Maryland's 4th congressional district
Maryland's 4th congressional district wraps around the eastern edge of Washington, D.C., taking in most of Prince George's County and a small portion of Montgomery County. It is home to several racially diverse middle-class suburbs, including College Park, Fort Washington, Greenbelt, and Laurel. With a median household income of $80,808, it is the wealthiest black-majority district in the United States.[1]
Maryland's 4th congressional district | |||
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Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023 | |||
Representative |
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Area | 318 sq mi (820 km2) | ||
Distribution |
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Population (2022) | 750,800 | ||
Median household income | $86,941[1] | ||
Ethnicity |
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Occupation |
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Cook PVI | D+40[2] |
Like much of the Washington metropolitan area, the 4th district is substantially influenced by the footprint of the nearby federal government. More than 22% of working adults in this district are employed in the public sector. The Washington Metro provides easy access into the nation's capital, where many employees make daily commutes. Various government entities also sit within the 4th district, most notably the United States Census Bureau and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The University of Maryland, College Park—the state's flagship public institution of higher education—is another major presence.
Throughout much of the 20th century, the area within this district was predominately white. But as a thriving black middle class emerged in the region and laws eliminating racial discrimination in housing were passed, many African Americans opted to leave Washington for Prince George's County in search of a better quality of life. By the early 1990s, the county had become majority black, and today white voters comprise just 11% of the 4th district. That racial transformation has turned the district into one of the nation's most Democratic seats, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+40.[2] In 2022, Democrat Glenn Ivey was elected to represent it with 90.1% of the vote.
Recent statewide election results
Election results from presidential races | ||
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Year | Office | Results |
2000 | President | Gore 77% - 21% |
2004 | President | Kerry 78% - 21% |
2008 | President | Obama 85% - 14% |
2012 | President | Obama 78% - 20% |
2016 | President | Clinton 77% - 19% |
2020 | President | Biden 79% - 19% |
Historical boundaries
Maryland's Fourth Congressional District was one of the about 50 original Congressional districts. The First Congress of the United States of America. When it was organized in 1788 it covered Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Harford County. According to the 1790 Census, the Fourth District had a population of 53,913, nearly 20% of whom were slaves.[3]
In 1792, the Fourth District was moved to western Maryland, with its eastern boundary being a north to south line running about the midpoint of Frederick County, Maryland. The new district had a population of 36,026, with less than 10% of the population being slaves.[4] The 1800 Census population was 38,015, and the boundaries remained unchanged in 1802.[5]
Communities
Since 2023, the following communities have postal addresses within the 4th district.[6][7]
Entirely within the district
Partially within the district
Recent elections
1970s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Paul Sarbanes | 54,936 | 70.05 | |
Republican | David Fentress | 23,491 | 29.95 | |
Total votes | 78,427 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Marjorie Holt | 87,534 | 59.38 | |||
Democratic | Werner Fornos | 59,877 | 40.62 | |||
Total votes | 147,411 | 100.00 | ||||
Republican gain from Democratic | ||||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Marjorie Holt (inc.) | 61,208 | 58.15 | |
Democratic | Fred L. Wineland | 44,059 | 41.85 | |
Total votes | 105,267 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Marjorie Holt (inc.) | 95,158 | 57.67 | |
Democratic | Werner Fornos | 69,855 | 42.33 | |
Total votes | 165,013 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Marjorie Holt (inc.) | 71,374 | 62.04 | |
Democratic | Sue F. Ward | 43,663 | 37.96 | |
Total votes | 115,037 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
1980s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Marjorie Holt (inc.) | 120,985 | 71.86 | |
Democratic | James J. Riley | 47,375 | 28.14 | |
Total votes | 168,360 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Marjorie Holt (inc.) | 75,617 | 61.20 | |
Democratic | Patricia O'Brien Aiken | 47,947 | 38.80 | |
Total votes | 123,564 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Marjorie Holt (inc.) | 114,430 | 66.24 | |
Democratic | Howard M. Greenbaum | 58,312 | 33.76 | |
Write-ins | 1 | <0.01 | ||
Total votes | 172,743 | 100.00 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | C. Thomas McMillen | 65,071 | 50.16 | |||
Republican | Robert R. Neall | 64,643 | 49.84 | |||
Total votes | 129,714 | 100.00 | ||||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | C. Thomas McMillen (inc.) | 128,624 | 68.30 | |
Republican | Bradlyn McClanahan | 59,688 | 31.70 | |
Total votes | 188,312 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
1990s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | C. Thomas McMillen (inc.) | 85,601 | 58.85 | |
Republican | Bob Duckworth | 59,846 | 41.15 | |
Total votes | 145,447 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Al Wynn | 136,902 | 75.19 | |
Republican | Michele Dyson | 45,166 | 24.81 | |
Total votes | 182,068 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Al Wynn (inc.) | 93,148 | 75.03 | |
Republican | Michele Dyson | 30,999 | 24.97 | |
Total votes | 124,147 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Al Wynn (inc.) | 142,094 | 85.19 | |
Republican | John B. Kimble | 24,700 | 14.81 | |
Total votes | 166,794 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Al Wynn (inc.) | 129,139 | 85.72 | |
Republican | John B. Kimble | 21,518 | 14.28 | |
Total votes | 150,657 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2000s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Al Wynn (inc.) | 172,624 | 87.20 | |
Republican | John B. Kimble | 24,973 | 12.61 | |
Write-ins | 372 | 0.19 | ||
Total votes | 197,969 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Al Wynn (inc.) | 131,644 | 78.96 | |
Republican | John B. Kimble | 34,890 | 20.93 | |
Write-ins | 195 | 0.12 | ||
Total votes | 166,729 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Al Wynn (inc.) | 196,809 | 75.23 | |
Republican | John McKinnis | 52,907 | 20.22 | |
Green | Theresa Mitchell Dudley | 11,885 | 4.54 | |
Write-ins | 6 | <0.01 | ||
Total votes | 261,607 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Al Wynn (inc.) | 141,897 | 80.67 | |
Republican | Michael Moshe Starkman | 32,792 | 18.64 | |
Write-ins | 1,214 | 0.69 | ||
Total votes | 175,903 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Donna Edwards | 16,481 | 80.54 | |
Republican | Peter James | 3,638 | 17.78 | |
Libertarian | Thibeaux Lincecum | 216 | 1.06 | |
Write-ins | 127 | 0.62 | ||
Total votes | 20,462 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Donna Edwards (inc.) | 258,704 | 85.83 | |
Republican | Peter James | 38,739 | 12.85 | |
Libertarian | Thibeaux Lincecum | 3,384 | 1.12 | |
Write-ins | 604 | 0.20 | ||
Total votes | 301,431 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2010s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Donna Edwards (inc.) | 160,228 | 83.44 | |
Republican | Robert Broadus | 31,467 | 16.39 | |
Write-ins | 325 | 0.17 | ||
Total votes | 192,020 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Donna Edwards (inc.) | 240,385 | 77.17 | |
Republican | Faith M. Loudon | 64,560 | 20.72 | |
Libertarian | Scott Soffen | 6,204 | 1.99 | |
N/A | Write-ins | 363 | 0.12 | |
Total votes | 311,512 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Donna Edwards (inc.) | 134,628 | 70.18 | |
Republican | Nancy Hoyt | 54,217 | 28.26 | |
Libertarian | Arvin Vohra | 2,795 | 1.46 | |
N/A | Write-ins | 197 | 0.10 | |
Total votes | 191,837 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Anthony Brown | 237,501 | 74.1 | |
Republican | George McDermott | 68,670 | 21.4 | |
Green | Kamesha T. Clark | 8,204 | 2.6 | |
Libertarian | Benjamin Lee Krause | 5,744 | 1.8 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 531 | 0.2 | |
Total votes | 320,650 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Anthony Brown (incumbent) | 209,642 | 78.1 | |
Republican | George McDermott | 53,327 | 19.9 | |
Libertarian | Dave Bishop | 5,326 | 2.0 | |
n/a | Write-ins | 288 | 0.1 | |
Total votes | 268,583 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
2020s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Anthony Brown (incumbent) | 282,119 | 79.6 | |
Republican | George McDermott | 71,671 | 20.2 | |
Write-in | 739 | 0.2 | ||
Total votes | 354,529 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Glenn Ivey | 144,168 | 90.1 | |
Republican | Jeff Warner | 15,441 | 9.6 | |
Write-in | 400 | 0.3 | ||
Total votes | 160,009 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold | ||||
List of members representing the district
1789–1835: one seat
1835–1843: two seats
From 1835 to 1843, two seats were apportioned, elected at-large on a general ticket.
Years | Congress | Seat A | Seat B | |||||||
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# | Name | Party | Electoral history | # | Name | Party | Electoral history | |||
March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 |
24th | 16 | ![]() Benjamin Chew Howard (Baltimore) |
Jacksonian | Elected in 1835. Re-elected in 1837. |
19 | ![]() Isaac McKim (Baltimore) |
Jacksonian | Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1835. Died. | |
March 3, 1837 – April 1, 1838 |
25th | Democratic | Democratic | |||||||
April 1, 1838 – April 25, 1838 |
Vacant | |||||||||
April 25, 1838 – March 3, 1839 |
20 | ![]() John P. Kennedy (Baltimore) |
Whig | Elected to finish McKim's term. [data missing] | ||||||
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 |
26th | 17 | ![]() James Carroll (Baltimore) |
Democratic | Elected in 1839. [data missing] |
21 | ![]() Solomon Hillen (Baltimore) |
Democratic | Elected in 1839. [data missing] | |
March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 |
27th | 18 | ![]() Alexander Randall (Annapolis) |
Whig | Elected in 1841. [data missing] |
22 | ![]() John P. Kennedy (Baltimore) |
Whig | Elected in 1841. [data missing] |
1843–present: one seat
Notes
- Supported the Jackson faction in the 1824 United States presidential election
References
- "My Congressional District". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". The Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
- Parsons, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Dan Hermann. United States Congressional Districts, 1788-1841 (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1978) p. 8-9
- Parsons. Congressional Districts. p. 42-43
- Parsons. Congressional Districts. p. 93-94
- "Find Your Representative". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
- "Look Up a ZIP Code™". USPS.com. United States Postal Service. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1970" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 1972" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1974" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1978" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 1980" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1982" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 1984" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1986" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1988" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1990" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 3, 1992" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 5, 1996" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 3, 1998" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 7, 2000" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 2004" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- Elections, Maryland State Board of. "2008 Special 4th Congressional General Election Official Results". www.elections.state.md.us.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 2008" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 2012" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives.
- "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- "Official 2016 Presidential General Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland Secretary of State. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- "Official 2020 Presidential General Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 14, 2020.