Alabama's 3rd congressional district

Infobox U.S. congressional district
state = Alabama
district number = 3


image width = 300
image caption = District map as of 2002
representative = Mike Rogers
party = Republican
english area = 7,988
metric area = 20,688
percent urban = 53.3
percent rural = 46.7
population = 635,300
population year = 2000
median income = 30,806
percent white = 64.9
percent black = 32.2
percent asian = 0.6
percent native american = 0.3
percent hispanic = 1.2
percent other race = 0.8
percent blue collar = 33.1
percent white collar = 51.7
percent gray collar = 15.2
cpvi = R+4

Alabama's Third Congressional District is a U.S. congressional district in Alabama, which elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. It encompasses Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Lee, Macon, Randolph, Russell, Talladega, and Tallapoosa. It also includes parts of Montgomery and Coosa Counties.

It is currently represented by Republican Mike Rogers, and was formerly represented by Bob Riley, who serves as the current Governor of Alabama.

Character

The third district is geographically and culturally centered around Lineville, Alabama. The area is heavily influence by the presence of the military. Calhoun country is home to the Anniston Army Depot and formerly the home of Fort McClellan until its closure in 1999. Clay county has one of the highest concentrations of guard enlistments and reservists in the state and in fact the south in general. There is also a large military installation located at Phenix City which plays a very large part in the surrounding economy.

Politically, this was once the heartland of the Democratic Party, home to populist white Democrats. However, Republicans took the seat over in 1997 and continue to hold it today.

The district's character in recent years has been affected by new industries. The manufacturing sector has grown along with business brought by the interstate in Talladega County. Employment has also been steadily moving away from farming and the military and into the industrial sectors. The district has seen an average wage increase of 22% during the last three years.

While considered a Republican stronghold for a decade, some speculate that this district is becoming one of the more competitive in the South. President George W. Bush won 58% of the vote here in 2004. The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R +4.

Representation

Election results

2004

2006 ELECTION

Republican 97742 (60%)

Democratic 62891 (38%)

Independent 3,396 (2%)

External links

* [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/AL/H/03/ CNN coverage of the 2006 election]
* [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/AL/ CNN coverage of the 2004 election]
* [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2002/pages/states/AL/index.html CNN coverage of the 2002 election]
* [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/results/AL/frameset.exclude.html CNN coverage of the 2000 election]