West Virginia's 3rd congressional district is located in the southern part of the state

Southern West Virginia

Southern West Virginia is a culturally and geographically distinct region in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Generally considered the heart of Appalachia, Southern West Virginia is known for its coal mining heritage and southern affinity...

, it is based in the state's second largest city, Huntington

Huntington, West Virginia

Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...

 and includes Bluefield

Bluefield, West Virginia

Bluefield is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 10,447 at the 2010 census. It is also the core city of the Bluefield WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,342.-Geography & Climate:...

, Princeton

Princeton, West Virginia

Princeton is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 111,586. It is the county seat of Mercer County...

, and Beckley

Beckley, West Virginia

Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...

.

The district is currently represented by Democrat Nick Rahall

Nick Rahall

Nick Joe Rahall II is the U.S. Representative for West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, serving since 1977. Rahall is currently Ranking Member of the House Resources Committee. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes much of the southern portion of the state, including...

.

Character

The modern district has grown in geographic size over the years, as it contains the area of the state that has lost the most population. Most of the congressmen listed below prior to the 1992 election cycle actually represented other parts of the state, as most of the modern 3rd District's history is found in the obsolete 4th, 5th, and 6th Districts. The modern 3rd District began to take shape in the 1960s. For much of its history, the 4th district had been focused on Huntington and the mill towns and farm communities north of that city along the Ohio River

Ohio River

The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...

, while the 5th and 6th Districts were focused on the then safe democratic coal fields. In the 1970 redistricting, the 5th (which had consumed the 6th due to population loss 10 years earlier) was merged into the 4th, forming a 4th district which was composed of what is now the western half of the modern 3rd. In the 1990 redistricting the old 4th was renumbered as the 3rd and took in what is now the eastern half of its current shape from a previous version of the 2nd District.

The current major areas of the district include the industrial and university city of Huntington, the coal producing southwestern part of the state, and the more conservative

Conservatism

Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...

 farm and timber region of the southeastern part of the state. 2010 Census figures again showed a major population loss, and Mason County

Mason County, West Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...

 was transferred from the 2nd to the 3rd District. This will not change the character of the district in a significant way.

Despite the strength of Democrats at the local and state level, in presidential elections the district is quite competitive. While Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...

 carried the district twice in three-way races, Al Gore

Al Gore

Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....

 just narrowly won the district in 2000

United States presidential election, 2000

The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....

 with 51% of the vote. George W. Bush

George W. Bush

George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

 won the district in 2004

United States presidential election, 2004

The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...

 with 53% of the vote, and John McCain

John McCain

John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....

 carried the district in 2008

United States presidential election, 2008

The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...

 with 55.76% of the vote.

History

The Third District as originally formed in 1863 included Kanawha, Jackson, Mason, Putnam, Cabell, Clay, Wayne, Logan, Boone, Braxton, Nicholas, Roane and McDowell counties. At that time Lincoln and Mingo counties had not yet been formed, but the territories included in both was in this district. In 1882, the district was reformed of Logan, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, Boone, Kanawha, Fayette, Clay, Nicholas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, Webster, Pocahontas, and Upshur counties. In 1902, Logan, Wyoming, McDowell, Raleigh, Boone and Mercer were removed. In 1916 the district was, more or less, renumbered as the new 6th District, and the 3rd was totally reconstituted as Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Calhoun, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Braxton, Clay, Nicholas, and Webster counties. In 1934, Fayette was added. In 1952, Wirt was added. In 1962, the district was again totally broken up and reconstitued as Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Nicholas and Raleigh. In 1972, Raleigh was removed and Ritchie, Wirt, Gilmer, Calhoun, Mason, Jackson, Roane, Braxton, Putnam, Lincoln, and Boone were added. In 1982, Lewis was added.

1992 began the district as currently constituted. It consisted of Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, Webster, and Wyoming. In 2002, Nicholas was added. For the 2012 cycle, Mason will be added.

List of representatives

Representative	Party	Years	District home	Note
District created		December 7, 1863
Kellian Whaley Kellian Whaley Kellian Van Rensalear Whaley was a nineteenth century congressman from Virginia and West Virginia and major of the 9th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.-Biography:...	Unconditional Unionist Unconditional Union Party The Unconditional Union Party was a loosely organized political entity during the American Civil War and the early days of Reconstruction. First established in 1861 in Missouri, where secession talk was strong, the party fully supported the preservation of the Union at all costs...	December 7, 1863 - March 4, 1867
Daniel Polsley Daniel Polsley Daniel Haymond Polsley was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer, judge and editor from Virginia and West Virginia....	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	March 4, 1867 - March 4, 1869
John Witcher John Witcher John Seashoal Witcher was a nineteenth century politician and clerk from Virginia and West Virginia and was lieutenant colonel of the 3rd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry in the Civil War.-Biography:...	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	March 4, 1869 - March 4, 1871
Frank Hereford Frank Hereford Frank Hereford was a United States Representative and Senator from West Virginia. Born near Warrenton, Virginia, he completed preparatory studies and graduated from McKendree University in 1845. He studied law and was admitted to the bar and practiced...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	March 4, 1871 – January 31, 1877		Resigned after being elected to the US Senate
Vacant		January 31, 1877 – March 4, 1877
John E. Kenna John E. Kenna John Edward Kenna was an American politician who was a Senator from West Virginia from 1883 until his death....	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1883		Resigned after being elected to the US Senate
Vacant		March 4, 1883 – March 15, 1883
Charles P. Snyder Charles P. Snyder Charles Philip Snyder was a lawyer and Democratic politician from West Virginia. He was born on June 9, 1847 in Charleston, West Virginia in Kanawha County, which was then in Virginia. He served as a United States Representative in the 48th, 49th, and 50th United States Congresses. He died August...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	May 15, 1883 – March 4, 1889
John D. Alderson John D. Alderson John D. Alderson was a lawyer and Democratic politician from West Virginia who served as a United States Representative from West Virginia. He was born at Nicholas Court House , West Virginia on November 29, 1854. He was a member of the 51st, 52nd, and 53rd United States Congresses...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1895
James H. Huling James Hall Huling James Hall Huling was a Republican businessman and politician from West Virginia who served as aUnited States Representative in the 54th United States Congress. Congressman Huling was born in Williamsport in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania on March 24, 1844. He died April 23, 1918.He went to school...	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	March 4, 1895 - March 4, 1897
Charles Dorr	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	March 4, 1897 - March 4, 1899
David E. Johnston David Emmons Johnston David Emmons Johnston was a lawyer and Democratic politician from West Virginia who served as a United States Representative. Congressman Johnston was born near Pearisburg, Virginia in Giles County April 10, 1845. He was elected in 1888 to the 56th United States Congress. He died July 7, 1917.He...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	March 4, 1899 – March 4, 1901
Joseph H. Gaines Joseph H. Gaines Joseph Holt 'Jodie' Gaines was a U.S. Representative from West Virginia.Born in Washington, D.C., Gaines moved with his parents to Fayette County, West Virginia, in 1867....	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	March 4, 1901 - March 4, 1911
Adam B. Littlepage Adam Brown Littlepage Adam Brown Littlepage was a lawyer and Democratic politician from West Virginia who served as a United States Representative. Congressman Littlepage was born near Charleston, West Virginia in Kanawha County on April 14, 1859. He served as a member of the 62nd, 64th, and 65th United States...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	March 4, 1911 – March 4, 1913
Samuel B. Avis Samuel B. Avis Samuel Brashear Avis was an American politician who represented West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives from 1913-1915....	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	March 4, 1913 - March 4, 1915
Adam B. Littlepage Adam Brown Littlepage Adam Brown Littlepage was a lawyer and Democratic politician from West Virginia who served as a United States Representative. Congressman Littlepage was born near Charleston, West Virginia in Kanawha County on April 14, 1859. He served as a member of the 62nd, 64th, and 65th United States...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	March 4, 1915 – March 4, 1917		Redistricted Redistricting Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...  to the
Stuart F. Reed Stuart F. Reed Stuart Felix Reed was an American politician who represented West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives from 1917 to 1925....	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	March 4, 1917 - March 4, 1925
John M. Wolverton John M. Wolverton John Marshall Wolverton was a U.S. Representative from West Virginia.Born in Big Bend, Calhoun County, West Virginia, Wolverton attended country schools and Glenville and Fairmont State Normal Schools. He was graduated from the law department of the West Virginia University at Morgantown in 1901...	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	March 4, 1925 - March 4, 1927
William S. O'Brien William Smith O'Brien (Congressman) William Smith O'Brien was a lawyer and Democratic politician from West Virginia who served as a United States Representative .-Biography:...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	March 4, 1927 – March 4, 1929
John M. Wolverton John M. Wolverton John Marshall Wolverton was a U.S. Representative from West Virginia.Born in Big Bend, Calhoun County, West Virginia, Wolverton attended country schools and Glenville and Fairmont State Normal Schools. He was graduated from the law department of the West Virginia University at Morgantown in 1901...	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	March 4, 1929 - March 4, 1931
Lynn Hornor Lynn Hornor Lynn Sedwick Hornor was an American politician who represented West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives from 1931-1933....	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	March 4, 1931 – September 23, 1933		Died
Vacant		September 23, 1933 – November 28, 1933
Andrew Edmiston, Jr. Andrew Edmiston, Jr. Andrew Edmiston, Jr was a Democratic politician who served as a United States Representative from West Virginia. He was born in Weston in Lewis County, West Virginia on November 13, 1892. He served in the Seventy-third through Seventy-seventh Congresses...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	November 28, 1933 – January 3, 1943
Edward G. Rohrbough Edward G. Rohrbough Edward Gay Rohrbough was a Republican United States Representative from West Virginia He was born in 1874, near Buckhannon, West Virginia in Upshur County, West Virginia. He served in the Seventy-eighth and Eightieth Congress. He died December 12, 1956....	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	January 3, 1943 - January 3, 1945
Cleveland M. Bailey Cleveland M. Bailey Cleveland Monroe Bailey was a U.S. Representative from West Virginia.Born on a farm near St. Marys, Pleasants County, W.Virginia, Bailey attended the public schools, and West Liberty State College, West Liberty, W.Virginia....	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947
Edward G. Rohrbough Edward G. Rohrbough Edward Gay Rohrbough was a Republican United States Representative from West Virginia He was born in 1874, near Buckhannon, West Virginia in Upshur County, West Virginia. He served in the Seventy-eighth and Eightieth Congress. He died December 12, 1956....	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	January 3, 1947 - January 3, 1949
Cleveland M. Bailey Cleveland M. Bailey Cleveland Monroe Bailey was a U.S. Representative from West Virginia.Born on a farm near St. Marys, Pleasants County, W.Virginia, Bailey attended the public schools, and West Liberty State College, West Liberty, W.Virginia....	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1963
John M. Slack, Jr. John M. Slack, Jr. John Mark Slack, Jr. was an American politician from West Virginia. He was a Democrat.Slack was born in 1915 in Charleston, where he attended the public schools...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	January 3, 1963 – March 17, 1980		Redistricted Redistricting Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...  from the , Died
Vacant		March 17, 1980 – June 30, 1980
John G. Hutchinson John G. Hutchinson John Guiher Hutchinson is a retired American politician, who served briefly as member of the United States House of Representatives from West Virginia's 3rd congressional district. He is a Democrat....	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	June 30, 1980 – January 3, 1981
Mick Staton Mick Staton David Michael Staton, better known as Mick Staton is a retired American politician. He is a Republican from West Virginia....	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	January 3, 1981 - January 3, 1983
Bob Wise Bob Wise Robert Ellsworth "Bob" Wise, Jr. is an American politician. A Democrat, Wise served as the 33rd Governor of West Virginia from January 2001 to January 2005.-Early life:...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993		Redistricted Redistricting Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...  to the
Nick Rahall Nick Rahall Nick Joe Rahall II is the U.S. Representative for West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, serving since 1977. Rahall is currently Ranking Member of the House Resources Committee. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes much of the southern portion of the state, including...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	January 3, 1993 – Present		Redistricted Redistricting Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...  from the , Incumbent Incumbent The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...