Texas's 17th congressional district

Texas's 17th congressional district
Texas's 17th congressional district
	Texas's 17th congressional district – since January 3, 2023.
Representative
	Pete Sessions ; R–Waco
Distribution	75.28% urban; 24.72% rural;
Population (2022)	781,996
Median household; income	$63,266
Ethnicity	53.0% White ; 25.3% Hispanic ; 15.0% Black ; 3.4% Two or more races ; 2.5% Asian ; 0.8% other;
Cook PVI	R+14

Last updated April 25, 2024

Texas's 17th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives includes a strip of Central Texas and Deep East Texas stretching from Nacogdoches to Waco and Round Rock, including former President George W. Bush's McLennan County ranch.^[5]^[6] The district is currently represented by Republican Pete Sessions.

From 2005 to 2013, it was an oblong district stretching from south of Tarrant County to Grimes County in the southeast. The 2012 redistricting made its area more square, removing the northern and southeastern portions, adding areas southwest into the northern Austin suburbs and east into Freestone and Leon counties. The district included two major universities, Texas A&M University in College Station and Baylor University in Waco.

Before 2005, the district stretched from the Abilene area to the outer western fringes of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

History

After the 2003 Texas redistricting, engineered by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, TX-17 was (along with MS-4) the most heavily Republican district in the nation to be represented by a Democrat, according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, which rated it R+20.^[7] The district was drawn to make it Republican-dominated and unseat its longtime incumbent, conservative Democrat Chet Edwards. While several of his colleagues were defeated by Republicans in 2004, Edwards held on to the seat in the 2004, 2006 and 2008 elections.

But in the 2010 Congressional elections, the district elected Republican Bill Flores over Edwards by a margin of 61.8% to 36.6%.^[8] Flores was the first Republican to be elected to represent the district since its creation in 1919. Flores retired after five terms and former Texas 32nd district Congressman Pete Sessions, a Waco native, was elected in 2020.

After passage of civil rights legislation and other changes, through the late 20th and early 21st centuries, white conservatives began to shift into the Republican Party in Texas. They first supported presidential candidates, and gradually more Republicans for local, state and national office, resulting in the 2010 switch in party representation.

List of members representing the district

Member (Residence)	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history
District established March 4, 1919
Thomas L. Blanton (Abilene)	Democratic	March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1929	66th 67th 68th 69th 70th	Redistricted from the 16th district and re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Retired to run for U.S. Senator (lost nomination).
Robert Q. Lee (Cisco)	Democratic	March 4, 1929 – April 18, 1930	71st	Elected in 1928. Died.
Vacant		April 18, 1930 – May 20, 1930	71st
Thomas L. Blanton (Abilene)	Democratic	May 20, 1930 – January 3, 1937	71st 72nd 73rd 74th	Elected to finish Lee's term. Re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Lost renomination.
Clyde L. Garrett (Eastland)	Democratic	January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1941	75th 76th	Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Lost renomination.
Sam M. Russell (Stephenville)	Democratic	January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1947	77th 78th 79th	Elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Retired.
Omar Burleson (Anson)	Democratic	January 3, 1947 – December 31, 1978	80th 81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th	Elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-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. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Retired then resigned.
Vacant		December 31, 1978 – January 3, 1979	95th
Charles Stenholm (Abilene)	Democratic	January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2005	96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th	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. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Redistricted to the 19th district and lost re-election.
Chet Edwards (Waco)	Democratic	January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2011	109th 110th 111th	Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Lost re-election.
Bill Flores (Bryan)	Republican	January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2021	112th 113th 114th 115th 116th	Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Retired.
Pete Sessions (Waco)	Republican	January 3, 2021 – present	117th 118th	Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022.

Election results from presidential races

Year	Office	Result
2000	President	Bush 70 – 28%
2004	President	Bush 70 – 30%
2008	President	McCain 67 – 32%
2012	President	Romney 60 – 38%
2016	President	Trump 56 – 38%
2020	President	Trump 55 – 44%

Election results

US House election, 2022: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Pete Sessions (incumbent)	144,408	66.48	+10.5
	Democratic	Mary Jo Woods	72,801	33.52	-7.4
Total votes			217,209	100.0
	Republican hold		Swing	+10.5

US House election, 2020: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Pete Sessions	171,390	55.9	-0.9
	Democratic	Rick Kennedy	125,565	40.92	-0.4
	Libertarian	Ted Brown	9,918	3.2	+1.3
Majority			45,825	14.9
Turnout			306,873
	Republican hold		Swing	-0.9

US House election, 2018: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bill Flores (incumbent)	134,841	56.8	-4.01
	Democratic	Rick Kennedy	98,070	41.3	+6.06
	Libertarian	Clark Patterson	4,440	1.9	-2.05
Majority			36,771	15.5
Turnout			237,351
	Republican hold		Swing	-4.01

US House election, 2016: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bill Flores (incumbent)	149,417	60.81	-3.77
	Democratic	William Matta	86,603	35.24	+2.84
	Libertarian	Clark Patterson	9,708	3.95	+0.93
Majority			53,106	21.6
Turnout			245,728
	Republican hold		Swing	-3.77

US House election, 2014: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bill Flores (incumbent)	85,807	64.58	-15.35
	Democratic	Nick Haynes	43,049	32.4
	Libertarian	Shawn Michael Hamilton	4,009	3.02	-17.05
Majority			38,749	29.16
Turnout			132,865
	Republican hold		Swing	-15.35

US House election, 2012: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bill Flores (incumbent)	143,284^[9]	79.93	+34.8
	Libertarian	Ben Easton	35,978	20.07	119
Majority			107,306
Turnout			179,262		4.23
	Republican hold		Swing	+18.14

US House election, 2010: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bill Flores	106,275	61.79	+16.28
	Democratic	Chet Edwards (incumbent)	62,926	36.59	-16.39
	Libertarian	Richard Kelly	2,787	1.62	+0.11
Majority			43,349	25.2	+17.73
Turnout			171,988
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing	+16.34

US House election, 2008: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Chet Edwards (incumbent)	134,592	52.98	-5.14
	Republican	Rob Curnock	115,581	45.51	+5.21
	Libertarian	Gardner C. Osbourne	3,849	1.51	-0.07
Majority			19,011	7.47	-10.35
Turnout			254,022
	Democratic hold		Swing	-5.18

US House election, 2006: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Chet Edwards (incumbent)	92,478	58.12	+6.92
	Republican	Van Taylor	64,142	40.30	-7.11
	Libertarian	Guillermo Acosta	2,504	1.58	+0.19
Majority			28,336	17.82	+14.03
Turnout			159,124
	Democratic hold		Swing	+7.02

US House election, 2004: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Chet Edwards	125,309	51.20	-0.17
	Republican	Arlene Wohlgemuth	116,049	47.41	+0.03
	Libertarian	Clyde Garland	3,390	1.39	+0.14
Majority			9,260	3.79	-0.19
Turnout			244,748
	Democratic hold		Swing	-0.1

US House election, 2002: Texas District 17
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charlie Stenholm (incumbent)	84,136	51.37
	Republican	Rob Beckham	77,622	47.38
	Libertarian	Fred Jones	2,046	1.25
Majority			6,514	3.98
Turnout			163,804
	Democratic hold		Swing

Historical district boundaries

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References

↑ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov. US Census Bureau Geography.
↑ "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.
↑ "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.
↑ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
↑ "Pelosi continues to tout Texas Rep. Chet Edwards for VP". Texas on the Potomac (blog). Houston Chronicle. August 3, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
↑ Vlahos, Kelley (March 7, 2006). "Texas Rep. Edwards Beats Odds, but Faces Iraq War Vet in Midterm". Fox News. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
↑ Texas 17th District Profile Congressional Quarterly. May 14, 2010.
↑ 2010 Texas Election Results New York Times. November 13, 2010.
↑ United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2012#District 17

Sources

Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

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[1] "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov. US Census Bureau Geography.

[2] "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.

[3] "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.

[Cook-4] "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.

[5] "Pelosi continues to tout Texas Rep. Chet Edwards for VP". Texas on the Potomac (blog). Houston Chronicle. August 3, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2012.

[6] Vlahos, Kelley (March 7, 2006). "Texas Rep. Edwards Beats Odds, but Faces Iraq War Vet in Midterm". Fox News. Retrieved March 25, 2007.

[7] Texas 17th District Profile Congressional Quarterly. May 14, 2010.

[8] 2010 Texas Election Results New York Times. November 13, 2010.

[9] United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2012#District 17

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