U.S. ELECTIONS | Guide to the 2008 Election
State & Local
A close-up view of campaigns in seven selected districts across the United States
- Minnesota 1st District
- Nebraska 1st District
- New Mexico 1st District
- Oregon 1st District
- Pennsylvania 4th District
- Texas 23rd District
- Virginia 2nd District
About this Project
On November 4, 2008, Americans will elect not only their next president, but also thousands of local, state and federal representatives. During the coming months, America.gov will give you a close-up view of campaigns, issues and the electorate in seven of the 435 U.S. congressional districts. The districts differ in size, geography, demographics, economics and priority issues for local voters. Each offers a different prism though which to view U.S. politics, showing the common American experience and illustrating the U.S. motto E Pluribus Unum - "From Many, One."
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Minnesota 1st Congressional District
Rochester, Mankato, Winona, Austin and Owatonna
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Overview
- Population: 614,952. Although 90 percent of the 1st District's population is white, increasingly Hispanic, Asian and black immigrants have moved into the district seeking employment.
- Geography: One of the state's three rural districts, the 1st runs across the state's southern border with Iowa. The largest cities are Rochester, Mankato, Winona, Austin and Owatonna.
- Major industries: Agriculture, food processing and health care are major industries. Corn, soybeans, sugar beets, hogs and dairy are agricultural staples.
- Congressional Leaders: Representative Tim Walz, a Democrat, is serving his first term in the House of Representatives. Minnesota's senators are Norm Coleman, a first-term Republican, and Amy Klobuchar, a first-term Democrat.
- Local newspapers: Rochester Post-Bulletin, Mankato Free Press, and Winona Daily Press
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Political History
Rochester, the district's largest city, historically has favored Republicans. However, in 2006, it aligned itself with the 1st's many smaller towns and farmers that supported the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. National issues, along with debate about a $2 billion rail expansion through Rochester and southern Minnesota, influenced voters to support Democrat Walz over the six-term Republican incumbent. The district has a history of giving support to independents.
Walz is running for re-election and will face physician Brian Davis. Some political experts believe the Minnesota Senate race could be one of the most competitive in the country. Incumbent Republican Norm Coleman is running again. Several Democrats are competing to be the party's Senate-nominee, but nationally-known comedian Al Franken is seen as the favorite.
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Key Issues
Traditionally, issues important to rural districts such as farming, health care and education are important to 1st District voters, but so are national issues such as the war in Iraq. Voters' dissatisfaction with congressional and party leaders may be important in 2008, as it was in 2006.
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Fun Fact
Rochester is home to the world-renowned medical practice the Mayo Clinic.
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Nebraska 1st Congressional District
Lincoln, Fremont and Norfolk
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Overview
- Population: 570,423. More than 90 percent of the population is white, according to the U.S. Census. 181,300 voters are registered Republicans and 130,675 are registered Democrats. 2,816 are registered to other parties and 61,443 voters do not belong to any party.
- Geography: The 1st District runs along Nebraska's eastern border. It surrounds but does not include the state's largest city, Omaha, which makes up its own separate congressional district. Much of Nebraska's 1st District consists of small towns and rural areas. The largest city is the state capital, Lincoln.
- Major industries: Agriculture, higher education, technology, health care and government are key industries. The district's pork industry is the seventh largest in the country, bringing in more than $500 million annually. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a major employer.
- Congressional Leaders: Representative Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican, is serving his second term in the House of Representatives. Nebraska's senators are Chuck Hagel, a second-term Republican, and Ben Nelson, a second-term Democrat.
- Local Newspapers: Lincoln Journal Star, Fremont Tribune and Norfolk Daily News
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Political History
The 1st District consistently votes Republican at all levels. The University of Nebraska, as is the case in many districts across the United States, makes Lincoln more liberal than surrounding areas, but the district still has more registered Republicans. The strongest Democratic areas are in the northeast, especially in Thurston County, which is populated entirely by the Omaha and Winnebago American-Indian reservations.
Senator Chuck Hagel announced he will not run for reelection in 2009, and many well-known Nebraskans are seeking the seat, including a former governor and Lincoln mayor, Mike Johanns, who recently resigned as U.S. secretary of agriculture to run for the office.
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Key Issues
Agriculture and livestock are the district's largest industries, so voters have a strong interest in agricultural policy. Climate-change issues, particularly renewable energy sources, are important to many voters because part of the district's corn crop is devoted to ethanol production.
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Interesting Facts
- The district includes the state's capital, Lincoln, and the University of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium, which could qualify as the state's third-largest city when filled to its 85,197-seat capacity during the college football season.
- Charles Lindbergh, the first pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic, learned to fly at the Lincoln Airplane and Flying School.
- Entertainer Johnny Carson attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- A large brick star at the intersection of 13th & O Streets in Lincoln is said to mark the spot where the American West begins.
- The Lincoln Municipal Airport is among the emergency landing sites for the NASA space shuttle.
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New Mexico 1st Congressional District
Albuquerque and surrounding counties
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Overview
- Population: 606,400. About 42 percent of the district's population is Hispanic. There is a sizable American-Indian population as well, according to 2000 U.S. Census figures. 166,542 voters are registered Democrats and 126,770 are registered Republicans. 10,660 are registered members of other parties and 57,793 voters are not affiliated with any party.
- Geography: This central New Mexico district includes Albuquerque, the state's largest city, and neighboring counties.
- Major industries: Defense, scientific research and education
- Congressional Leaders: Representative Heather Wilson, a Republican, is serving her sixth term in the House of Representatives. New Mexico's senators are Pete V. Domenici, a sixth-term Republican, and Jeff Bingaman, a fifth-term Democrat.
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Political History
Citing health reasons, Senator Pete V. Domenici announced that he will retire at the end of his term, opening up what may be one of the most competitive Senate races in 2008. Some of New Mexico's biggest political names, including all three of its congressional representatives, are running for the seat. Representative Heather Wilson, of the New Mexico 1st, will be competing with Representative Steve Pearce for the Republican nomination. Democratic Congressman Tom Udall was unanimously selected at a party convention to be the party's Senate nominee.
Because Wilson is giving up her house seat to run for the Senate, the New Mexico 1st will have a new leader in the 2009 Congress. On the Republican side, State Senator Joe Carraro and Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White will be competing for the nomination. Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich and former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham are among those seeking the Democratic nomination.
New Mexico generally is considered to be a swing state, and recent history has shown that races in New Mexico are often tight. Wilson won her last race by about 800 votes. In 2004, President Bush narrowly defeated John Kerry in presidential voting. In 2000, Bush lost the state by only 300 votes.
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Key Issues
The 1st District is in a state that shares a long border with Mexico, making immigration an important issue. Educational and research institutions are big employers, so education and science likely will be important to those who work there. Several companies in the district are involved in alternative-energy research, so voters likely will be paying attention to what the candidates say about climate change.
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Interesting Fact
Each October, the 1st District hosts the International Balloon Fiesta, the world's largest hot-air balloon festival.
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Oregon 1st Congressional District
Portland, Hillsboro and Beaverton
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Overview
- Population: 684,351. Although the majority of the population is white, a sizable population of Hispanics and Asians live. In 2006, there were 150,447 registered Democrats and 136,020 registered Republicans. 11,625 were registered members of other parties and 92,371 voters were not affiliated with any party.
- Geography: The 1st District is in the northwest part of the state and includes part of Portland, the state's largest city. The district also includes the towns of Hillsboro and Beaverton, areas whose populations have doubled since 1990.
- Major industries: Electronics and computer manufacturing are major industries in Washington County, which is home to 65 percent of the population of the district. Nicknamed the “Silicon Forest,” this area's major employers are high-tech companies, but wine production, agriculture and nurseries are prominent in neighboring areas.
- Congressional Leaders: Representative David Wu, a Democrat, is serving a fifth-term in the House of Representatives. Oregon's senators are Ron Wyden, a third-term Democrat, and Gordon Smith, a second-term Republican.
- Local Newspapers: Beaverton Valley Times, Hillsboro Argus and Portland Tribune
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Political History
Democrats historically do well in Multnomah, Clatsop and Columbia counties, while the Republicans are favored in Yamhill. In 2004, each county supported its traditional party favorite and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry won the district with 55 percent of the vote. Congressman Wu is expected to run for re-election. Senator Smith is running for re-election and will likely face either Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley or Portland lawyer Steve Novick, who are competing for the Democratic nomination.
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Key Issues
With several international companies based in the 1st District, international trade issues are important. The district has sizable logging and fishing industries, which means environmental issues that affect these businesses are important. Iraq policy is likely to influence many district voters.
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Interesting Fact
The Nike sportswear company is headquartered in Beaverton.
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Pennsylvania 4th Congressional District
Pittsburgh suburbs
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Overview
- Population: 646,609. More than 90 percent of the population is white. (2000 U.S. Census)
- Geography: This western Pennsylvania district shares a border with Ohio and includes suburbs north of Pittsburgh, the second-largest city in the state.
- Major industries: Steel, manufacturing, educational services and health care
- Congressional Leaders: Representative Jason Altmire, a Democrat, is serving his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Pennsylvania's senators are Arlen Specter, a fifth-term Republican, and Robert P. Casey, a first-term Democrat.
- Local Newspapers: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, New Castle News
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Political History
Democrats historically do well in Multnomah, Clatsop and Columbia counties, while the Republicans are favored in Yamhill. In 2004, each county supported its traditional party favorite and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry won the district with 55 percent of the vote. Congressman Wu is seeking re-election. Senator Smith is running for re-election and will likely face either Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley or Portland lawyer Steve Novick, who are competing for the Democratic nomination.
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Key Issues
U.S. involvement in Iraq is likely to be a key issue. The economy is important to the district because the area suffered an economic downswing when steel production and manufacturing slowed. The health care industry continues to grow, ensuring health policy will be an important issue for voters who work in these businesses.
Overall satisfaction with Congress and the political parties' ability to lead might sway votes, because many credit Altmire's 2006 victory over Hart to voter dissatisfaction with the Republican majority.
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Interesting Facts
- With heavy steel production, the Pennsylvania 4th was traditionally a blue-collar region. Today, the area is becoming more known for its health care and educational companies, drawing a different type of workforce into the district.
- The chili dog, a popular American hot sandwich, was invented by Greek immigrants who came to New Castle in the early 1900s.
- New Castle, home of internationally known companies S.Vitale Pyrotechnic Industries Inc. (Pyrotecnico) and Zambelli Internationale, is known as the fireworks capital of America.
- James Buchanan, future 15th U.S. president, represented the district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1823 through 1831.
- Entertainer Bob Hope began his career as a comedian at the Capitol Theater in New Castle in 1927, appearing in the act "Hope and Byrne, Dancers Supreme."
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Texas 23rd Congressional District
Texas-Mexico border area
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Overview
- Population: 651,149. About 65 percent of the population is Hispanic, and there is a sizable African-American population.
- Geography: This district, which is larger than most states east of the Mississippi River, is the largest district in Texas. It includes a 1,127-kilometer border with Mexico along the Rio Grande. Although it is mostly a rural district, the 23rd includes part of the city of San Antonio.
- Major industries: Manufacturing, agriculture and ranching are the district's key industries. Maverick and Val Verde counties include some of the country's poorest areas and highest unemployment rates.
- Congressional Leaders: Representative Ciro D. Rodriguez, a Democrat, is serving his fifth term in the House of Representatives, although it is his first term representing the 23rd district. Texas' senators are Kay Bailey Hutchison, a fourth-term Republican, and John Cornyn, a first-term Republican.
- Local Newspapers Del Rio News Herald, The News Gram and San Antonio Express News
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Political History
The 23rd District has been redrawn twice in recent years and was at the center of a 2006 Supreme Court case about redistricting. Texas Republicans, who controlled the state legislature in 2003, redrew several of the state's district boundaries in an effort to improve the likelihood of electing Republican candidates to the U.S. Congress. In the redistricting, the 23rd gained more conservative areas while Hispanic areas that tended to vote Democratic shifted to the 28th District. The Supreme Court accepted the state's right to redraw its electoral map but said that diluting the Hispanic vote in the 23rd District violated the Voting Rights Act's protections for minorities. The map was redrawn again prior to the 2006 election and included Rodriguez's home in the district.
Rodriguez, who served as the Texas 28th District representative until losing his seat in the wake of the 2003 redistricting, upset a seven-term incumbent Republican in the new 23rd. He is running for re-election and will face Republican candidate and Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson.
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Key Issues
With a large immigrant population seeking seasonal employment and cheaper Mexican labor across the border, unemployment is high in several areas of Texas' 23rd District, so the economy is an important issue. The district is affected significantly by the North American Free Trade Agreement and trade with Mexico. The shared border with Mexico also makes immigration and border security important issues, while the high poverty rate makes health care and education important concerns.
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Interesting Fact
The 1956 film classic Giant, starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson, was shot in Marfa, located in the western stretches of the 23rd District.
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Virginia 2nd Congressional District
Norfolk, Hampton and Virginia Beach, Virginia
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Overview
- Population: 643,510. The majority of the residents are white, but African Americans represent about 20 percent of the population, according to the U.S. Census figures.
- Geography: Much of the Virginia 2nd is along the Atlantic coastline and includes rural and urban populations. The largest cities are Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
- Major industries: Military, shipping, tourism and agriculture are the district's major industry. The Port of Virginia, located in Norfolk, is one of the busiest ports on the East Coast.
- Congressional Leaders: Representative Thelma Drake, a Republican, is serving her second term in the House of Representatives. Virginia's senators are James Webb, a first-term Democrat, and John Warner, a fifth-term Republican.
- Local Newspapers: The Virginian-Pilot and the Newport News Daily Press
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Political History
Drake, who has served since 2004, won her 2006 re-election by less than 5,000 votes. Fifty-eight percent of voters picked President Bush in 2004. Not only was Drake's election close in 2006, but the Virginia Senate race between George Allen and Webb was very close. Webb's victory gave Democrats the majority in the 110th Congress.
An equally close Senate race could happen again in 2008 because longtime Senator John Warner has announced his retirement. The race is most likely going to be a match up of former governors Mark Warner, a Democrat, and Jim Gilmore, a Republican. In the past decade, Virginia has tended to vote Republican but in recent years has begun to shift back to Democrats. Political experts are expecting the presidential race in Virginia to be a close one as well.
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Key Issues
According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Virginia 2nd has the largest concentration of active-duty military personnel of any congressional district in the United States. Because so many voters have a personal interest in military affairs, Iraq and national security are expected to be a big part of federal and local campaigns. Drake, who visited Iraq in August, has said the surge is working, while groups that disagree have started running television ad campaigns in the district arguing the opposite.
Illegal immigration is an important issue to many voters, in part because of the March death of two teenage girls in Virginia Beach, killed by a drunk driver who was an illegal immigrant with a criminal record. The case launched a local and national debate about immigration laws.
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Interesting Fact
Many U.S. military bases are located in the Virginia 2nd. The U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet, the U.S. Joint Forces Command, the Air Combat Command of the U.S. Air Force, the Training and Doctrine Command of the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps Atlantic Forces and NATO's Atlantic Command for Transformation are in the district.
