Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district

"OK-2" redirects here. OK-2 may also refer to Oklahoma State Highway 2.

Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district
Current Representative		Dan Boren (D–Muskogee)
Distribution	35.51% urban, 64.49% rural
Population (2000)	690,131
Median income	$27,885
Ethnicity	71.1% White, 4.1% Black, 0.3% Asian, 2.4% Hispanic, 17.1% Native American, 0.6% other
Cook PVI	R+14

Oklahoma's Second Congressional District is one of five United States Congressional districts in Oklahoma and covers approximately one-fourth of the state in the east. The district borders Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas and includes (in whole or in part) a total of 24 counties.^[1]

Historically, the district has supported conservative Democratic candidates to the United States Congress. Urban voters represent a third of the district.^[2]

As of 2011^[update], the district is represented by Democrat Dan Boren, who will retire in 2012.

Geography

The district borders Kansas to the north, Missouri and Arkansas to the east, and Texas (along the Red River) to the south. The district includes the remainder of Rogers County (including the county seat of Claremore) that is not taken by District 1, and then, also, all of the following counties: Adair, Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Mayes, Delaware, Cherokee, Okmulgee, Muskogee, Sequoyah, Okfuskee, McIntosh, Haskell, LeFlore, Hughes, Pittsburg, Latimer, Coal, Atoka, Pushmataha, McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, and Johnston.^[1]

Some of the principal cities in the district include Miami, Claremore, Muskogee, Tahlequah, Okmulgee, McAlester, and Durant.

The northern half of district 2 includes most of the area of Oklahoma referred to as Green Country, while the southern half of the district includes a part of Oklahoma often referred to as Little Dixie.

Demographics

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the district is 35.51 percent urban, 23.95 percent non-white, and has a population that is 2.40 percent Latino and 1.36 percent foreign-born.^[2]

Recent election results

Presidential races

Year	Results
2000	Bush 53% - 47%
2004	Bush 59% - 41%
2008	McCain 66% - 34%

U.S. Representative, 2004

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Dan Boren	Democratic	179,579	65.89%
	Wayland Smalley	Republican	92,963	34.11%

Source: 2004 Election Results, via OK.gov

U.S. Representative, 2006

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Dan Boren	Democratic	122,347	72.74%
	Patrick K. Miller	Republican	45,861	27.26%

Source: 2006 Election Results, via OK.gov

U.S. Representative, 2008

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Dan Boren	Democratic	173,757	70.47%
	Raymond Wickson	Republican	72,815	29.53%

Source: 2008 Election Results, via OK.gov

U.S. Representative, 2010

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Dan Boren	Democratic	108,203	56.52%
	Charles Thompson	Republican	83,266	43.48%

Source: 2006 Election Results, via OK.gov

Politics

The district has heavily favored conservative Democratic candidates, with only three Republicans taking the district. The district shifted Republican most notably in electing Tom Coburn, who vacated the seat due to a self-imposed term limit pledge (He was elected to the United States Senate 4 years later). It has since been held by Brad Carson and Dan Boren.

The district's Democratic leanings stem partly from historic migration patterns into the state. The Little Dixie region of the district imported the people and culture of southern states such as Mississippi after Reconstruction.^[3] Voter registration in Little Dixie runs as high as 90 percent Democratic.^[3]

Historically this is where Democratic presidential candidates perform best in the state. Bill Clinton easily carried the district in 1992 and 1996. However, the district has favored Republican presidential candidates recently. George W. Bush received 59 percent of the vote in this district in 2004. John McCain received 66 percent of the vote in this district in 2008.

Muskogee has produced six representatives, more than any other city in the district. Tahlequah has produced three reprentatives, the second most of any city in the district.

List of representatives

Name	Party	Years	Electoral history
Elmer L. Fulton	Democratic	November 16, 1907 – March 4, 1909	[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Dick T. Morgan	Republican	March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1915
William W. Hastings	Democratic	March 4, 1915 – March 4, 1921	[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Alice Robertson	Republican	March 4, 1921 – March 4, 1923	[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
William W. Hastings	Democratic	March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1935	[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
John C. Nichols	Democratic	January 3, 1935 – July 3, 1943	Resigned
Vacant		July 3, 1943 – March 28, 1944
William G. Stigler	Democratic	March 28, 1944 – August 21, 1952	Died
Vacant		August 21, 1952 – January 3, 1953
Ed Edmondson	Democratic	January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1973	[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Clem McSpadden	Democratic	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975	[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Theodore M. Risenhoover	Democratic	January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1979	[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Mike Synar	Democratic	January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1995	[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Tom Coburn	Republican	January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001	[Data unknown/missing. You can help!]
Brad Carson	Democratic	January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2005	Retired to run for the U.S. Senate
Dan Boren	Democratic	January 3, 2005 – Present	Incumbent

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Oklahoma's 2nd District (accessed May 24, 2010).
2. ^ ^{a b} Representative Dan Boren: District Demographics, That's My Congress (accessed May 11, 2010).
3. ^ ^{a b} Gaddie, Ronald Keith, "Democratic Party," Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed May 24, 2010).

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present