Colonel William A. Phillips

Arizona's 1st congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of Arizona, covering northeastern Maricopa County. Before 2023, geographically, it was the eleventh-largest congressional district in the country and included much of the state outside the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. From 2013 through 2022, it also included the Navajo Nation, the Hopi reservation, and the Gila River Indian Community, with 25% of the population being Native American. At that time, the district had more Native Americans than any other congressional district in the United States.[4] In the 2022 elections, David Schweikert was elected in the redefined district. It was one of 18 districts that would have voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Republican in 2022.

The new 1st district includes northeast Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, and Fountain Hills; is majority-white; and is the wealthiest congressional district in Arizona.

History

When Arizona was first divided into congressional districts as a result of the 1950 census, the 1st district comprised all of Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, while the rest of the state was in the 2nd district. In a mid-decade redistricting resulting from Wesberry v. Sanders in 1967, the 1st was cut back to eastern Phoenix and most of what became the East Valley.

Over the years, the 1st's share of Phoenix was gradually reduced due to the area's explosive growth in the second half of the 20th century. However, it remained based in the East Valley until Arizona picked up two seats in the 2000 U.S. census. The old 1st essentially became the 6th district, while a new 1st district was created to serve most of the state outside of Phoenix and Tucson.

After the 2012 redistricting, the Hopi reservation was drawn into the 1st district; it had previously been included within the 2nd district. Also included were some northern suburbs of Tucson that had been in the 8th, as well as a tiny section of Phoenix itself near the Gila River Indian Community. Meanwhile, heavily Republican Prescott, the old 1st's largest city, and much of surrounding Yavapai County were drawn into the new, heavily Republican 4th district. The district is now considered to be significantly more competitive for Democrats.

2012-2021 areas covered

It covers the entirety of the following counties:

The district covers the majority of:

Small portions of the following counties are also covered:

2023-2031 areas covered

Northeastern Maricopa County, east of I-17 and north of Az-202 along the Salt River. It includes the northeastern suburbs of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills, Rio Verde, and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.[5][6] It is essentially the successor to the 2012-2021 6th district.[7]

Competitiveness

This large congressional district covers the mainly rural areas of northern and eastern Arizona. Democrats perform well in Flagstaff, Sedona, and the Navajo Nation among Native Americans, while Republicans are strongest in the more rural white areas. Elections are usually decided by conservative "Pinto Democrats"[8] throughout the rural areas. Due to its vast size, it is extremely difficult to campaign in and has few unifying influences.

George W. Bush received 54% of the vote in this district in 2004. John McCain also carried the district in 2008 with 54% of the vote while Barack Obama received 44%. In the 2012 presidential election Mitt Romney (R) won with 50% of the vote, with Obama receiving 48%. Due to intense competition, this is generally considered a swing district. The redistricting has increased the number of historically Democratic voters.

During the Super Tuesday, February 5, 2008 Arizona Democratic Primary, the district was won by Hillary Clinton with 49% of the vote, while Barack Obama received 42% and John Edwards took 5%. In the Arizona Republican Primary, the 1st district was won by McCain with 46% while Mitt Romney received 35% and Mike Huckabee took in 12% of the vote in the district.

Tom O'Halleran (D) won the congressional seat in 2016. The district was considered very competitive for both parties in the 2016 primaries and general election.

Voting

Election results from statewide races
Year Office Results
1996 President Dole 46 – 45 – 7%
2000 President Bush 51 – 44%
2004 President Bush 54 – 46%
2008 President McCain 54 – 44%
2012 President Romney 50 – 48%
2016 President Trump 48 – 47%
Senate McCain 48.4 – 45.3%
2018 Governor Ducey 54.3 – 43.1%
Attorney General Brnovich 51.7 – 48.3%
Senate Sinema 50.6 – 46.4%
2020 President Biden 50 – 48%
Senate (Spec.) Kelly 52.1 – 47.9%
2022 Governor Hobbs 52 - 48%
Attorney General Mayes 49.94 – 49.93%
Senate Kelly 52.5 - 45.9%

List of members representing the district

Arizona gained a second congressional seat after the 1940 census. It used a general ticket to elect its representatives until the 1948 elections, when candidates ran from each of the districts.

Member Party Term Cong
ress
Electoral history Geographical area[9][10][11]
District created January 3, 1949

John R. Murdock
(Tempe)
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1953
81st
82nd
Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Lost re-election.
1949–1967:
Maricopa County: Metro Phoenix

John J. Rhodes Jr.
(Mesa)
Republican January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1983
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
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
Re-elected in 1978
Re-elected in 1980
Retired.
1967–1983:
Part of Maricopa County: Metro Phoenix

John McCain
(Tempe)
Republican January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1987
98th
99th
Elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
1983–2003:
Part of Maricopa County: Parts of Metro Phoenix (East Valley)

John J. Rhodes III
(Mesa)
Republican January 3, 1987 –
January 3, 1993
100th
101st
102nd
Elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Lost re-election.

Sam Coppersmith
(Phoenix)
Democratic January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 1995
103rd Elected in 1992.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.

Matt Salmon
(Mesa)
Republican January 3, 1995 –
January 3, 2001
104th
105th
106th
Elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Retired to run for Governor of Arizona.

Jeff Flake
(Mesa)
Republican January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2003
107th Elected in 2000.
Redistricted to the 6th district.

Rick Renzi
(Flagstaff)
Republican January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2009
108th
109th
110th
Elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Retired.
2003–2013:

North and East Arizona: Apache County, Gila County, Graham County, Greenlee County, Yavapai County, and parts of Coconino County, Navajo County, and Pinal County

Ann Kirkpatrick
(Flagstaff)
Democratic January 3, 2009 –
January 3, 2011
111th Elected in 2008.
Lost re-election.

Paul Gosar
(Flagstaff)
Republican January 3, 2011 –
January 3, 2013
112th Elected in 2010.
Redistricted to the 4th district.

Ann Kirkpatrick
(Flagstaff)
Democratic January 3, 2013 –
January 3, 2017
113th
114th
Elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
2013–2023:

Apache County, and parts of Coconino County, Gila County, Graham County, Greenlee County, Maricopa County part Navajo County, Pima County, Pinal County

Tom O'Halleran
(Sedona)
Democratic January 3, 2017 –
January 3, 2023
115th
116th
117th
Elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the 2nd district and lost re-election.

David Schweikert
(Fountain Hills)
Republican January 3, 2023 –
present
118th Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 2022. 2023–present:

Northeastern suburbs of Phoenix, including Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, and Fountain Hills

Recent election results

2002

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rick Renzi 85,967 49.2%
Democratic George Cordova 79,730 45.6%
Libertarian Edwin Porr 8,990 5.2%
Majority 6,237 3.6%
Total votes 174,687 100.0
Republican hold

2004

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rick Renzi (Incumbent) 148,315 58.5%
Democratic Paul Babbitt 91,776 36.2%
Libertarian John Crockett 13,260 5.2%
Majority 56,539 22.3%
Total votes 253,351 100.0
Republican hold

2006

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Rick Renzi (Incumbent) 105,646 53.2%
Democratic Ellen Simon 88,691 44.7%
Libertarian David Schlosser 4,205 2.1%
Majority 16,955 8.5%
Total votes 198,542 100.0
Republican hold

2008

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ann Kirkpatrick 155,791 57.5%
Republican Sydney Ann Hay 109,924 40.5%
Independent Brent Maupin 4,124 1.5%
Libertarian Thane Eichenauer 1,316 0.5%
Majority 45,867 16.9%
Total votes 271,155 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2010

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Gosar 112,816 49.7%
Democratic Ann Kirkpatrick (Incumbent) 99,233 43.7%
Libertarian Nicole Patti 14,869 6.6%
Majority 13,583 6.0%
Total votes 226,918 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2012

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ann Kirkpatrick 122,774 48.8%
Republican Jonathan Paton 113,594 45.2%
Libertarian Kim Allen 15,227 6.0%
Majority 9,180 3.7%
Total votes 251,595 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2014

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ann Kirkpatrick (Incumbent) 97,391 52.6% +3.8%
Republican Andy Tobin 87,723 47.4% +2.3%
Majority 9,568 5.2% +1.6%
Total votes 185,114 100.0
Democratic hold

2016

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tom O'Halleran 142,219 50.7%
Republican Paul Babeu 121,745 43.3%
Green Ray Parrish 16,746 6.0%
Majority 20,474 7.4%
Total votes 280,710 100.0
Democratic hold

2018

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tom O'Halleran (Incumbent) 143,240 53.8%
Republican Wendy Rogers 122,784 46.2%
Majority 20,456 7.6%
Total votes 266,024 100.0
Democratic hold

2020

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tom O'Halleran (Incumbent) 188,469 51.6% -2.2
Republican Tiffany Shedd 176,709 48.4% +2.2
Total votes 365,178 100.0
Democratic hold

2022

Arizona's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2022[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Schweikert (Incumbent) 182,336 50.44%
Democratic Jevin Hodge 179,141 49.56%
Total votes 361,477 100%
Republican hold

See also

References

General
  1. ^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  2. ^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  3. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  4. ^ "Can Navajo Nation help rescue endangered Dem Congresswoman?". ABC News. October 8, 2010.
  5. ^ Arizona Congressional Districts: Approved Official Map Congressional District: 1 (Map). January 18, 2022. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022.
  6. ^ "Who's who in Arizona's 2022 US Congressional races". 12 News (KPNX-TV). June 8, 2022. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022.
  7. ^ Estrada, Melissa (February 2, 2022). "Here are the candidates running in Arizona's new 1st Congressional District". Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022.
  8. ^ For an explanation of the origin and meaning of the phrase "pinto Democrats" in this context, please see the paragraph in the middle of page 18 [actually. my PDF viewer calls it "page 13", (since it is the 13th page in the PDF file) but ... internally it is "labeled" as "page 18" ... for some reason] of the following reliable source. That paragraph says, (in part), << It was widely known in Arizona politics that there was a large discrepancy between voter registration figures and partisan voting behavior. The state had been solidly Democratic in local politics since 1920; therefore, Republican immigrants to Arizona often registered as Democrats in order to participate in local elections where frequently no Republicans sought office (these GOP voters registered in the opposition party were called "pinto Democrats"). Consequently, voter registration and voter behavior often were very different. >>.

    "REDISTRICTING IN THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST" (PDF). the Rose Institute of State and Local Government. p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 8, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022. (QUOTE:) << It was widely known in Arizona politics that there was a large discrepancy between voter registration figures and partisan voting behavior. The state had been solidly Democratic in local politics since 1920; therefore, Republican immigrants to Arizona often registered as Democrats in order to participate in local elections where frequently no Republicans sought office (these GOP voters registered in the opposition party were called "pinto Democrats"). Consequently, voter registration and voter behavior often were very different. >>
  9. ^ Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts, 1789–1983. New York: Macmillan Publishing.
  10. ^ Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789–1989. New York: Macmillan Publishing.
  11. ^ Congressional Directory: Browse 105th Congress Archived February 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass: 2022 General Election - Nov 08, 2022" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. December 5, 2022.
Specific

External links

34°58′16″N 110°43′33″W / 34.97111°N 110.72583°W / 34.97111; -110.72583