Indiana's congressional districts

Indiana currently has nine congressional districts. They were last redrawn after the 2000 census and took effect in 2002. For a history of who has served in each district, see "United States congressional delegations from Indiana#United States House of Representatives".

District makeup

1st District

The first district lies in northwest part of the state and includes all of Lake, Newton, Jasper and Benton counties as well as a major portion of Porter County. It is based in Gary, Indiana. The first district is the most consistently Democratic in Indiana. Democrats have held the district since 1931.

The 1st District is currently represented by Democrat Pete Visclosky, who has held the seat since 1985.

2nd District

The second district lies in north-central part of the state and includes all of LaPorte, St. Joseph, Starke, Marshall, Pulaski, Fulton, Cass, Carroll, and portions of Porter, Elkhart, White, and Howard counties. It is centered on South Bend, Indiana and the Indiana portion of the Michiana region. Prior to the 2000 redistricting, district 2 was located in east-central Indiana.

The 2nd District is currently represented by Democrat Joe Donnelly, who defeated Republican Chris Chocola in the 2006 mid-term elections.

3rd District

The third district lies in northeast and north central Indiana and includes all of DeKalb, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben and Whitley counties as well as major portions of Allen and Elkhart counties. The largest population center is in Fort Wayne. George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in this district 68% to 31%. The district has a population of 675,766.

The 3rd District is currently represented by Republican Mark Souder.

4th District

The fourth district lies in west central and consists of the counties of Boone, Clinton, Hendricks, Lawrence, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, and parts of Fountain, Johnson, Marion, Monroe and White counties. Prior to the 2000 census, most of the territory currently in the 4th was located in the 5th District; the old 4th was the Fort Wayne district, which is now the 3rd District.

The 4th District is currently represented by Republican Steve Buyer.

5th District

The fifth district takes in the eastern and northern suburbs of Indianapolis, including Hamilton and Hancock Counties, the city of Marion and part of Kokomo. The district is one of the most reliably Republican in America, having voted 71%-28% for George W. Bush in 2004. Before the 2000 census, the 5th District was located it what is now parts of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Districts.

The 5th District is currently represented by Republican Dan Burton.

6th District

The sixth district takes in a large portion of eastern Indiana, including Muncie, Anderson , and Richmond, as well as suburbs of Fort Wayne and Cincinnati. The district voted 64%-35% for George W. Bush in 2004.

The 6th District is currently represented by Republican Mike Pence.

7th District

The seventh district is in the heart of Central Indiana and encompasses most of Marion County/Indianapolis. Previously know as the 10th district, the Democrats have held this seat since 1975. It was represented by long time congressman Andy Jacobs from 1983 to 1997. The seat fell vacant when 11 year congresswomen Julia Carson died in December 2007. André Carson, Julia's grandson, won the special election on March 11, 2008 to fill the seat.

The 7th District is currently represented by Democrat André Carson.

8th District

The eighth district runs along the western border of Indiana/Illinois as well as southwest Indiana. It is the largest district in area in Indiana. It has been nicknamed the "Bloody Eight" for its hard-fought campaigns and political reversals. The district includes the cities of Terre Haute, Vincennes, and Evansville, Indiana's third largest city.

The 8th District is currently represented by Democrat Brad Ellsworth.

9th District

The ninth district lies in south-central and south eastern Indiana. The chief candidates in 2006 were the Republican candidate and the then serving 9th District Congressman Mike Sodrel, Democratic candidate and previous (1999-2005) 9th District Congressman Baron Hill, and Libertarian candidate/Indiana University Southeast professor Eric Schansberg. This was the third time Sodrel and Hill have faced each other; Hill beat Sodrel by 9,485 votes in 2002 and Sodrel beat Hill by 1,425 votes in 2004. Hill beat Sodrel in 2006, and now serves in the 110th United States Congress.

The 9th District is currently represented by Democrat Baron Hill.

Obsolete Districts

*ushr|Indiana Territory|AL|Indiana Territory At Large, "obsolete since December 111816"
*ushr|Indiana|10|, "obsolete since 2000 census"
*ushr|Indiana|11|, "obsolete since 1980 census"
*ushr|Indiana|12|, "obsolete since 1940 census"
*ushr|Indiana|13|, "obsolete since 1930 census"

See also

*United States congressional delegations from Indiana

References