West Virginia's 3rd congressional district

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district is an obsolete U.S. congressional district in southern West Virginia. At various times the district covered different parts of the state, but in its final form included the state's second-largest city, Huntington; included Bluefield, Princeton, and Beckley; and has a long history of coal mining (especially in the southwestern counties), forestry, and farming.

The district was last represented by Republican Carol Miller. However, because West Virginia lost a congressional seat in the 2020 census, it was eliminated in 2023. On October 22, 2021, Governor Jim Justice signed the new congressional map into law. Under the plan, the old 3rd essentially became the new 1st. Incumbent representative Miller transferred to the new 1st district.

Character The district grew in geographic size over the years, as it contained the area of the state that lost the most population. Most of the congressmen listed below prior to the 1992 election cycle actually represented other parts of the state, as most of the recent 3rd district's history was found in the also obsolete 4th, 5th, and 6th districts.

The last version of the 3rd district began to take shape in the 1960s. For much of its history, the 4th district had been focused on Huntington and the mill towns and farm communities north of that city along the Ohio River, while the 5th and 6th districts were focused on the then safely Democratic coal fields. In the 1970 redistricting, the 5th (which had absorbed most of the 6th due to population loss 10 years earlier) was eliminated, and most of its territory was merged into the 4th to form what is now the western half of the 3rd. In the 1990 redistricting the old 4th was renumbered as the 3rd and took in what is now the eastern half of its current shape from a previous version of the 2nd district.

The major areas of the last version of the district included the industrial and university city of Huntington, the coal producing southwestern part of the state, and the more conservative farm and timber region of the southeastern part of the state. 2010 census figures again showed a major population loss, and Mason County was transferred from the 2nd to the 3rd district. This did not change the character of the district in a significant way.

Despite the strength of Democrats at the local and state level, in presidential elections the district followed the increasing Republican trend in West Virginia. While Bill Clinton twice carried the district handily in three-way races, Al Gore had just narrowly won the district in 2000 with 51% of the vote. George W. Bush won the district in 2004 with 53% of the vote, and John McCain carried the district in 2008 with 55.76% of the vote, continuing the district, and the state's rightward shift despite a large shift towards the Democrats nationally in 2008. In 2012, the district shifted significantly towards the Republicans yet again, with Republican Mitt Romney defeating President Barack Obama 65.0% to 32.8% in the district. In 2016, the district shifted even further towards the Republican Party, with Republican Donald Trump defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton (wife of Bill Clinton, who carried the district by significant margins in the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections), by a massive margin of 72.5% to 23.3%.

Obsolete The district became obsolete following the 2020 United States census.

Election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 55% - 42%2012 PresidentRomney 65% - 33% SenateManchin 65% - 32% GovernorRay Tomblin 54% - 42% Attorney General McGraw 53% - 47% AuditorGainer III 61% - 39% Secretary of StateTennant 64% - 36% TreasurerPerdue 59% - 41%2014 SenateMoore Capito 61% - 36%2016 PresidentTrump 73% - 23% GovernorJustice 55% - 38% Attorney GeneralMorrisey 49% - 46%2018 SenateManchin 49% - 47%2020 PresidentTrump 73% - 25% SenateMoore Capito 73% - 25% GovernorJustice 68% - 27% Attorney GeneralMorrisey 65% - 35% AuditorMcCuskey 69% - 31% Secretary of StateWarner 61% - 39% TreasurerMoore 55% - 45%

History

The third district, as originally formed in 1863, included Kanawha, Jackson, Mason, Putnam, Cabell, Clay, Wayne, Logan, Boone, Braxton, Nicholas, Roane and McDowell counties. It was essentially the successor of Virginia's 12th congressional district.

In 1882, the district was reformed to include Logan, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, Boone, Kanawha, Fayette, Clay, Nicholas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, Webster, Pocahontas, and Upshur counties. In 1902, Logan, Wyoming, McDowell, Raleigh, Boone and Mercer were removed. In 1916 the district was, more or less, renumbered as the new 6th district, and the 3rd was totally reconstituted as Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Calhoun, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Braxton, Clay, Nicholas, and Webster counties. In 1934, Fayette was added. In 1952, Wirt was added. In 1962, the district was again totally broken up and reconstituted as Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Nicholas and Raleigh. In 1972, Raleigh was removed and Ritchie, Wirt, Gilmer, Calhoun, Mason, Jackson, Roane, Braxton, Putnam, Lincoln, and Boone were added. In 1982, Lewis was added.

The district's last configuration dated from the 1990 round of redistricting. From 1992 to 2002, it consisted of Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Webster, and Wyoming. In 2002, Nicholas was added. For the 2012 cycle, Mason was added.West Virginia Blue Book (pp 538, 2012 edition) All of the counties of the last version of the district are now part of the 1st District.

List of members representing the district Member Party Years Congress Electoral history District established December 7, 1863 Kellian Whaley Union December 7, 1863 –March 3, 1867 Elected in 1863.Re-elected in 1864.Retired. Daniel Polsley Republican March 4, 1867 –March 3, 1869 Elected in 1866.Retired. John Witcher Republican March 4, 1869 –March 3, 1871 Elected in 1868.Lost re-election. Frank Hereford Democratic March 4, 1871 –January 31, 1877 Elected in 1870.Re-elected in 1872.Re-elected in 1874.Retired to run for U.S. Senator and resigned when elected. Vacant January 31, 1877 –March 3, 1877 John E. Kenna Democratic March 4, 1877 –March 3, 1883 Elected in 1876.Re-elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.Re-elected in 1882, but resigned when elected U.S. Senator. Vacant March 4, 1883 –May 15, 1883 Charles P. Snyder Democratic May 15, 1883 –March 3, 1889 Elected to finish Kenna's term.Re-elected in 1884.Re-elected in 1886.Retired. John D. Alderson Democratic March 4, 1889 –March 3, 1895 Elected in 1888.Re-elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Lost re-election. James Hall Huling Republican March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1897 Elected in 1894.Retired. Charles Dorr Republican March 4, 1897 –March 3, 1899 Elected in 1896.Retired. David Emmons Johnston Democratic March 4, 1899 –March 3, 1901 Elected in 1898.Lost re-election. Joseph H. Gaines Republican March 4, 1901 –March 3, 1911 Elected in 1900.Re-elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Lost re-election. Adam Brown Littlepage Democratic March 4, 1911 –March 3, 1913 Elected in 1910.Lost re-election. Samuel B. Avis Republican March 4, 1913 –March 3, 1915 Elected in 1912.Lost re-election. Adam Brown Littlepage Democratic March 4, 1915 –March 3, 1917 Elected in 1914.Redistricted to the . Stuart F. Reed Republican March 4, 1917 –March 3, 1925 Elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Re-elected in 1922.Retired. John M. Wolverton Republican March 4, 1925 –March 3, 1927 Elected in 1924.Lost re-election. William S. O'Brien Democratic March 4, 1927 –March 3, 1929 Elected in 1926.Lost re-election. John M. Wolverton Republican March 4, 1929 –March 3, 1931 Elected in 1928.Lost re-election. Lynn Hornor Democratic March 4, 1931 –September 23, 1933 Elected in 1930.Re-elected in 1932.Died. Vacant September 23, 1933 –November 28, 1933 Andrew Edmiston Jr. Democratic November 28, 1933 –January 3, 1943 Elected to finish Hornor's term.Re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Lost re-election. Edward G. Rohrbough Republican January 3, 1943 –January 3, 1945 Elected in 1942.Lost re-election. Cleveland M. Bailey Democratic January 3, 1945 –January 3, 1947 Elected in 1944.Lost re-election. Edward G. Rohrbough Republican January 3, 1947 –January 3, 1949 Elected in 1946.Lost re-election. Cleveland M. Bailey Democratic January 3, 1949 –January 3, 1963 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.Redistricted to the and lost re-election. John M. Slack Jr. Democratic January 3, 1963 –March 17, 1980 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.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Died. Vacant March 17, 1980 –June 30, 1980 John G. Hutchinson Democratic June 30, 1980 –January 3, 1981 Elected to finish Slack's term.Lost re-election. Mick Staton Republican January 3, 1981 –January 3, 1983 Elected in 1980.Lost re-election. Bob Wise Democratic January 3, 1983 –January 3, 1993 Elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Redistricted to the . Nick Rahall Democratic January 3, 1993 –January 3, 2015 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-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.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Lost re-election. Evan Jenkins Republican January 3, 2015 –September 30, 2018 Elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Resigned to become Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Vacant September 30, 2018 –January 3, 2019 Carol Miller Republican January 3, 2019 –January 3, 2023 Elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Redistricted to the . District dissolved January 3, 2023

Recent election results

2000s

2010s

2020s

Historical district boundaries

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district

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