Major General James G. Blunt

Arkansas's 1st congressional district is a U.S. congressional district in eastern Arkansas that elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It is currently represented by Republican Rick Crawford. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+22, it is the most Republican district in Arkansas, a state with an all-Republican congressional delegation.[2]

Political history

The Mississippi Delta became dominated by industrial agriculture in the 20th century, with cotton, rice, and soybeans by far the biggest exports from the region. The 1st District covers most of the Arkansas Delta area and stretches as far west as the Ozarks. The farming areas, despite their fertility, are generally poor by national standards. Jobs are limited and unemployment and undereducation are major issues. Rice farms receive substantial subsidies from the federal farming program. Three of the top five subsidy farms in the United States are in this district, and they have received more than $100 million since 1996.

Some manufacturing has taken place in the region recently. Several auto parts factories were built in Marion, and Toyota has considered it as the site for its seventh North American plant. Jonesboro is the largest city. It is home to a sizable food processing industry, with companies such as Nestle and Frito-Lay sited here. Jonesboro is also home to Arkansas State University (ASU)-Jonesboro. While Jonesboro is dominated by conservative white Republican voters, as are some of the hill counties, African Americans in the Mississippi River Delta are committed Democratic voters.

Until recently, this district makeup resulted in a fairly closely divided vote in national politics. However, the district has been swept up in the growing Republican trend in Arkansas. While Al Gore narrowly carried the district in 2000 with 50% of the vote, George W. Bush won the district in 2004. The district swung even more Republican in 2008, giving John McCain 58.69% of the vote while Barack Obama received 38.41% here. The Republican vote has steadily increased since then with Donald Trump tallying 65 percent of the vote in 2016, his best showing in the state.

Geography

2003–2013

The district from 2003 to 2013

Before the 2010 census, the 1st district represented portions of northeastern Arkansas, encompassing the counties of Arkansas, Baxter, Clay, Cleburne, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Lee, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Randolph, Saint Francis, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, and Woodruff.

2013–2023

The district was redesigned to take in additional counties in the southeastern portion that were part of the 4th district which in turn took the entire eastern Arkansas border. It is now more than 76% white, and they support Republican presidential candidates.

The district fully encompasses the counties of Arkansas, Baxter, Chicot, Clay, Cleburne, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Randolph, Saint Francis, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, and Woodruff. The district also encompasses parts of Jefferson county.

Recent election results from statewide races

Year Office Results
2000 President Bush 51 - 45%
2004 President Bush 54 - 44%
2008 President McCain 59 - 38%
2012 President Romney 61 - 36%
2016 President Trump 65 - 30%
2018 Governor Hutchinson 69 - 27%
2020 President Trump 69 - 28%
Senate Cotton 74 - 26%
2022 Senate Boozman 72 - 25%
Governor Sanders 70 - 29%

List of members representing the district

The district was created in 1853 after the 1850 United States Census added a second seat to the state. The at-large seat then was split between this district and the second district.

Member Party Year Cong
ress
Electoral history Location
District created March 4, 1853

Alfred B. Greenwood
(Bentonville)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1859
33rd
34th
35th
Elected in 1853.
Re-elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
Retired.

Thomas C. Hindman
(Helena)
Democratic March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
36th Elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860 but resigned due to Civil War.
Vacant March 4, 1861 –
June 22, 1868
37th
38th
39th
40th
Civil War and Reconstruction

Logan H. Roots
(Duvalls Bluff)
Republican June 22, 1868 –
March 3, 1871
40th
41st
Elected in 1868 to finish term.
Re-elected in 1868.
Lost re-election.

James M. Hanks
(Helena)
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
42nd Elected in 1870.
Retired.

Asa Hodges
(Marion)
Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Elected in 1872.
Retired.

Lucien C. Gause
(Jacksonport)
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1879
44th
45th
Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Retired.
Poindexter Dunn
(Forrest City)
Democratic March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1889
46th
47th
48th
49th
50th
Elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Retired.
William H. Cate
(Jonesboro)
Democratic March 4, 1889 –
March 5, 1890
51st Elected in 1888.
Lost contested election.
Lewis P. Featherstone
(Forrest City)
Labor March 5, 1890 –
March 3, 1891
51st Successfully contested William H. Cate's 1888 election.
Lost re-election.
William H. Cate
(Jonesboro)
Democratic March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
52nd Elected in 1890.
Retired.[3]

Philip D. McCulloch Jr.
(Marianna)
Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1903
53rd
54th
55th
56th
57th
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Retired.

Robert B. Macon
(Helena)
Democratic March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1913
58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Lost renomination.

Thaddeus H. Caraway
(Jonesboro)
Democratic March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1921
63rd
64th
65th
66th
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.

William J. Driver
(Osceola)
Democratic March 4, 1921 –
January 3, 1939
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost renomination.

Ezekiel C. Gathings
(West Memphis)
Democratic January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1969
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
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.
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.
Retired.

Bill Alexander
(Osceola)
Democratic January 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1993
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
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.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Lost renomination.

Blanche Lincoln
(Helena)
Democratic January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1997
103rd
104th
Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired.
1993–2003
[data missing]

Marion Berry
(Gillett)
Democratic January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2011
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
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.
Retired.
2003–2013

Rick Crawford
(Jonesboro)
Republican January 3, 2011 –
present
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
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.
2013–2023
2023–present

Recent election results

2002

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Marion Berry* 129,701 67%
Republican Tommy F. Robinson 64,357 33%
Majority 65,344 33%
Total votes 194,058 100.00
Democratic hold

2004

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Marion Berry* 162,388 67%
Republican Vernon Humphrey 81,556 33%
Majority 80,832 33%
Total votes 243,944 100.00
Democratic hold

2006

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Marion Berry* 127,577 69%
Republican Mickey Stumbaugh 56,611 31%
Majority 70,966 39%
Total votes 184,188 100.00%
Democratic hold

2008

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Marion Berry* 124,304 100%
Majority 100%
Total votes 124,304 100%
Democratic hold

2010

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rick Crawford 93,224 52%
Democratic Chad Causey 78,267 43%
Green Ken Adler 8,320 5%
Write-In Write-ins 205 0.11%
Majority 14,957 9%
Total votes 180,016 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

2012

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rick Crawford* 138,800 56%
Democratic Scott Ellington 96,601 39%
Libertarian Jessica Paxton 6,427 3%
Green Jacob Holloway 5,015 2%
Majority 42,199 17.10%
Total votes 246,843 100.00%
Republican hold

2014

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rick Crawford* 124,139 63%
Democratic Jackie McPherson 63,555 32%
Libertarian Brian Scott Willhite 8,562 5%
Majority 60,584 31%
Total votes 196,256 100.00%
Republican hold

2016

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2016[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rick Crawford* 183,866 76.28%
Libertarian Mark West 57,181 23.72%
Majority 126,685 52.56%
Total votes 241,047 100.00%
Republican hold

2018

The 2018 election was held on November 6, 2018.

Arkansas' 1st congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Crawford (incumbent) 138,757 68.9
Democratic Chintan Desai 57,907 28.8
Libertarian Elvis Presley 4,581 2.3
Total votes 201,245 100.0
Republican hold

2020

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Crawford (incumbent) 237,596 100.0
Total votes 237,596 100.0
Republican hold

2022

Arkansas's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2022[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Crawford (incumbent) 153,774 73.80
Democratic Monte Hodges 54,598 26.20
Total votes 208,372 100
Republican hold

See also

References

Specific
  1. ^ a b "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Welch, Melanie. "William Henderson Cate (1839–1899)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  4. ^ 2016 election results
  5. ^ "U.S. CONGRESS DISTRICT 01". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
General

35°17′38″N 91°15′30″W / 35.29389°N 91.25833°W / 35.29389; -91.25833