Kentucky's 4th congressional district

Kentucky's 4th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Distribution
  • 68.2% urban[1]
  • 31.8% rural
Population (2023)768,776[2]
Median household
income
$77,227[2]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+19[3]

Kentucky's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Located in the northeastern portion of the state, it is a long district that follows the Ohio River. However, the district is dominated by its far western portion, comprising the eastern suburbs of Louisville and Northern Kentucky, the Kentucky side of the Cincinnati area.

The majority of voters live in the booming suburban Cincinnati counties of Boone, Kenton, and Campbell, which includes such suburbs as Fort Mitchell, Covington, Florence, Newport, and Fort Thomas. The next-largest population center is the northeastern suburbs of Louisville. It stretches as far south as northern portions of the city of Bardstown.

The district is currently represented by Republican Thomas Massie, who was elected in a special election in 2012 to succeed Republican Geoff Davis, who resigned on July 31, 2012, citing family concerns.

Characteristics

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The 4th was one of the first areas of Kentucky to turn Republican outside of traditionally Republican south-central Kentucky; it has been in GOP hands for all but six years since 1967. Its politics are dominated by Republicans in the wealthy Cincinnati suburbs, which have swelled with former Cincinnati residents since the early 1960s. Between them, Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties have as many people as the rest of the district combined. As a measure of how much the Cincinnati suburbs have dominated the district, when Massie took office, he became the first congressman from the district's eastern portion in 45 years. Nonetheless, Democrats still hold state and local offices in rural counties.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 2023[4]
Party Number of voters Percentage
Republican 307,967 50.38%
Democratic 225,095 36.82%
Other 46,963 7.68%
Independent 31,255 5.11%
Total 611,280 100%

Until January 1, 2006, Kentucky did not track party affiliation for registered voters who were neither Democratic nor Republican.[5] The Kentucky voter registration card does not explicitly list anything other than Democratic Party, Republican Party, or Other, with the "Other" option having a blank line and no instructions on how to register as something else.[6]

Recent statewide elections

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Election results from statewide races
Year Office Results
2000 President Bush 61–37%
2004 President Bush 63–36%
2008 President McCain 60–38%
2012 President Romney 63–35%
2016 President Trump 65–33%
Senate Paul 66–34%
2019 Governor Bevin 53–45%
Attorney General Cameron 63–37%
2020 President Trump 65–33%
Senate McConnell 61–35%
2022 Senate Paul 66–34%
2023 Governor Cameron 52–48%

Composition

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# County Seat Population
15 Boone Burlington 140,496
23 Bracken Brooksville 8,426
37 Campbell Alexandria, Newport 93,702
41 Carroll Carrollton 10,987
43 Carter Grayson 26,366
77 Gallatin Warsaw 8,792
81 Grant Williamstown 25,619
89 Greenup Greenup 35,221
97 Harrison Cynthiana 19,415
103 Henry Oldham 15,973
117 Kenton Covington, Independence 171,321
135 Lewis Vanceburg 12,973
161 Mason Maysville 16,841
179 Nelson Bardstown 47,730
185 Oldham La Grange 70,183
187 Owen Owenton 11,313
191 Pendleton Falmouth 14,810
201 Robertson Mount Olivet 2,313
211 Shelby Shelbyville 49,515
215 Spencer Taylorsville 20,531
223 Trimble Bedford 8,607

Cities of 10,000 or more people

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2,500 – 10,000 people

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List of members representing the district

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Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history Location
District created March 4, 1803
Thomas Sandford Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1807
8th
9th
Elected in 1803.
Re-elected in 1804.
Lost re-election.
1803–1813
Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Franklin, Gallatin, Harrison, Henry, Pendleton, Scott, and Shelby counties

Richard M. Johnson
(Great Crossings)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1813
10th
11th
12th
Elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
Redistricted to the 3rd district.

Joseph Desha
(Mays Lick)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1819
13th
14th
15th
Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1812.
Re-elected in 1814.
Re-elected in 1816.
Retired.
1813–1823
Bourbon, Bracken, Lewis, Mason, and Nicholas counties

Thomas Metcalfe
(Carlisle)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1819 –
March 3, 1823
16th
17th
Elected in 1818.
Re-elected in 1820.
Redistricted to the 2nd district.

Robert P. Letcher
(Lancaster)
Adams-Clay
Democratic-Republican
March 3, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
18th
19th
20th
21st
22nd
Elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1827.
Re-elected in 1829.
Re-elected in 1831.
Redistricted to the 5th district.
1823–1833
Clay, Estill, Garrard, Harlan, Knox, Madison, Perry, Rockcastle, and Whitley counties
Anti-Jacksonian March 3, 1825 –
March 3, 1833
Martin Beaty
(South Fork)
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835
23rd Elected in 1833.
Lost re-election.
1833–1843
[data missing]
Sherrod Williams
(Monticello)
Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837
24th
25th
26th
Elected in 1835.
Re-elected in 1837.
Re-elected in 1839.
Retired.
Whig March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1841
Bryan Owsley
(Jamestown)
Whig March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1843
27th Elected in 1841.
Lost re-election.
George Caldwell
(Columbia)
Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Elected in 1843.
Retired.
1843–1853
[data missing]

Joshua F. Bell
(Danville)
Whig March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
29th Elected in 1845.
Retired.
Aylette Buckner
(Greensburg)
Whig March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1849
30th Elected in 1847.
Lost re-election.
George Caldwell
(Columbia)
Democratic March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851
31st Elected in 1849.
Retired.

William T. Ward
(Greensburg)
Whig March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
32nd Elected in 1851.
Retired.
James Chrisman
(Monticello)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
33rd Elected in 1853.
Retired.
1853–1863
[data missing]

Albert G. Talbott
(Danville)
Democratic March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1859
34th
35th
Elected in 1855.
Re-elected in 1857.
Retired.
William C. Anderson
(Danville)
Opposition March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
36th Elected in 1859.
Retired to run for state representative.

Aaron Harding
(Greensburg)
Union Democratic March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1865
37th
38th
39th
Elected in 1861.
Re-elected in 1863.
Re-elected in 1865.
Retired.
1863–1873
[data missing]
Democratic March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1867

J. Proctor Knott
(Lebanon)
Democratic March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1871
40th
41st
Elected in 1867.
Re-elected in 1868.
Retired.

William B. Read
(Hodgensville)
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1875
42nd
43rd
Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Lost renomination.
1873–1883
[data missing]

J. Proctor Knott
(Lebanon)
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1883
44th
45th
46th
47th
Elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Retired.
Thomas A. Robertson
(Elizabethtown)
Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1887
48th
49th
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Lost renomination.
1883–1893
[data missing]

Alexander B. Montgomery
(Elizabethtown)
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1895
50th
51st
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.
1893–1903
[data missing]

John W. Lewis
(Springfield)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897
54th Elected in 1894.
Lost re-election.

David H. Smith
(Hodgensville)
Democratic March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1907
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th
Elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Retired.
1903–1913
[data missing]

Ben Johnson
(Bardstown)
Democratic March 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1927
60th
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
Elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Retired.
1913 – 1933
[data missing]

Henry D. Moorman
(Hardinsburg)
Democratic March 4, 1927 –
March 3, 1929
70th Elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.

John D. Craddock
(Munfordville)
Republican March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1931
71st Elected in 1928.
Lost re-election.

Cap R. Carden
(Munfordville)
Democratic March 4, 1931 –
March 3, 1933
72nd Elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the at-large district.
District inactive March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
73rd See Kentucky's at-large congressional district.

Cap R. Carden
(Munfordville)
Democratic March 4, 1935 –
June 13, 1935
74th Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1934.
Died.
1935–1943
[data missing]
Vacant June 13, 1935 –
November 5, 1935

Edward W. Creal
(Hodgenville)
Democratic November 5, 1935 –
October 13, 1943
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
Elected to finish Carden's term.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Died.
1943–1953
[data missing]
Vacant October 13, 1943 –
November 30, 1943
78th
Chester O. Carrier(Leitchfield) Republican November 30, 1943 –
January 3, 1945
Elected to finish Creal's term.
Lost re-election.

Frank Chelf
(Lebanon)
Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1967
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
Elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-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.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Lost re-election.
1953–1963
[data missing]
1963–1973
[data missing]

Gene Snyder
(Brownsboro Farms)
Republican January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1987
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
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.
Re-elected in 1984.
Retired.
1973–1983
[data missing]
1983–1993
[data missing]

Jim Bunning
(Southgate)
Republican January 3, 1987 –
January 3, 1999
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
Elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
1993–2003
[data missing]

Ken Lucas
(Florence)
Democratic January 3, 1999 –
January 3, 2005
106th
107th
108th
Elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Retired.
2003–2013

Geoff Davis
(Hebron)
Republican January 3, 2005 –
July 31, 2012
109th
110th
111th
112th
Elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Resigned due to family health issues.
Vacant July 31, 2012 –
November 6, 2012
112th

Thomas Massie
(Garrison)
Republican November 6, 2012 –
present
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
Elected to finish Davis's term.
Also elected in 2012 to the next term.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
2013–2023
2023–present

Recent election results

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2002

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2002)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ken Lucas* 87,776 51.11
Republican Geoff Davis 81,651 47.55
Libertarian John Grote 2,308 1.34
Total votes 171,735 100.00
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2004

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2004)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Geoff Davis 160,982 54.40
Democratic Nick Clooney 129,876 43.89
Independent Michael Slider 5,069 1.71
Total votes 295,927 100.00
Turnout  
Republican gain from Democratic

2006

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2006)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Geoff Davis* 105,845 51.69
Democratic Ken Lucas 88,822 43.38
Libertarian Brian Houillion 10,100 4.93
Total votes 204,765 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2008

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2008)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Geoff Davis* 190,210 63.03
Democratic Michael Kelley 111,549 36.97
Total votes 301,759 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2010

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2010)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Geoff Davis* 151,774 69.48
Democratic John Waltz 66,675 30.52
Total votes 218,449 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2012

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District Election (2012)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie 186,026 62.13
Democratic William Adkins 104,731 34.98
Independent David Lewis 8,673 2.90
Total votes 299,430 100.00
Turnout  
Republican hold

2014

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (Incumbent) 150,464 67.7
Democratic Peter Newberry 71,694 32.3
Total votes 222,158 100
Republican hold

2016

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (Incumbent) 233,922 71.32
Democratic Calvin Sidle 94,065 28.68
Total votes 327,987 100
Republican hold

2018

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (Incumbent) 162,946 62.2
Democratic Seth Hall 90,536 34.6
Independent Mike Moffett 8,318 2.2
Independent David Goodwin (write-in) 12 0.0
Total votes 261,812 100
Republican hold

2020

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (Incumbent) 256,613 67.1
Democratic Alexandra Owensby 125,896 32.9
Total votes 382,509 100
Republican hold

2022

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (incumbent) 167,541 65.0
Democratic Matthew Lehman 79,977 31.0
Pirate Party Ethan Osborne[a] 10,111 3.9
Total votes 257,629 100.0
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (State-based) - Geography - U.S. Census Bureau". Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ "Registration Statistics". Kentucky State Board of Elections. January 2022.
  5. ^ "Kentucky Administrative Regulations 31KAR4:150". Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. November 2005. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  6. ^ "Register To Vote". Kentucky State Board of Elections. August 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2014.

38°33′57″N 84°25′40″W / 38.56583°N 84.42778°W / 38.56583; -84.42778

  1. ^ Appeared on the ballot as an independent.