Loading
  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Florida's 1st Congressional District

Florida's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida, covering the state's western Panhandle. It includes all of Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa counties, and portions of Walton county. The district is anchored in Pensacola and also includes the large military bedroom communities and tourist destinations of Navarre and Fort Walton Beach and stretches along the Emerald Coast. The district was previously represented by Republican Matt Gaetz. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+19, it is the most Republican district in Florida.

Characteristics

The district encompasses the western part of the Florida Panhandle, in the extreme western portion of the state, stretching from Pensacola and the Alabama border east to include Walton, Holmes, and Washington counties.

Most of the territory now in the 1st District had been the 3rd District from 1903 to 1963; however, it has been numbered as the 1st District since then. It cast aside its Democratic roots far sooner than most of the other areas of the state. It has not supported a Democrat for president since John F. Kennedy in 1960. In 1964, Republican Barry Goldwater carried the district by such a large margin that it nearly pushed Florida's electoral votes into the Republican column. It has continued to vote for Republicans by very wide margins, with the only exception being 1976, where Gerald Ford won a narrow 50–49 victory over Jimmy Carter. Nonetheless, it usually continued to elect conservative Democrats at the state and local level, even in years when Republican presidential candidates won the district handily. Well into the 1980s, the district's congressmen and state lawmakers only faced "sacrificial lamb" Republican challengers on the occasions they faced any opposition at all. For example, Democratic incumbent Earl Hutto was unopposed for reelection in 1984 even as Ronald Reagan won the district with over 70 percent of the vote. As late as 1992, Democratic senator Bob Graham easily carried the district with 54 percent of the vote—more than double Bill Clinton's total in the district.

This changed with the Republican Revolution of 1994. That year, Joe Scarborough became the first Republican to represent the Panhandle since Reconstruction. This change was more a result of eight-term incumbent Hutto retiring than of a Republican upsurge. It had been taken for granted that Hutto would be succeeded by a Republican once he retired, particularly after he was nearly defeated in 1990 and 1992. Republicans had also swept most of the district's overlapping state legislative seats. It is currently considered the most Republican district in Florida, and no Democratic candidate has won more than 40 percent of the vote since Hutto's retirement. John McCain received 67% of the vote in this district in 2008, and Mitt Romney and Donald Trump respectively carried it by similar margins in 2012 and 2016.

The district's conservatism is not limited to national politics. Since 1994, Republicans have dominated elections at the state and local levels. Graham is the last Democrat to have won it in a statewide race. In much of the district, there are now no elected Democrats above the county level.

The area comprising the 1st District has maintained a large military presence ever since John Quincy Adams persuaded Spain to sell Florida to the United States in 1819, in part to gain a deepwater port at Pensacola. The U.S. Air Force also has a large presence in Eglin Air Force Base, which is economically important to the district. Slightly under 14,000 people are employed at the base, which is one of the largest air bases in the world and has approximately 100,000 square miles (260,000 km) of airspace stretching over the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Keys. Hurlburt Field is an auxiliary field at Eglin AFB and is the location of the Air Force Special Operations Command. Eglin AFB spreads over three counties. Pensacola Naval Air Station was the first Navy base devoted to the specific purpose of aviation, and is the home of the Blue Angels. Saufley Field, used for training, is slightly north of Pensacola NAS.

A large number of veterans who retire relocate to this district. Tourism, particularly in Navarre, Pensacola Beach, and Destin, is a major economic activity.

Voting

Election results from statewide races
Year Office Results
1992 President Bush 51.2 - 25.7%
Senator Graham 54.5 - 45.5%
1994 Senator Mack 80.9 - 19.1%
Governor Bush 60.8 - 39.2%
Secretary of State Mortham 64.1 - 35.9%
Attorney General Ferro 52.8 - 47.2%
Comptroller Milligan 59.1 - 40.9%
Treasurer Ireland 59.7 - 40.3%
Education Commissioner Brogan 64.1 - 35.9%
Agriculture Commissioner Smith 55.6 - 44.4%
1996 President Dole 59.2 - 31.0%
1998 Senator Crist 51.6 - 48.4%
Governor Bush 71.4 - 28.6%
Secretary of State Harris 65.0 - 35.0%
Attorney General Bludworth 57.0 - 43.0%
Comptroller Milligan 71.1 - 28.9%
Treasurer Ireland 58.8 - 41.2%
Education Commissioner Gallagher 67.2 - 32.8%
Agriculture Commissioner Faircloth 54.7 - 45.3%
2000 President Bush 67.7 - 29.8%
Senator McCollum 64.7 - 35.3%
Treasurer Gallagher 73.1 - 26.9%
Education Commissioner Crist 67.6 - 32.4%
2004 President Bush 72 - 28%
2008 President McCain 67 - 32%
2012 President Romney 68.5 - 30.1%
2016 President Trump 67.5 - 28.2%
2020 President Trump 65.9 - 32.4%
2024 President Trump 68.1 - 30.9%

Voter registration

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of February 20, 2024
Party Voters Percentage
Republican 291,351 53.80%
Democratic 119,305 22.03%
No Party Affiliation 116,371 21.49%

Composition

# County Seat Population
33 Escambia Pensacola 326,928
91 Okaloosa Crestview 218,464
113 Santa Rosa Milton 203,162
131 Walton DeFuniak Springs 86,354

Cities with 10,000 or more people

2,500-10,000 people

List of members representing the district

Member
(Residence)
Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District location
District created March 4, 1875

William J. Purman
(Tallahassee)
Republican March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
44th Elected in 1874.
Lost re-election.
1875-1883
[data missing]

Robert H. M. Davidson
(Quincy)
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1891
45th
46th
47th
48th
49th
50th
51st
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Lost re-election.
1883-1893
[data missing]

Stephen R. Mallory
(Pensacola)
Democratic March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1895
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Retired.
1893-1903
[data missing]

Stephen M. Sparkman
(Tampa)
Democratic March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1917
54th
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th
60th
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
Elected in 1894.
Re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Retired.
1903-1913
[data missing]
1913-1933
[data missing]

Herbert J. Drane
(Lakeland)
Democratic March 4, 1917 –
March 3, 1933
65th
66th
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Lost renomination.

J. Hardin Peterson
(Lakeland)
Democratic March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1951
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Retired.
1933-1943
[data missing]
1943-1953
[data missing]

Chester B. McMullen
(Clearwater)
Democratic January 3, 1951 –
January 3, 1953
82nd Elected in 1950.
Retired.

Courtney W. Campbell
(Clearwater)
Democratic January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1955
83rd Elected in 1952.
Lost re-election.
1953-1963
[data missing]

William C. Cramer
(St. Petersburg)
Republican January 3, 1955 –
January 3, 1963
84th
85th
86th
87th
Elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Redistricted to the 12th district.

Bob Sikes
(Crestview)
Democratic January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1979
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Retired.
1963-1973
[data missing]
1973-1983
[data missing]

Earl Hutto
(Pensacola)
Democratic January 3, 1979 –
January 3, 1995
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
Elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Retired.
1983-1993
[data missing]
1993-2003
[data missing]

Joe Scarborough
(Pensacola)
Republican January 3, 1995 –
September 5, 2001
104th
105th
106th
107th
Elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Resigned.
Vacant September 5, 2001 –
October 16, 2001
107th

Jeff Miller
(Chumuckla)
Republican October 16, 2001 –
January 3, 2017
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
Elected to finish Scarborough's term.
Re-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.
2003-2013
2013–2023

Matt Gaetz
(Niceville)
Republican January 3, 2017 –
November 13, 2024
115th
116th
117th
118th
Elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024, but resigned before next term in expectation of appointment as United States Attorney General.
2023–present
Vacant November 13, 2024 –
present
118th Gaetz withdrew from consideration as Attorney General and declined the seat.

Recent election results

2001 (special)

Florida's 1st congressional district special election, 2001
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Miller 53,547 65.68
Democratic Steve Briese 22,695 27.99
Independent John G. Ralls Jr. 5,115 6.31
Write-ins 14 0.02
Total votes 81,071 100.00
Republican hold

2002

Florida's 1st Congressional District Election (2002)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Miller (Incumbent) 152,635 75%
Democratic Bert Oram 51,972 25%
No party Others 19 0.01
Total votes 204,626 100%
Turnout  
Republican hold

2004

Florida's 1st Congressional District Election (2004)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Miller (Incumbent) 236,604 77%
Democratic Mark S. Coutu 72,506 23%
Total votes 309,110 100%
Turnout  
Republican hold

2006

Florida's 1st Congressional District Election (2006)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Miller (Incumbent) 135,786 69%
No party Joe Roberts 62,340 31%
Total votes 198,126 100%
Turnout  
Republican hold

2008

Florida's 1st Congressional District Election (2008)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Miller (Incumbent) 232,559 70%
Democratic James E. Bryan 98,797 30%
Total votes 331,356 100%
Turnout  
Republican hold

2010

Florida's 1st Congressional District Election (2010)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Miller (Incumbent) 170,821 80%
Independent Joe Cantrell 23,250 11%
Independent John E. Krause 18,253 9%
No party Others 1,202 0.56%
Total votes 213,526 100%
Turnout  
Republican hold

2012

Florida's 1st Congressional District Election (2012)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Miller (Incumbent) 238,440 70%
Democratic James E. Bryan 92,961 27%
Libertarian Calen Fretts 11,176 3%
No party William Cleave Drummond II 17 0.0%
Total votes 342,594 100%
Turnout  
Republican hold

2014

Florida's 1st Congressional District Election (2014)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jeff Miller (Incumbent) 165,086 70%
Democratic James E. Bryan 54,976 23%
No party Mark Wichern 15,281 7%
Total votes 235,343 100%
Turnout  
Republican hold

2016

Florida's 1st Congressional District Election (2016)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Gaetz 255,107 69%
Democratic Steven Specht 114,079 31%
Total votes 369,186 100%
Turnout  
Republican hold

2018

Florida's 1st Congressional District Election (2018)
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Gaetz (Incumbent) 216,189 67.06%
Democratic Jennifer M. Zimmerman 106,199 32.94%
Total votes 322,388 100%
Republican hold

2020

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Gaetz (incumbent) 283,352 64.61%
Democratic Phil Ehr 149,172 34.01%
Independent Albert Oram 6,038 1.38%
Total votes 438,532 100.0
Republican hold

2022

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Gaetz (incumbent) 197,349 67.86%
Democratic Rebekah Jones 93,467 32.13%
Total votes 290,816 100.0
Republican hold

2024

2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Gaetz (incumbent) 274,023 66.00%
Democratic Gay Valimont 140,881 34.0%
Total votes 414,904 100.0
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "Congressional Plan--SC14-1905 (Ordered by The Florida Supreme Court, 2-December-2015)" (PDF). Florida Senate Committee on Reapportionment. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  2. ^ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (State-based)". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  3. ^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  4. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  5. ^ "October 16, 2001 Special General, Congress 1 & House 1". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved May 15, 2017.

Bibliography

30°39′46″N 86°39′45″W / 30.66278°N 86.66250°W / 30.66278; -86.66250