Texas's 23rd congressional district

Last updated

Texas's 23rd congressional district
Texas US Congressional District 23 (since 2021).tif
Texas's 23rd congressional district since January 3, 2023
Representative
Distribution
  • 78.09% urban [1]
  • 21.91% rural
Population (2023)786,734 [2]
Median household
income
$74,285 [2]
Ethnicity
Cook PVI R+5 [3]

Texas's 23rd congressional district stretches across the southwestern portion of Texas. It is a majority Hispanic district and has been represented by Republican Tony Gonzales since 2021.

Contents

The 23rd district runs along the majority of Texas' border with Mexico, north of the Rio Grande. It stretches from western San Antonio to El Paso, encompassing numerous county seats and towns of regional economic importance.

The district is predominantly rural. Campaigning is difficult due to its size and disparate influences; the population density is one of the lowest in any congressional district. Economic activities include farming, ranching, oil, and mineral extraction; also recreation, manufacturing, and tourism, as it encompasses all of Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.

The 2010s iteration of this district was the only one in the U.S. to vote for the Republican candidate for President in 2012, flip to the Democratic presidential candidate in 2016, and then flip back to the Republican candidate in 2020. [4]

Election results from recent statewide races

Results under current lines (since 2023) [5]

YearOfficeResult
2014 Senate Cornyn 65 - 35%
Governor Abbott 61 - 39%
2016 President Trump 50 - 46%
2018 Senate Cruz 51 - 49%
Governor Abbott 56 - 42%
Lieutenant Governor Patrick 52 - 46%
Attorney General Paxton 50 - 47%
2020 President Trump 53 - 46%
Senate Cornyn 54 - 43%
2022 Governor Abbott 54 - 44%
Lieutenant Governor Patrick 54 - 43%
Attorney General Paxton 53 - 44% [6]

Demographics

According to the APM Research Lab's Voter Profile Tools (featuring the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey), the district contained about 511,000 potential voters (citizens, age 18+). Of these, 64% are Latino, while 29% are White. One in ten potential voters were born outside of the U.S., now naturalized citizens. Median income among households (with one or more potential voter) in the district is about $61,800, while 11% of households live below the poverty line. As for the educational attainment of potential voters in the district, 17% of those 25 and older have not earned a high school degree, while 23% hold a bachelor's or higher degree.

Election results

Elections from 1967 to 1992

This district was created in 1967, following passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In addition, it followed the case of Wesberry v. Sanders, resulting in Texas's previous congressional map being tossed out. Democrats held the district until 1993.

Elections from 1992 to 2002

Following the 1990 census, in 1992, the Texas Legislature created the new 28th district , mostly from the eastern portion of the 23rd. In the process, the legislature left a heavily Republican section of western San Antonio in the 23rd. Republican Henry Bonilla beat 4-term incumbent Albert Bustamante to take the seat in 1992.

Although the 23rd leaned slightly Democratic on paper, Bonilla had a very conservative voting record. Largely because of his popularity in San Antonio, he did not face a credible challenger until 2002, when the former Democratic Texas Secretary of State, Henry Cuellar, came within 2 points of unseating him.

2004 election

During the 2003 Texas redistricting, the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature shifted most of Laredo, which had been one of the bases of the 23rd from the beginning, into the 28th district . Several heavily Republican suburbs in the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio were shifted into the 23rd district, all but ensuring Bonilla of a seventh term.

2004 Texas's 23rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Henry Bonilla (incumbent)170,71669.3+17.7
Democratic Joe Sullivan72,48029.4−17.8
Libertarian Nazirite Perez3,3071.3+0.6
Majority98,23639.9
Turnout 246,503
Republican hold Swing +17.8

2006 election

Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry which found that the 23rd district violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the district was redrawn.

2006 Texas's 23rd congressional district runoff election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ciro Rodriguez 38,24754.32%+25.1
Republican Henry Bonilla (Incumbent)32,16545.68%−23.9
Majority6,0828.64%
Turnout 68,294
Democratic gain from Republican Swing 24.5

2010 election

The National Republican Congressional Committee targeted Texas's 23rd congressional district to try to regain it, and strongly supported the Republican campaign financially. [7]

2010 23rd Congressional District of Texas Elections [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Quico Canseco 74,67149.38
Democratic Ciro Rodriguez (incumbent)67,21244.44
Majority
Turnout 141,883
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

2012 election

2012 Texas's 23rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Pete Gallego 96,477 50.33
Republican Quico Canseco (incumbent)87,25545.52
Libertarian Jeffrey C. Blunt5,8273.04
Green Ed Scharf2,0991.09
Total votes191,658 100

2014 election

2014 Texas's 23rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Will Hurd 57,459 49.8
Democratic Pete Gallego (incumbent)55,03747.7
Libertarian Ruben Corvalan2,9332.5
Total votes115,429 100

2016 election

2016 Texas's 23rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Will Hurd (incumbent) 110,577 48.3
Democratic Pete Gallego 107,52647.0
Libertarian Ruben Corvalan10,8624.7
Total votes228,965 100

2018 election

Texas's 23rd congressional district, 2018 [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Will Hurd (incumbent) 103,285 49.2
Democratic Gina Ortiz Jones 102,35948.7
Libertarian Ruben Corvalan4,4252.1
Total votes210,069 100.0
Republican hold

2020 election

2020 Texas's 23rd congressional district election [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tony Gonzales 149,395 50.6
Democratic Gina Ortiz Jones 137,69346.6
Libertarian Beto Villela8,3692.8
Total votes295,457 100
Republican hold

2022 election

2022 Texas's 23rd congressional district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tony Gonzales (incumbent) 116,649 55.8
Democratic John Lira80,94738.7
Independent Frank Lopez Jr.11,1805.3
Total votes208,776 100
Republican hold

List of members representing the district

MemberPartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral historyDistrict location
District established January 3, 1967
Abraham Kazen.jpg
Abraham Kazen Jr.
(Laredo)
Democratic January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1985
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
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.
Re-elected in 1982.
Lost renomination.
1967–1969
[ data missing ]
1969–1973
[ data missing ]
1973–1975
[ data missing ]
1975–1983
[ data missing ]
1983–1985
[ data missing ]
Albert Bustamante.jpg
Albert Bustamante
(San Antonio)
Democratic January 3, 1985 –
January 3, 1993
99th
100th
101st
102nd
Elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Lost re-election.
1985–1993
[ data missing ]
Henry Bonilla.jpg
Henry Bonilla
(San Antonio)
Republican January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2007
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
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.
Lost re-election.
1993–2003
Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Loving, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Sutton, Terrell, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Webb, Winkler, and Zavala; parts of Bexar, Ector, El Paso, and Midland
2003–2005
Brewster, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, Sutton, Terrell, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, and Zavala; parts of Bexar and El Paso
2005–2007
TX23 109.gif
Bandera, Brewster, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Zavala; parts of Bexar, El Paso, Sutton, and Webb
Ciro Rodriguez, official 110th Congress photo.JPG
Ciro Rodriguez
(San Antonio)
Democratic January 3, 2007 –
January 3, 2011
110th
111th
Elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Lost re-election.
2007–2013
TX23 110.gif
Brewster, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Edwards, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Zavala; parts of Bexar, El Paso, and Sutton
Quico Canseco, official portrait, 112th Congress.jpg
Quico Canseco
(San Antonio)
Republican January 3, 2011 –
January 3, 2013
112th Elected in 2010.
Lost re-election.
Pete Gallego official portrait.jpg
Pete Gallego
(Alpine)
Democratic January 3, 2013 –
January 3, 2015
113th Elected in 2012.
Lost re-election.
2013–2023
Texas US Congressional District 23 (since 2013).tif
Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Loving, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler, and Zavala; parts of Bexar, El Paso, and La Salle [11]
Will Hurd Texas.jpg
Will Hurd
(San Antonio)
Republican January 3, 2015 –
January 3, 2021
114th
115th
116th
Elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Retired.
Tony-Gonzales-Congress.jpg
Tony Gonzales
(San Antonio)
Republican January 3, 2021 –
present
117th
118th
Elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
2023–present
Texas US Congressional District 23 (since 2021).tif

Bexar (part), Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Edwards, El Paso (part), Frio, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, La Salle, Loving, Maverick, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward, Winkler, and Zavala [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States congressional delegations from Texas</span>

These are tables of congressional delegations from the State of Texas to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 1st congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas' 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives serves the northeastern portion of the state of Texas. As of 2022, the 1st district contained 775,992 people. It consists largely of three small East Texas metropolitan areas—Texarkana, Texas, Longview–Marshall, and Tyler. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+26, it is the most Republican district in Texas. It has been represented by Republican Nathaniel Moran since 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Bonilla</span> American journalist (born 1954)

Henry Bonilla is an American politician and former congressman who represented Texas's 23rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He was defeated in his bid for re-election by Ciro Rodriguez, a former Democratic member of Congress, in a special election runoff held on December 12, 2006. His term expired January 3, 2007 when the 110th Congress officially began.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 2nd congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 2nd congressional district of the United States House of Representatives is in the southeastern portion of the state of Texas. It encompasses parts of northern and eastern Harris County and southern Montgomery County, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 4th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 4th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives is in an area of Northeast Texas, that includes some counties along the Red River northeast of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, as well as some outer eastern suburbs of the Metroplex. Austin College in Sherman, Texas is located within the district. As of 2017, the 4th district represents 747,188 people who are predominantly white (80.8%) and middle-class . It is currently represented by Pat Fallon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 7th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 7th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives comprises a small area of southwestern Houston and Harris County, along with a northern portion of suburban Fort Bend County. As of the 2000 census, the 7th district comprises 651,620 people. Since 2019, it has been represented by Democrat Lizzie Fletcher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Texas redistricting</span> Controversial redistricting of Texass districts for the U.S. House of Representatives

The 2003 Texas redistricting was a controversial intercensus state plan that defined new congressional districts. In the 2004 elections, this redistricting supported the Republicans taking a majority of Texas's federal House seats for the first time since Reconstruction. Democrats in both houses of the Texas Legislature staged walkouts, unsuccessfully trying to prevent the changes. Opponents challenged the plan in three suits, combined when the case went to the United States Supreme Court in League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 10th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 10th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives stretches from the northwestern portion of the Greater Houston region to the Greater Austin region. It includes Houston suburbs such as Katy, Cypress, Tomball, and Prairie View, cities in east-central Texas including Brenham and Columbus, and northern Austin and some suburbs including Pflugerville, Bastrop, Manor, and Elgin. The current representative is Michael McCaul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 11th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 11th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives is in the midwestern portion of the state of Texas, stretching from the Permian Basin through the Hill Country. Major cities in the district include: Andrews, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Killeen, and Brownwood. The current Representative from the 11th district is Republican August Pfluger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 15th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 15th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives includes a thin section of the far south of the state of Texas. The district's current Representative is Republican Monica De La Cruz. Elected in 2022, de la Cruz is the first Republican and woman to represent the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 24th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas' 24th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives covers much of the suburban area in between Fort Worth and Dallas in the state of Texas and centers along the Dallas–Tarrant county line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 25th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 25th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives stretches from Arlington and Fort Worth to some of its outer southwestern suburbs, as well as rural counties east of Abilene. The district's current Representative is Roger Williams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 26th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas' 26th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives includes rural Cooke County to the north and some of Wise County to the West and includes parts of Denton County, including Flower Mound, Lewisville and parts of Corinth, Carrollton, Little Elm and The Colony. The current Representative is Michael C. Burgess. The district is best known as the seat of former House Majority Leader Dick Armey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 28th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 28th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives covers a strip in deep south Texas starting in the eastern outskirts of San Antonio, and ending at the U.S.–Mexico border. Towns entirely or partially within this district include Converse, Laredo, Rio Grande City, and Universal City. TX-28 includes The Alamo, a historic monument in what is now downtown San Antonio that plays a central role in Texas' identity. The current Representative from the 28th district is Henry Cuellar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 32nd congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 32nd congressional district of the United States House of Representatives serves a suburban area of northeastern Dallas County and a sliver of Collin and Denton counties. The district was created after the 2000 United States census, when Texas went from 30 seats to 32 seats. It was then modified in 2011 after the 2010 census. The current representative is Democrat Colin Allred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nebraska's 2nd congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Nebraska

Nebraska's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Nebraska that encompasses the core of the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area. It includes all of Douglas County, which includes the state's largest city Omaha; it also includes Saunders County and areas of western Sarpy County. It has been represented in the United States House of Representatives since 2017 by Don Bacon, a member of the Republican Party. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama's congressional districts</span>

The U.S. state of Alabama is currently divided into seven congressional districts, each represented by a member of the United States House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 34th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 34th congressional district is a district that was created as a result of the 2010 census. The first candidates ran in the 2012 elections; the winner, Democrat Filemon Vela Jr., was seated for the 113th United States Congress. The district is currently represented by Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen), who was redistricted there from Texas's 15th congressional district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas's 35th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Texas

Texas's 35th congressional district is a district that was created as a result of the 2010 United States census. The first candidates ran in the 2012 House elections and were seated for the 113th United States Congress. This election was won by Lloyd Doggett, who previously represented Texas's 25th congressional district before redistricting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida's 26th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Florida

Florida's 26th congressional district is an electoral district for the U.S. Congress, which was first created in South Florida in 2013 as a result of Florida's population gain in the 2010 census. In the 2020 redistricting cycle, it was drawn as a successor to the previous 25th district and includes most of inland Collier County as well as the northwestern suburbs of Miami, including Doral, Hialeah, Miami Lakes, and some neighborhoods in Miami itself, such as Allapattah and Wynwood. The previous iteration of the 26th district, which included Monroe County and the southwestern suburbs of Miami, was instead renamed as the newly created 28th district.

References

  1. Geography, US Census Bureau. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)". www.census.gov.
  2. 1 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. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  4. "Just 47 House districts flipped in the last three presidential elections. What do they tell us?".
  5. "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  6. "TX 2022 Congressional". Dave’s Redistricting App. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  7. "NRCC Memo Reveals 24 Democratic Targets". Roll Call. March 6, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  8. "2010 General Election, Election Night Returns, Unofficial Elections Results As Of: 11/3/2010 12:14:58 PM". Texas Secretary of State. November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. "Texas Election Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  10. "Texas Election Results: 23rd Congressional District". The New York Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  11. "District Population Analysis with County Subtotals | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS - PLANC2100" (PDF). Capitol Data Portal. Texas Legislative Council. August 26, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  12. "District Population Analysis with County Subtotals | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS - PLANC2193" (PDF). Capitol Data Portal. Texas Legislative Council. October 17, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.

Further reading

30°23′21″N102°19′36″W / 30.38917°N 102.32667°W / 30.38917; -102.32667