Texas's 18th congressional district

Texas's 18th congressional district
Texas's 18th congressional district - since January 3, 2013.
Current Representative		Sheila Jackson Lee (D–Houston)
Population (2000)	651,619
Median income	$31,293
Ethnicity	36.9% White, 40.4% Black, 3.4% Asian, 35.6% Hispanic, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% other
Cook PVI	D+22 (2012)

Texas District 18 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves much of inner city Houston and the surrounding area. It has been the Downtown Houston district since 1973. The current Representative from District 18 is Sheila Jackson Lee.

It was held by Barbara Charline Jordan, the first black woman elected to Congress from the South (in 1972), who was praised by many for her powerful presence in that body, and in particular, for her oratorical skills.

Since the district was moved to Houston in 1972, it has voted for a Democrat in every presidential election. The district gave George McGovern 69% in 1972 and Walter Mondale 72% in 1984.

List of representatives

Representative	Party	Years	District home	Note
District created		March 4, 1919
John M. Jones	Democratic	March 4, 1919 - November 20, 1940		Redistricted from the 13th district, Resigned after being appointed judge of the US Court of Claims
Vacant		November 20, 1940 – January 3, 1941
Eugene Worley	Democratic	January 3, 1941 - April 3, 1950		Resigned after being appointed judge of the US Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
Ben H. Guill	Republican	May 6, 1950 – January 3, 1951		Won special election on May 6, 1950
Walter E. Rogers	Democratic	January 3, 1951 - January 3, 1967
Bob Price	Republican	January 3, 1967 - January 3, 1973		Redistricted to the 13th district
Barbara Jordan	Democratic	January 3, 1973 - January 3, 1979
Mickey Leland	Democratic	January 3, 1979 - August 7, 1989		Died
Vacant		August 7, 1989 – December 9, 1989
Craig Washington	Democratic	December 9, 1989 - January 3, 1995
Sheila Jackson Lee	Democratic	January 3, 1995 - Present		Incumbent

Election results

US House election, 2010: Texas District 18
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Sheila Jackson Lee	85108	70.15
	Republican	John Faulk	33067	27.26
	Libertarian	Mike Taylor	3118	2.57
	Independent	Charles B. Meyer (Write-in)	28	0.02
Majority			52041	42.89
Turnout			125968	36.73
	Democratic hold		Swing

US House election, 2008: Texas District 18
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Sheila Jackson Lee	148,617	77.32
	Republican	John Faulk	39,095	20.34
	Libertarian	Mike Taylor	4,486	2.33
Majority			109,522	56.98
Turnout			192,295	82.5
	Democratic hold		Swing

In popular culture

In the TV series The West Wing, Texas's 18th congressional district was represented by (the successful) fictional Democratic presidential candidate Matt Santos.

Historical district boundaries

2007 - 2013

See also

• List of United States congressional districts

References

• 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

Coordinates: 29°49′07″N 95°15′13″W / 29.81861°N 95.25361°W