 | President | Obama 62%–35% | |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 60%–35% | |
| 2018 | Governor | Hogan 56%–43% | |
| 2020 | President | Biden 66%–32% |
/
| Member | Years | Cong ress | Party | Electoral history | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District created March 4, 1789 | |||||||
Joshua Seney | nowrap | March 4, 1789 – December 6, 1792 | Anti-Administration | Elected in 1789. Re-elected in 1790. Resigned to become Chief Justice of Maryland's 3rd Judicial District. | |||
| Vacant | nowrap | December 6, 1792 – January 30, 1793 | |||||
William Hindman | nowrap | January 30, 1793 – March 3, 1793 | Pro-Administration | Elected January 7, 1793 to finish Seney's term and seated January 30, 1793 having already been elected in the . | |||
John Francis Mercer | nowrap | March 4, 1793 – April 13, 1794 | Anti-Administration | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1792. Resigned. | |||
| Vacant | nowrap | April 13, 1794 – November 11, 1794 | |||||
| nowrap rowspan=2 style="text-align:left" | Gabriel Duvall | nowrap | November 11, 1794 – March 3, 1795 | Anti-Administration | Elected May 5, 1794 to finish Mercer's term. Re-elected in 1794. Resigned to become Chief Justice of General Court of Maryland. | ||
| nowrap | March 4, 1795 – March 28, 1796 | Democratic-Republican | |||||
| Vacant | nowrap | March 28, 1796 – May 5, 1796 | |||||
| Richard Sprigg Jr. | nowrap | May 5, 1796 – March 3, 1799 | Democratic-Republican | Elected to finish Duvall's term. Re-elected in 1796. Lost re-election. | |||
John Chew Thomas | nowrap | March 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801 | Federalist | Elected in 1798. Lost re-election. | |||
| Richard Sprigg Jr. | nowrap | March 4, 1801 – February 11, 1802 | Democratic-Republican | Elected in 1801. Resigned. | |||
| Vacant | nowrap | February 11, 1802 – March 24, 1802 | |||||
| Walter Bowie | nowrap | March 24, 1802 – March 3, 1805 | Democratic-Republican | Elected March 2, 1802 to finish Sprigg's term. Re-elected in 1803. Retired. | |||
| Leonard Covington | nowrap | March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807 | Democratic-Republican | Elected in 1804. Lost re-election. | |||
| Archibald Van Horne | nowrap | March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1811 | Democratic-Republican | Elected in 1806. Re-elected in 1808. Retired. | |||
Joseph Kent | nowrap | March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1815 | Democratic-Republican | Elected in 1810. Re-elected in 1812. Lost re-election. | |||
John Carlyle Herbert | nowrap | March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1819 | Federalist | Elected in 1814. Re-elected in 1816. Retired. | |||
| nowrap rowspan=2 style="text-align:left" | Joseph Kent | nowrap | March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1825 | Democratic-Republican | Elected in 1818. Re-elected in 1820. Re-elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Resigned to become Governor of Maryland. | ||
| nowrap | March 4, 1825 – January 6, 1826 | Anti-Jackson | |||||
| Vacant | nowrap | January 6, 1826 – February 1, 1826 | |||||
| John Crompton Weems | nowrap | February 1, 1826 – March 3, 1829 | Jackson | Elected to finish Kent's term. Re-elected in 1826. | |||
| Benedict Joseph Semmes | nowrap | March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1833 | Anti-Jackson | Elected in 1829. Re-elected in 1831. | |||
Richard Bennett Carmichael | nowrap | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | Jackson | Elected in 1833. | |||
James Alfred Pearce | nowrap | March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1839 | Whig | Elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. | |||
Philip Francis Thomas | nowrap | March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 | Democratic | Elected in 1839. | |||
James Alfred Pearce | nowrap | March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | Whig | Elected in 1841. | |||
| Francis Brengle | nowrap | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | Whig | Elected late in 1844. | |||
| Thomas Johns Perry | nowrap | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | Democratic | Elected in 1845. | |||
James Dixon Roman | nowrap | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | Whig | Elected in 1847. | |||
William Thomas Hamilton | nowrap | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853 | Democratic | Elected in 1849. Re-elected in 1851. Redistricted to the . | |||
| Jacob Shower | nowrap | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | Democratic | Elected in 1853. | |||
James Barroll Ricaud | nowrap | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1859 | Know Nothing | Elected in 1855. Re-elected in 1857. | |||
| nowrap rowspan=3 style="text-align:left" | Edwin Hanson Webster | nowrap | March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861 | Know Nothing | Elected in 1859. Re-elected in 1861. Re-elected in 1863. Re-elected in 1864. Resigned after being appointed collector of customs at the port of Baltimore. | ||
| nowrap | March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | Union | |||||
| nowrap | March 4, 1863 – July 1865 | Unconditional Union | |||||
| Vacant | nowrap | July 1865 – December 4, 1865 | |||||
John Lewis Thomas Jr. | nowrap | December 4, 1865 – March 3, 1867 | Unconditional Union | Elected to finish Webster's term. | |||
Stevenson Archer | nowrap | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1875 | Democratic | Elected in 1866. Re-elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. | |||
Charles Boyle Roberts | nowrap | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | Democratic | Elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. | |||
Joshua Frederick Cockey Talbott | nowrap | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1885 | Democratic | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. | |||
Frank Thomas Shaw | nowrap | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 | Democratic | Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. | |||
Herman Stump | nowrap | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1893 | Democratic | Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. | |||
Joshua Frederick Cockey Talbott | nowrap | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | Democratic | Elected in 1892. | |||
William Benjamin Baker | nowrap | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901 | Republican | Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. | |||
Albert Alexander Blakeney | nowrap | March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 | Republican | Elected in 1900. | |||
Joshua Frederick Cockey Talbott | nowrap | March 4, 1903 – October 5, 1918 | Democratic | Elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Died. | |||
| Vacant | nowrap | October 5, 1918 – November 5, 1918 | |||||
Carville Dickinson Benson | nowrap | November 5, 1918 – March 3, 1921 | Democratic | Elected to finish Talbott's term. Re-elected in 1918. | |||
Albert Alexander Blakeney | nowrap | March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923 | Republican | Elected in 1920. | |||
Millard Evelyn Tydings | nowrap | March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1927 | Democratic | Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. | |||
William Purington Cole Jr. | nowrap | March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1929 | Democratic | Elected in 1926. | |||
Linwood Leon Clark | nowrap | March 4, 1929 – March 3, 1931 | Republican | Elected in 1928. | |||
William Purington Cole Jr. | nowrap | March 4, 1931 – October 26, 1942 | Democratic | Elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Resigned to become judge of US Customs Court. | |||
| Vacant | nowrap | October 26, 1942 – January 3, 1943 | |||||
| Harry Streett Baldwin | nowrap | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1947 | Democratic | Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. | |||
| Hugh Allen Meade | nowrap | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 | Democratic | Elected in 1946. | |||
| William P. Bolton | nowrap | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951 | Democratic | Elected in 1948. | |||
James Patrick Sinnott Devereux | nowrap | January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1959 | Republican | Elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. | |||
Daniel Baugh Brewster | nowrap | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1963 | Democratic | Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. | |||
Clarence Dickinson Long | nowrap | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1985 | Democratic | 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. Re-elected in 1982. | |||
Helen Delich Bentley | nowrap | January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1995 | Republican | Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Retired to run for Governor of Maryland. | |||
Bob Ehrlich | nowrap | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003 | Republican | Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Retired to run for Governor of Maryland. | |||
Dutch Ruppersberger | January 3, 2003 – present | Democratic | Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-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. Re-elected in 2022. Retiring at end of term. | 2003–2013 | |||
| 2013–2023 | |||||||
| 2023–present | |||||||