Michigan's 6th congressional district explained

State:Michigan
District Number:6
Image Caption:Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative:Debbie Dingell
Party:Democratic
Residence:Ann Arbor
Population:765,213
Population Year:2022
Median Income:$88,275[1]
Percent White:69.1
Percent Hispanic:5.0
Percent Black:9.9
Percent Asian:10.4
Percent More Than One Race:4.9
Percent Other Race:0.7
Cpvi:D+11[2]

Michigan's 6th congressional district is a United States congressional district in southeast Michigan. In 2022, the district was redrawn to be centered around Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, as well as western and southern Wayne County, small part of southwestern Oakland County, and the city of Milan in Monroe County.[3] In previous redistrictings, the 6th district consisted of all of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren, counties, and includes most of Allegan county.

The district is currently represented by Democrat Debbie Dingell, who previously represented the old 12th district.

Cities, townships, and villages

Cities

Villages

Townships

Recent election results in presidential races

Election results from presidential races
YearOfficeResults
2020PresidentTrump 51 - 47%
2016PresidentTrump 51 - 43%
2012PresidentRomney 50 - 49%
2008PresidentObama 54 - 45%
2004PresidentBush 53 - 46%
2000PresidentBush 52 - 45%
1996PresidentClinton 46 - 44%
1992PresidentClinton 39 - 38%

History

Michigan's sixth congressional district was originally formed in 1862. At this time it had all the Upper Peninsula except Menominee, Delta and Mackinac counties.

The district was vaguely contiguous, in that it did not contain the Straits of Mackinac but did include Presque Isle County, which can be reached without going through another district's area. It included another 21 counties on the Lower Peninsula. The southern boundary of the district was formed by Clinton, Shiawassee, Genesee, Tuscola and Huron counties. The district had a population of 97,783.[4]

In 1872, the sixth district was shifted southward. It retained Clinton, Shiawassee, and Genesee counties while adding Ingham, Livingston and Oakland counties. With 163,000 residents the district had 12,000 more inhabitants than the next most populous district, and 65,000 more residents than Michigan's least populous district.[5]

In 1882, Shiawassee County was removed from the district. The new district had about 165,000 people. In 1892, Clinton County was removed but the townships of Livonia, Nankin (now Westland, Michigan and surrounding cities), Redford (including the eastern portion since annexed by Detroit), Greenfield (almost all now in Detroit, except the portion that became Highland Park, Springwells (since annexed by Detroit and Dearborn), and Dearborn in Wayne County were added, as well as the part of Detroit west of Lawton. This new district had a population of 190,539 that was 0.8% African-American.[6]

No changes were made in the boundaries of the district in 1902. Its population had risen to 221,699.[7]

It was not until 1932 that the boundaries of the 6th district were altered. In this year it lost its parts of Oakland and Wayne counties and was shifted to Ingham, Livingston, and Genesee Counties. These boundaries were not changed until 1964, when the district was redrawn to cover Jackson, Ingham, and Shiawassee counties.

In 1972, the district was redrawn to include Jackson, Ingham, and Livingston counties, as well as the western portion of Washtenaw County.

In 1982 the district was redrawn to Ingham, Livingston, and northwestern Oakland counties with a finger stretching all the way to Pontiac. Waterford Township was in the district, as was Auburn Hills, but Orion Township, Rochester Hills and Bloomfield Hills were all in other districts. The boundaries also included Independence Township, White Lake Township, Rose Township, Springfield Township and Highland Township. Brighton and the areas directly east of it in Livingston County were also not in this district. Most of Lansing was put in the 3rd district. In Jackson County the district covered Henrietta Township, Rives Township, and Tompkins Township. In Clinton County it included Bath Township. In Shiawassee County the district included Antrim Township, Perry Township, Perry, and Woodhull Township.[8] [9]

In 1992, most of the old 6th's territory became the 8th district, while the 6th was redrawn to cover most of the old 4th and a small portion of the old 3rd, ending the splitting of Kalamazoo County between two districts. There were minor changes in the districts boundaries in 2002 and 2012.

List of members representing the district

RepresentativePartyTermCong
ress
Electoral history
District created March 4, 1863
align=left nowrap
John F. Driggs
Republican March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1869
Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Retired.
align=left nowrap
Randolph Strickland
Republican March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
Elected in 1868.
Lost renomination.
align=left nowrap
Jabez G. Sutherland
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
Elected in 1870.
Retired.
align=left nowrap
Josiah Begole
Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
Elected in 1872.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
George H. Durand
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
Elected in 1874.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
Mark S. Brewer
Republican March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1881
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Retired.
align=left nowrap
Oliver L. Spaulding
Republican March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883
Elected in 1880.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
Edwin B. Winans[10]
Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1887
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Retired.
align=left nowrap
Mark S. Brewer
Republican March 3, 1887 –
March 3, 1891
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Retired.
align=left nowrap
Byron G. Stout[11]
Democratic March 3, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
Elected in 1890.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
David D. Aitken
Republican March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1897
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Retired to run for Governor of Michigan.
align=left nowrap
Samuel W. Smith
Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1915
Elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
.Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Retired.
align=left nowrap
Patrick H. Kelley
Republican March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1923
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
align=left nowrap
Grant M. Hudson
Republican March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1931
Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Lost renomination.
align=left nowrap
Seymour H. Person
Republican March 4, 1931 –
March 3, 1933
Elected in 1930.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap Claude E. Cady
Democratic March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
Elected in 1932.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
William W. Blackney
Republican January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1937
Elected in 1934.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
Andrew J. Transue
Democratic January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1939
Elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
William W. Blackney
Republican January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1953
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.
Retired.
align=left nowrap
Kit Clardy
Republican January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1955
Elected in 1952.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
Donald Hayworth
Democratic January 3, 1955 –
January 3, 1957
Elected in 1954.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
Charles E. Chamberlain
Republican January 3, 1957 –
December 31, 1974
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.
Re-elected in 1972.
Retired and resigned early.
Vacant December 31, 1974 –
January 3, 1975
align=left nowrap
Bob Carr
Democratic January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1981
Elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
Jim Dunn
Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1983
Elected in 1980.
Lost re-election.
align=left nowrap
Bob Carr
Democratic January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993
Elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Redistricted to the .
align=left nowrap
Fred Upton
Republican January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2023
Redistricted from the 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.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the and retired.
align=left
Debbie Dingell
Democraticnowrap January 3, 2023 –
present
Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2022.

Recent election results

2022

Historical district boundaries

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: My Congressional District.
  2. Web site: July 12, 2022 . 2022 Cook PV: District Map and List . January 5, 2023. The Cook Political Report.
  3. Web site: 2022-02-15 . The changes to Michigan's congressional map, district by district . 2023-01-09 . Michigan Radio . en.
  4. Parson, Beach and Dubin. Congressional Districts and Data p. 119
  5. Parson et al.Congressional Districts and Data p. 180-181
  6. Parsons, Dubin and Parsons. Congressional Districts. p. 222
  7. Parsons et al. Congressional Districts p. 359
  8. Barone, Michael and Grant Ujifusa. The Almanac of American Politics. (Washington: National Journal, 1983) p. 576
  9. http://www.censu.gov{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} maps
  10. Edwin B. Winans was elected as a fusion candidate, but was seated in Congress with the Democratic Party.
  11. Byron G. Stout was elected on a Democratic and Union ticket in 1890 to the 52nd Congress.