Maryland's 8th congressional district

Last updated

Maryland's 8th congressional district
Maryland's 8th congressional district (since 2023).svg
Maryland's 8th congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Area297.06 mi2 (769.4 km2)
Distribution
  • 88.08% urban
  • 11.92% rural
Population (2024)773,463
Median household
income
$146,362 [1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVI D+30 [2]

Maryland's 8th congressional district is concentrated almost entirely in Montgomery County, with a small portion in Prince George's County. [3] Adjacent to Washington, D.C., the 8th district takes in many of the city's wealthiest inner-ring suburbs, including Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac. It also includes several more economically and racially diverse communities, the most populous of which are Rockville and Silver Spring.

Contents

With a median household income of $120,948, it is the ninth-wealthiest congressional district in the nation. The 8th district also has the eighth-highest share of residents with at least a bachelor's degree, at 63.9%. Those above-average numbers are largely due to the substantial presence of the federal government in nearby Washington, where thousands of the 8th district's residents commute to work on a daily basis. Several federal agencies are likewise located within the 8th district, including the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Two Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the district: Lockheed Martin and Marriott International. [4] Almost 40% of the district's residents are immigrants, with the largest numbers coming from El Salvador, Ethiopia, India, China, Korea, Guatemala, and Peru. The district includes the Little Ethiopia area of Silver Spring and Takoma Park, and has the largest Ethiopian American population of any congressional district. [5]

Politically, the district is heavily liberal. It has consistently sent Democratic representatives to Congress by wide margins since 2002. In 2020, Joe Biden won nearly 80% of its vote. Democrat Jamie Raskin has represented the seat since 2017.

History

The district was created after the 1790 census in time for the 1792 election, was abolished after the 1830 census, and was reinstated after the 1960 census.

During redistricting after the 2000 census, the Democratic-dominated Maryland legislature sought to unseat then-incumbent Republican Connie Morella [ citation needed ]. One proposal went so far as to divide the district in two, effectively giving one to state Senator Christopher Van Hollen, Jr. and forcing Morella to run against popular Maryland State Delegate and Kennedy political family member Mark Kennedy Shriver [ citation needed ]. The final redistricting plan was less ambitious, restoring an eastern, heavily Democratic spur of Montgomery County removed in the 1990 redistricting to the 8th District[ citation needed ] (encompassing nearly all of the area "inside the Beltway"), as well as adding an adjacent portion from heavily Democratic Prince George's County. Although it forced Van Hollen and Shriver to run against each other in an expensive primary, the shift still made the district even more Democratic than its predecessor, and Van Hollen defeated Morella in 2002.

From 2003 to 2013 the district, in addition to the larger part of Montgomery County and the small portion of Prince George's County, included most of Frederick County (but not the City of Frederick), and southern Carroll County. The redrawn district was slightly less Democratic than its predecessor. While the Carroll and Frederick portions of the district tilted strongly Republican, the Montgomery County portion had twice as many people as the rest of the district combined, and Montgomery's Democratic tilt was enough to keep the district in the Democratic column. Since Morella left office, no Republican has crossed the 40 percent mark in the 8th District.

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities: [6]

MontgomeryCounty (51)

Ashton-Sandy Spring (part; also 4th), Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Brookville, Brookmont, Burnt Mills, Cabin John, Calverton (part; also 4th; shared with Prince George's County), Chevy Chase (CDP), Chevy Chase (town), Chevy Chase Section Five, Chevy Chase Section Three, Chevy Chase View, Chevy Chase Village, Cloverly (part; also 4th), Colesville, Damascus (part; also 6th), Darnestown (part; also 6th), Derwood, Fairland (part; also 4th), Flower Hill, Forest Glen, Four Corners, Friendship Heights Village, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, Glenmont, Hillandale (part; also 6th; shared with Prince George's County), Kemp Mill, Kensington, Layhill, Laytonsville, Leisure World, Martin's Additions, Montgomery Village (part; also 6th), North Bethesda, North Chevy Chase, North Kensington, Olney, Potomac, Redland, Rockville, Silver Spring, Somerset, South Kensington, Spencerville (part; also 4th), Takoma Park (part; also 4th), Travilah, Washington Grove, Wheaton, White Oak

Prince George'sCounty (1)

Hillandale (part; also 6th; shared with Montgomery County)

Recent election results from statewide races

YearOfficeResults [7] [8] [9]
2008 President Obama 73% – 26%
2012 President Obama 73% – 27%
Senate Cardin 67% – 21%
2014 Governor Brown 64% – 36%
2016 President Clinton 76% – 18%
Senate Van Hollen 76% – 21%
2018 Senate Cardin 78% – 18%
Governor Jealous 55% – 44%
Attorney General Frosh 79% – 21%
2020 President Biden 80% – 18%
2022 Senate Van Hollen 82% – 18%
Governor Moore 80% – 17%
Attorney General Brown 81% – 19%
Comptroller Lierman 76% – 23%
2024 President Harris 76% – 20%
Senate Alsobrooks 67% – 31%

Recent elections

1960s

Maryland's 8th congressional district election (new district), 1966 [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gilbert Gude 71,050 54.40
Democratic Royce Hanson59,56845.60
Total votes130,618 100.00
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1968 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gilbert Gude (Incumbent) 109,167 60.89
Democratic Margaret C. Schweinhaut70,10939.11
Total votes179,276 100.00
Republican hold

1970s

Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1970 [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gilbert Gude (Incumbent) 104,647 63.38
Democratic Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr. 60,45636.62
Total votes165,103 100.00
Republican hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1972 [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gilbert Gude (Incumbent) 137,287 63.90
Democratic Joseph G. Anastasi77,55136.10
Total votes214,838 100.00
Republican hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1974 [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gilbert Gude (Incumbent) 104,675 65.92
Democratic Sidney Kramer 54,11234.08
Total votes158,787 100.00
Republican hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1976 [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Newton Steers 111,274 46.82
Democratic Lanny Davis 100,34342.22
Independent Robin Ficker 26,03510.96
Total votes237,652 100.00
Republican hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1978 [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Michael D. Barnes 81,851 51.27
Republican Newton Steers (Incumbent)77,80748.73
Total votes159,658 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

1980s

Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1980 [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Michael D. Barnes (Incumbent) 148,301 59.33
Republican Newton Steers 101,65940.67
Total votes249,960 100.00
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1982 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Michael D. Barnes (Incumbent) 121,761 71.34
Republican Elizabeth W. Spencer48,91028.66
Total votes170,671 100.00
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1984 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Michael D. Barnes (Incumbent) 181,947 71.47
Republican Albert Ceccone70,71527.78
Libertarian Samuel K. Grove1,9030.75
Write-ins4<0.01
Total votes254,569 100.00
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1986 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Connie Morella 92,917 52.87
Democratic Stewart Bainum82,82547.13
Total votes175,742 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1988 [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Connie Morella (Incumbent) 172,619 62.75
Democratic Peter Franchot 102,47837.25
Total votes275,097 100.00
Republican hold

1990s

Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1990 [22]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Connie Morella (Incumbent) 130,059 73.53
Democratic James Walker39,34322.24
Independent Sidney Altman7,4854.23
Total votes176,887 100.00
Republican hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1992 [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Connie Morella (Incumbent) 203,377 72.53
Democratic Edward J. Heffernan77,04227.47
Total votes280,419 100.00
Republican hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1994 [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Connie Morella (Incumbent) 143,449 70.28
Democratic Steven Van Grack60,66029.72
Total votes204,109 100.00
Republican hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1996 [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Connie Morella (Incumbent) 152,538 61.22
Democratic Donald Mooers96,22938.62
Total votes249,146 100.00
Republican hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 1998 [26]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Connie Morella (Incumbent) 133,145 60.34
Democratic Ralph G. Neas87,49739.66
Total votes220,642 100.00
Republican hold

2000s

Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 2000 [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Connie Morella (Incumbent) 156,241 52.00
Democratic Terry Lierman136,84045.54
Constitution Brian D. Saunders7,0172.34
Write-ins3710.12
Total votes300,469 100.00
Republican hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 2002 [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chris Van Hollen 112,788 51.74
Republican Connie Morella (Incumbent)103,58747.52
Write-ins1,5990.73
Total votes217,974 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 2004 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chris Van Hollen (Incumbent) 215,129 74.91
Republican Chuck Floyd71,98925.07
Write-ins790.03
Total votes287,197 100.00
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 2006 [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chris Van Hollen (Incumbent) 168,872 76.52
Republican Jeffrey M. Stein48,32421.90
Green Gerard P. Giblin3,2981.49
Write-ins1910.09
Total votes220,685 100.00
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 2008 [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chris Van Hollen (Incumbent) 229,740 75.08
Republican Steve Hudson66,35121.68
Green Gordon Clark6,8282.23
Libertarian Ian Thomas2,5620.84
Write-inAll write-ins5330.17
Total votes306,014 100.00
Democratic hold

2010s

Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 2010 [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chris Van Hollen (Incumbent) 153,613 73.27
Republican Michael Lee Philips52,42125.00
Libertarian Mark Grannis2,7131.29
Constitution Fred Nordhorn6960.33
No party Write-ins 2240.11
Total votes209,667 100.00
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 2012 [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chris Van Hollen (Incumbent) 217,531 63.37
Republican Kenneth R. Timmerman 113,03332.93
Libertarian Mark Grannis7,2352.11
Green George Gluck5,0641.48
N/A Others (write-in)3930.11
Total votes343,256 100
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 2014 [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chris Van Hollen (Incumbent) 136,722 60.74
Republican Dave Wallace87,85939.03
N/A Others (write-in)5160.23
Total votes225,097 100.00
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district election, 2016 [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jamie Raskin 220,657 60.6
Republican Dan Cox 124,65134.2
Green Nancy Wallace11,2013.1
Libertarian Jasen Wunder7,2832.0
N/A Others (write-in)5320.1
Total votes364,324 100.00
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jamie Raskin (Incumbent) 217,679 68.2
Republican John Walsh96,52530.2
Libertarian Jasen Wunder4,8531.5
n/a Write-ins2730.1
Total votes319,330 100.0
Democratic hold

2020s

Maryland's 8th congressional district, 2020 [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jamie Raskin (incumbent) 274,716 68.2
Republican Gregory Thomas Coll127,15731.6
Write-in 7410.2
Total votes402,614 100.0
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district, 2022
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jamie Raskin (incumbent) 211,842 80.2
Republican Gregory Coll47,96518.1
Libertarian Andrés Garcia4,1251.6
Write-in 2740.1
Total votes264,206 100.0
Democratic hold
Maryland's 8th congressional district, 2024 [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jamie Raskin (incumbent) 292,101 76.80
Republican Cheryl Riley77,82120.46
Green Nancy Wallace9,6122.53
Write-in 7860.21
Total votes379,534 100.0
Democratic hold

List of members representing the district

#MemberPartyYearsCon-
gress
Electoral historyDistrict location
District created March 4, 1793
1 William Vans Murray.jpg
William Vans Murray
(Cambridge)
Pro-AdministrationMarch 4, 1793 –
March 3, 1795
3rd
4th
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1792.
Re-elected in 1794.
Retired.
1793–1803
[ data missing ]
Federalist March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1797
2 JohnDennisI.jpg
John Dennis
(Somerset County)
Federalist March 4, 1797 –
March 3, 1805
5th
6th
7th
8th
Elected in 1796.
Re-elected in 1798.
Re-elected in 1801.
Re-elected in 1803.
Retired.
1803–1813
[ data missing ]
3 Charles Goldsborough, 1802 painting.jpg
Charles Goldsborough
(Cambridge)
Federalist March 4, 1805 –
March 3, 1817
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
Elected in 1804.
Re-elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
Re-elected in 1812.
Re-elected in 1814.
Retired.
1813–1823
[ data missing ]
4 Thomas Bayly
(Princess Anne)
Federalist March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1823
15th
16th
17th
Elected in 1816.
Re-elected in 1818.
Re-elected in 1820.
Retired.
5 John S. Spence
(Poplartown)
Democratic-Republican [a] March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
18th Elected in 1822.
Lost re-election.
1823–1833
[ data missing ]
6 Robert N. Martin
(Princess Anne)
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1827
19th Elected in 1824.
Retired.
7 Ephraim King Wilson
(Snow Hill)
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –
March 3, 1829
20th
21st
Re-elected in 1826.
Re-elected in 1829.
Retired.
Jackson March 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1831
8 John S. Spence
(Berlin)
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833
22nd Elected in 1831.
[ data missing ]
9 John T. Stoddert
(Harris Lot)
Jackson March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835
23rd Elected in 1833.
Retired.
1833–1835
[ data missing ]
Seat eliminated March 4, 1835
Seat re-created January 3, 1967
10 Gilbert Gude.jpg
Gilbert Gude
(Bethesda)
Republican January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1977
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
Elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Retired.
1967–1973
Montgomery
1973–1983
Montgomery
11 Newton Steers.jpg
Newton Steers
(Bethesda)
Republican January 3, 1977 –
January 3, 1979
95th Elected in 1976.
Lost re-election.
12 Michael D Barnes US Congress Photo Portrait.jpg
Michael D. Barnes
(Kensington)
Democratic January 3, 1979 –
January 3, 1987
96th
97th
98th
99th
Elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
1983–1993
Montgomery
13 Connie morella.jpg
Connie Morella
(Bethesda)
Republican January 3, 1987 –
January 3, 2003
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
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.
Lost re-election after redistricting.
1993–2003
Montgomery
14 Chris van hollen.jpg
Chris Van Hollen
(Kensington)
Democratic January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2017
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
Elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
2003–2013
United States House of Representatives, Maryland District 8 map.png
Montgomery, Prince George's
2013–2023
Maryland US Congressional District 8 (since 2013).tif
Montgomery, Frederick, Carroll
15 Jamie Raskin official.jpg
Jamie Raskin
(Takoma Park)
Democratic January 3, 2017 –
present
115th
116th
117th
118th
119th
Elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.
2023–present
Maryland's 8th congressional district in Washington (since 2023).svg
Montgomery

See also

Notes

  1. Supported the Adams-Clay faction in the 1824 United States presidential election

Sources

  1. "My Congressional District".
  2. "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  3. "Congressional District Maps". Prince George's County. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  4. "Visualize the Fortune 500". Fortune. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  5. "The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States - Statistical Atlas". statisticalatlas.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  6. https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST24/CD118_MD08.pdf
  7. https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::a365ecbd-db5f-4c84-a77f-90310c6a6c1a
  8. "Statewide Data Breakdown by State Congressional Districts". elections.maryland.gov. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024.
  9. "Statewide Data Breakdown by State Congressional Districts". elections.maryland.gov. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024.
  10. Clerk of the House of Representatives (March 31, 1967). "Statistics of the Contressional Election of November 8, 1966" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office . Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  11. Clerk of the House of Representatives (July 1, 1969). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1968" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  12. Clerk of the House of Representatives (May 1, 1971). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1970" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  13. Clerk of the House of Representatives (March 15, 1973). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  14. Clerk of the House of Representatives (August 1, 1975). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1974" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  15. Clerk of the House of Representatives (April 15, 1977). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  16. Clerk of the House of Representatives (April 1, 1979). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  17. Clerk of the House of Representatives (April 15, 1981). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 1980" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  18. Clerk of the House of Representatives (May 5, 1983). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1982" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  19. Clerk of the House of Representatives (May 1, 1985). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 1984" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  20. Clerk of the House of Representatives (May 29, 1987). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1986" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  21. Clerk of the House of Representatives (April 20, 1989). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1988" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  22. Clerk of the House of Representatives (April 29, 1991). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  23. Clerk of the House of Representatives (May 31, 1993). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 3, 1992" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  24. Clerk of the House of Representatives (May 12, 1995). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  25. Clerk of the House of Representatives (July 29, 1997). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1996" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  26. Clerk of the House of Representatives (January 3, 1999). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  27. Clerk of the House of Representatives (June 21, 2001). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 2000" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  28. Clerk of the House of Representatives (May 1, 2003). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  29. Clerk of the House of Representatives (June 7, 2005). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 2004" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  30. Clerk of the House of Representatives (September 21, 2007). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  31. Clerk of the House of Representatives (July 10, 2009). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 2008" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  32. Clerk of the House of Representatives (June 3, 2011). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  33. Clerk of the House of Representatives (February 28, 2013). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 2012" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  34. "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  35. "Official 2016 Presidential General Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 9, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  36. "Official 2020 Presidential General Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  37. "Official 2024 Presidential General Election Results for Representative in Congress". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 17, 2025.

39°06′N77°15′W / 39.1°N 77.25°W / 39.1; -77.25