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Texas's 8th congressional district

Coordinates: 30°50′00″N 95°32′37″W / 30.83333°N 95.54361°W / 30.83333; -95.54361
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Texas's 8th congressional district
Texas's 8th congressional district
Representative
Distribution
  • 67.55% urban[1]
  • 32.45% rural
Population (2023)868,181[2]
Median household
income
$85,858[2]
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+16[3]

Texas's 8th congressional district of the United States House of Representatives includes all of Polk and San Jacinto counties, and parts of Harris, Walker, and Montgomery counties. It includes much of the northern outlying areas of metro Houston, including Conroe, Magnolia, and most of Lake Livingston. The current Representative from the 8th district is Morgan Luttrell and has been since 2023.

District history

[edit]

Texas received an eighth congressional district through reapportionment in 1881 as a result of population growth reflected in the 1880 census and in 1883, James Francis Miller, a Democrat, was elected its first representative. From 1882-1892 the district was located in South Central Texas between Houston and San Antonio and was represented by Democrats. After 1893, the district was located in North Texas and was represented by a Republican representative from Fort Worth and then a Democrat from Weatherford. After the redistricting of 1902, the district shifted to Southeast Texas and the area outside of Houston and was represented by Congressmen from Huntsville, Hempstead and Richmond. From 1910-1959, the 8th district comprised all of Harris County and the city of Houston.

In 1958, part of southern Harris County became the 22nd district. The 8th and 22nd districts were separated by a boundary consisting roughly of what is now U.S. 290, the western and southern portions of Loop 610, and the portion of Buffalo Bayou east of downtown Houston including the Houston Ship Channel. Everything north of this boundary remained in the 8th.

The district was redrawn mid-decade in 1966 after the Supreme Court ruled in Wesberry v. Sanders two years earlier that congressional district populations had to be equal or close to equal in population. As a result, Houston was split between the 7th, 8th, 9th and 22nd districts. For the next 17 years, the 8th was anchored by northern Houston.

By the 1970s, the 8th district was beginning to move away from its traditional Democratic roots, and in 1980 it elected a Republican congressman, Jack Fields, over liberal seven-term incumbent Bob Eckhardt. After the 1980 census, the 8th district was pushed further north to include conservative areas of northern Harris County (such as Fields' home in Humble) as well as the wealthier portions of Montgomery County, The 8th district's borders changed drastically in the 1990s round of redistricting, which was orchestrated by the Democratic-controlled state legislature as well as then-Congressman Martin Frost, the senior Democrat in the congressional delegation. The new 8th district was designed to pack in as many Republicans as possible and was described by some critics as the "dumbbell district" because of its strange shape. The western half of the district contained parts of Waller, Austin, and Washington counties, as well as much of Brazos County, which is home to the conservative bastion Texas A&M University. The eastern half of the district took in nearly all of now-heavily Republican Montgomery County, as well as Republican areas in northern Harris County. The two halves were joined together by a narrow tendril in Waller County. Fields continued to represent the district until his retirement in 1996, when he was succeeded by fellow Republican Kevin Brady.

The 8th district was made somewhat more compact after the 2000 census, taking in nearly all of Montgomery County and most of northern Harris County. However, it changed dramatically during the 2003 redistricting plan engineered by then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Republican from Texas's 22nd district. DeLay wanted to dislodge 4-term Democratic Congressman Jim Turner from the neighboring 2nd district, who represented a district located in East Texas that was predominantly rural and had begun moving away from its Democratic roots (Bush received 63% of the vote there in 2000). Brady's 8th district lost most of its share of Houston, instead absorbing nearly all of the southern portion of the old 2nd district. Although geographically the new 8th was more Turner's district than Brady's, half its population came from Brady's base in Montgomery County, which has as many people as the rest of the district combined. The new 8th district was so heavily Republican (Bush would have carried it in 2000 with 69% of the vote) that Turner declined to run for reelection. Brady has been reelected from this district four times with only nominal opposition. In 2020, Brady fended off a primary challenge and won re-election against Democrat Elizabeth Hernandez and Libertarian Chris Duncan with 72.5% of the vote.

Due to redistricting in 2012, Texas's 8th district lost its entire eastern half, with Orange, Newton, Jasper, Tyler, Hardin, Polk, and Liberty counties being removed from the district. Counties added include all of Trinity, Houston, Grimes, Madison, and the southern half of Leon County.[4]

in 2022, Kevin Brady, who eventually rose to become Chairman of the influential House Ways and Means Committee (where he notably shepherded the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017), announced his retirement from Congress. At the same time, Brady's hometown of The Woodlands was redrawn into the 2nd District of neighboring Republican Dan Crenshaw, while the 8th was redrawn to now cover all areas of Montgomery County north of The Woodlands along with southern portions of Walker County, all of San Jacinto and Polk counties (including Lake Livingston) and a western section of Harris County that includes a sizable number of middle-class Hispanics with neighborhoods that vary in composure from heavily Republican to heavily Democratic (including some that were central to the Democrats' pickup of the traditionally Republican 7th District in the 2018 elections). The new district remains heavily Republican, even though the Harris County portion is considered more competitive than the overwhelmingly Republican remainder of the district.

On March 1, 2022 the Texas Republican primary was held. Morgan Luttrell won the primary with 52.2% of the vote against 11 different challengers. Christian Collins held 2nd at 22.2% and Jonathan Hullihan in 3rd with 12.6%. Luttrell defeated Democrat nominee Laura Jones on November 8, 2022.[5]

List of members representing the district

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District borders are periodically redrawn and some district residences may no longer be in the 8th district.

Member Party Term Cong
ess
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1883

James Francis Miller
(Gonzales)
Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1887
48th
49th
Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Renominated but retired.

Littleton W. Moore
(La Grange)
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1893
50th
51st
52nd
Elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
[data missing]

Charles K. Bell
(Fort Worth)
Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1897
53rd
54th
Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
[data missing]

Samuel W.T. Lanham
(Weatherford)
Democratic March 4, 1897 –
January 15, 1903
55th
56th
57th
Elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Resigned to become Governor of Texas.
Vacant January 15, 1903 –
March 3, 1903
57th

Thomas Henry Ball
(Huntsville)
Democratic March 4, 1903 –
November 16, 1903
58th Redistricted from the 1st district and re-elected in 1902.
Resigned.
Vacant November 16, 1903 –
November 17, 1903

John M. Pinckney
(Hempstead)
Democratic November 17, 1903 –
April 24, 1905
58th
59th
Elected to finish Ball's term.
Re-elected in 1904.
Assassinated.
Vacant April 24, 1905 –
June 6, 1905
59th

John M. Moore
(Richmond)
Democratic June 6, 1905 –
March 3, 1913
59th
60th
61st
62nd
Elected to finish Pinckney's term.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
[data missing]

Joe H. Eagle
(Houston)
Democratic March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1921
63rd
64th
65th
66th
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
[data missing]

Daniel E. Garrett
(Houston)
Democratic March 4, 1921 –
December 13, 1932
67th
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Died.
Vacant December 13, 1932 –
January 28, 1933
72nd

Joe H. Eagle
(Houston)
Democratic January 28, 1933 –
January 3, 1937
72nd
73rd
74th
Elected to finish Garrett's term.
Re-elected in 1934.
[data missing]

Albert Thomas
(Houston)
Democratic January 3, 1937 –
February 15, 1966
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
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.
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.
Died.
Vacant February 15, 1966 –
March 26, 1966
89th

Lera Millard Thomas
(Houston)
Democratic March 26, 1966 –
January 3, 1967
Elected to finish her husband's term.
Retired.

Bob Eckhardt
(Houston)
Democratic January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1981
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
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.
Lost re-election.

Jack Fields
(Humble)
Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1997
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
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.
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired.

Kevin Brady
(The Woodlands)
Republican January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2023
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
Elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
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.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the 2nd district and retired.

Morgan Luttrell
(Magnolia)
Republican January 3, 2023 –
present
118th Elected in 2022.

Election results from presidential races

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Year Office Result
2000 President Bush 76 – 22%
2004 President Bush 72 – 28%
2008 President McCain 74 – 26%
2012 President Romney 77 – 22%
2016 President Trump 72 – 24%
2020 President Trump 71 – 28%

Election results

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United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2022: District 8[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Morgan Luttrell 152,797 68.09
Democratic Laura Jones 68,485 30.52
Libertarian Roy Eriksen 3,116 1.39
Total votes 224,398 100
United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2020: District 8[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kevin Brady (incumbent) 277,327 72.5
Democratic Elizabeth Hernandez 97,409 25.5
Libertarian Chris Duncan 7,735 2.0
Total votes 382,471 100.0
Republican hold
United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2018: District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Brady (incumbent) 200,619 73.44 −26.56
Democratic Steven David 67,930 24.87 +24.87
Libertarian Chris Duncan 4,621 1.69 +1.69
Majority 132,689 48.57 −51.43
Turnout 273,170
Republican hold Swing
United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2016: District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Brady (incumbent) 236,379 100.00 +10.68
Majority 236,379 100.00 +21.36
Turnout 236,379
Republican hold Swing
United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2014: District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Brady (incumbent) 125,066 89.32 +12.03
Democratic Ken Petty 14,947 10.68 −9.65
Majority 110,119 78.64 +21.68
Turnout 140,013
Republican hold Swing
United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2012: District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Brady (incumbent) 194,043 77.29 −2.98
Democratic Neil Burns 51,051 20.33 +3.08
Libertarian Roy Hall 5,958 2.37 −0.11
Majority 142,992 56.96 −6.06
Turnout 251,052
Republican hold Swing
US House election, 2010: Texas District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Brady (incumbent) 161,257 80.27 +7.71
Democratic Kent Hargett 36,566 17.25 −7.53
Libertarian Bruce West 4,988 2.48 −0.17
US House election, 2008: Texas District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Brady (incumbent) 207,128 72.56 +5.3
Democratic Kent Hargett 70,758 24.78 −7.9
Libertarian Brian Stevens 7,565 2.65 +1.2
US House election, 2006: Texas District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Brady (incumbent) 105,665 67.27 −1.63
Democratic James "Jim" Wright 51,393 32.72 +3.02
US House election, 2004: Texas District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Brady (incumbent) 179,599 68.9 −24.2
Democratic James Wright 77,324 29.7 +29.7
Libertarian Paul Hansen 3,705 1.4 −5.4

Historical district boundaries

[edit]
2007–2013
2013–2023

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (State-based)". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013.
  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 October 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "DistrictViewer - Texas Legislative Council". Gis1.tlc.state.tx.us. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  5. ^ "Texas' 8th Congressional District". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  6. ^ U. S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 8, Texas Secretary of State, November 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "Texas Election Results - Official Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

30°50′00″N 95°32′37″W / 30.83333°N 95.54361°W / 30.83333; -95.54361