Nebraska's 3rd congressional district explained

State:Nebraska
District Number:3
Image Name:Nebraska's 3rd congressional district (since 2023).png
Image Width:300
Image Caption:Nebraska's 3rd congressional district (from 2023)
Representative:Adrian Smith
Party:Republican
Residence:Gering
Percent Urban:46.21
Percent Rural:53.79
Population:649,904
Population Year:2022
Median Income:$61,627[1]
Percent White:81.4
Percent Hispanic:12.2
Percent Black:1.3
Percent Asian:0.7
Percent Native American:1.4
Percent More Than One Race:2.7
Percent Other Race:0.3
Cpvi:R+29[2]

Nebraska's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Nebraska that encompasses its western three-fourths; it is one of the largest non-at-large districts in the country, covering nearly 65000sqmi, two time zones and 68 counties. It includes Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, North Platte, Alliance, and Scottsbluff. Additionally, it encompasses the Sandhills region and a large majority of the Platte River. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+29, it is the most Republican district in Nebraska, a state with an all-Republican delegation.[2]

Political history

Nebraska has had at least three congressional districts since 1883. The district's current configuration dates from 1963, when Nebraska lost a seat as a result of the 1960 United States census. At that time, most of the old 3rd and 4th districts were merged to form the new 3rd district. It is one of the most Republican districts in the nation, as Democrats have only come close to winning it three times as currently drawn, in 1974, 1990, and 2006, all years where the incumbent was not running for reelection.

Republican presidential and gubernatorial candidates routinely carry the district with margins of 40 percent or more, while Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win a plurality within the current district boundaries. Excepting historically Democratic Saline County on the district's eastern boundary, Thurston County which only moved into the district in 2023, and Dakota County which has only been within the district since 2013, the last Democrat to carry any county within the district at a presidential level was Jimmy Carter in 1976. Although the Nebraska Legislature is elected on a nonpartisan basis, all but two members representing significant portions of the district are known to be Republicans. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index (CPVI) of R+29, it is the most Republican congressional district outside Appalachia. Because Nebraska awards an Electoral College vote from each district, it is the most Republican Electoral College constituency. It is currently held by Republican Adrian Smith, who was first elected in 2006.

Recent results in statewide races

YearOfficeResults
1992PresidentGeorge H.W. Bush 50% – Bill Clinton 24%
1996PresidentBob Dole 59% – Bill Clinton 29%
2000PresidentGeorge W. Bush 71% – Al Gore 25%
2004PresidentGeorge W. Bush 75% – John Kerry 24%
2008PresidentJohn McCain 69% – Barack Obama 30%
2012PresidentMitt Romney 70% – Barack Obama 28%
2016PresidentDonald Trump 74% – Hillary Clinton 20%
2020PresidentDonald Trump 75% – Joe Biden 22%
2022GovernorJim Pillen 75% – Carol Blood 21%

List of members representing the district

MemberPartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1883
align=left
Edward K. Valentine
Republicannowrap March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
Redistricted from and re-elected in 1882.
Retired.
align=left
George W. E. Dorsey
Republicannowrap March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1891
Elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Omer Madison Kem
Populistnowrap March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
Elected in 1890.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
George de Rue Meiklejohn
Republicannowrap March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1897
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Retired.
align=left
Samuel Maxwell
Populistnowrap March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899
Elected in 1896.
Retired.
align=left
John Seaton Robinson
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1903
Elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Lost re-election.
align=left
John J. McCarthy
Republicannowrap March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1907
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Lost renomination.
align=left
John Frank Boyd
Republicannowrap March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1909
Elected in 1906.
Lost re-election.
align=left
James P. Latta
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1909 –
September 11, 1911
Elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Died.
Vacantnowrap September 11, 1911 –
November 7, 1911
align=left
Dan V. Stephens
Democraticnowrap November 7, 1911 –
March 3, 1919
Elected to finish Latta's term.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Robert E. Evans
Republicannowrap March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1923
Elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Edgar Howard
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1923 –
January 3, 1935
Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Karl Stefan
Republicannowrap January 3, 1935 –
October 2, 1951
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.
Died.
Vacantnowrap October 2, 1951 –
December 4, 1951
align=left
Robert Dinsmore Harrison
Republicannowrap December 4, 1951 –
January 3, 1959
Elected to finish Stefan's term.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Lawrence Brock
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1961
Elected in 1958.
Lost re-election.
align=left
Ralph F. Beermann
Republicannowrap January 3, 1961 –
January 3, 1963
Elected in 1960.
Redistricted to the .
align=left
David Martin
Republicannowrap January 3, 1963 –
December 31, 1974
Redistricted from the 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.
Retired and then resigned early.
Vacantnowrap December 31, 1974 –
January 3, 1975
align=left
Virginia Smith
Republicannowrap January 3, 1975 –
January 3, 1991
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.
Retired.
align=left
Bill Barrett
Republicannowrap January 3, 1991 –
January 3, 2001
Elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Retired.
align=left
Tom Osborne
Republicannowrap January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2007
Elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Retired to run for Governor of Nebraska.
align=left
Adrian Smith
Republicannowrap January 3, 2007 –
present
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.

Election history

2004

See main article: 2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska.

2008

See main article: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska.

2010

See main article: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska.

2012

See main article: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska.

2014

See main article: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska.

2016

See main article: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska.

2018

See main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska.

2020

See main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska.

2022

See main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Nebraska.

Historical district boundaries

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: My Congressional District.
  2. Web site: 2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List. 2023-01-10. Cook Political Report. en.