Kentucky's 2nd congressional district (original) (raw)

"KY-2" redirects here. For the state route, see Kentucky Route 2.

U.S. House district for Kentucky

Kentucky's 2nd congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative	Brett GuthrieR–Bowling Green
Distribution	57.53% urban[1]42.47% rural
Population (2023)	775,707[2]
Median householdincome	$63,080[3]
Ethnicity	83.5% White5.4% Black4.2% Hispanic4.1% Two or more races2.0% Asian0.7% other
Cook PVI	R+21[4]

Kentucky's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Located in west central Kentucky, the district includes Bowling Green, Owensboro, Elizabethtown, and a portion of eastern Louisville. The district has not seen an incumbent defeated since 1884.

The district is currently represented by Republican Brett Guthrie.

Former Representative Democrat William Natcher is noted for holding the record for most consecutive roll call votes in the history of Congress—more than 18,000 votes.

The district is similar in character to the 1st district. While Democrats still hold most local offices in the district, they tend to be very conservative on social issues, a trend that leads them to vote Republican in most national elections.

Until January 1, 2006, Kentucky did not track party affiliation for registered voters who were neither Democratic nor Republican.[6] The Kentucky voter registration card does not explicitly list anything other than Democratic Party, Republican Party, or Other, with the "Other" option having a blank line and no instructions on how to register as something else.[7]

Recent statewide elections

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Cities of 10,000 or more people

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• Louisville – 624,444
• Bowling Green – 76,212
• Owensboro – 60,037
• Elizabethtown – 31,892
• Radcliff – 22,953
• Mount Washington – 18,424
• Glasgow – 15,282
• Shepherdsville – 14,486
• Bardstown – 13,739

2,500 – 10,000 people

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• Middletown – 9,706
• Hillview – 8,771
• Fort Knox – 7,742
• Vine Grove – 6,880
• Leitchfield – 6,432
• Central City – 5,810
• Greenville – 4,401
• Beaver Dam – 3,490
• Hodgenville – 3,283
• Rineyville – 3,039
• Brandenburg. – 2,929
• Pioneer Village – 2,708
• Hartford – 2,636

List of members representing the district

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Member	Party	Years	Congress	Electoral history	Location
District created November 8, 1792
Alexander D. Orr(Maysville)	Anti-Administration	November 8, 1792 –March 3, 1795	2nd3rd4th	Elected September 7, 1792.Re-elected in 1793.Re-elected in 1795.Retired.	1792–1797:"Northern district": Bourbon, Fayette, Mason, Scott, and Woodford counties
Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1795 –March 3, 1797
John Fowler(Lexington)	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1797 –March 3, 1803	5th6th7th	Elected in 1797.Re-elected in 1799.Re-elected in 1801.Redistricted to the 5th district.	1797–1803:"Northern district": Bourbon, Campbell, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Harrison, Mason, Scott, and Woodford counties
John Boyle(Lancaster)	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1803 –March 3, 1809	8th9th10th	Elected in 1803.Re-elected in 1804.Re-elected in 1806.Retired.	1803–1813[_data missing_]
Samuel McKee(Lancaster)	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1809 –March 3, 1813	11th12th	Elected in 1808.Re-elected in 1810.Redistricted to the 7th district.
Henry Clay(Lexington)	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1813 –January 19, 1814	13th	Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1812.Resigned to accept a position as diplomatic envoy to Great Britain.	1813–1823[_data missing_]
Vacant	January 19, 1814 –March 29, 1814
Joseph H. Hawkins(Lexington)	Democratic-Republican	March 29, 1814 –March 3, 1815	Elected to finish Clay's term.Retired.
Vacant	March 3, 1815 –October 30, 1815	14th	Henry Clay was re-elected in 1814, but the Governor declared the seat vacant as Clay was out of the country.
Henry Clay(Lexington)	Democratic-Republican	October 30, 1815 –March 3, 1821	14th15th16th	Elected to finish his vacant term.Re-elected in 1816.Re-elected in 1818.Retired.
Samuel H. Woodson(Lexington)	Democratic-Republican	March 4, 1821 –March 3, 1823	17th	Elected in 1820.Redistricted to the 7th district and lost re-election.
Thomas Metcalfe(Carlisle)	Democratic-Republican	March 3, 1823 –March 3, 1825	18th19th20th	Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1822.Re-elected in 1824.Re-elected in 1827.Resigned to run for Governor of Kentucky.	1823–1833Bourbon, Bracken, Mason, Nicholas counties
Anti-Jacksonian	March 4, 1825 –June 1, 1828
Vacant	June 1, 1828 –December 1, 1828	20th
John Chambers(Washington)	Anti-Jacksonian	December 1, 1828 –March 3, 1829	Elected to finish Metcalfe's term.Retired.
Nicholas D. Coleman(Washington)	Jacksonian	March 4, 1829 –March 3, 1831	21st	Elected in 1829.Retired.
Thomas A. Marshall(Paris)	Anti-Jacksonian	March 4, 1831 –March 3, 1833	22nd	Elected in 1831.Redistricted to the 12th district.
Albert G. Hawes(Hawesville)	Jacksonian	March 4, 1833 –March 3, 1837	23rd24th	Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 1833.Re-elected in 1835.Retired.	1833–1843[_data missing_]
Edward Rumsey(Greenville)	Whig	March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1839	25th	Elected in 1837.Retired.
Philip Triplett(Owensboro)	Whig	March 4, 1839 –March 3, 1843	26th27th	Elected in 1839.Re-elected in 1841.Retired.
Willis Green(Green)	Whig	March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1845	28th	Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1843.Retired.	1843–1853[_data missing_]
John H. McHenry(Hartford)	Whig	March 4, 1845 –March 3, 1847	29th	Elected in 1845.Renominated but withdrew prior to election.
Beverly L. Clarke(Franklin)	Democratic	March 4, 1847 –March 3, 1849	30th	Elected in 1847.Retired to become a delegate to the state constitutional convention.
James L. Johnson(Owensboro)	Whig	March 4, 1849 –March 3, 1851	31st	Elected in 1849.Renominated but declined.
Benjamin E. Grey(Hopkinsville)	Whig	March 4, 1851 –March 3, 1855	32nd33rd	Elected in 1851.Re-elected in 1853.Lost re-election.
1853–1863[_data missing_]
John P. Campbell Jr.(Belleview)	Know Nothing	March 4, 1855 –March 3, 1857	34th	Elected in 1855.Renominated but declined.
Samuel Peyton(Hartford)	Democratic	March 4, 1857 –March 3, 1861	35th36th	Elected in 1857.Re-elected in 1859.Lost renomination.
James S. Jackson(Hopkinsville)	Union Democratic	March 4, 1861 –December 13, 1861	37th	Elected in 1861.Resigned to enter the Union Army.
Vacant	December 13, 1861 –December 1, 1862
George H. Yeaman(Owensboro)	Union Democratic	December 1, 1862 –March 3, 1865	37th38th	Elected to finish Jackson's term.Re-elected in 1863.Lost re-election.
1863–1873[_data missing_]
Burwell C. Ritter(Hopkinsville)	Democratic	March 4, 1865 –March 3, 1867	39th	Elected in 1865.Retired.
Vacant	March 4, 1867 –March 3, 1869	40th	John Y. Brown was elected in 1867 but the seat was declared vacant due to Brown's alleged disloyalty during the Civil War, and the district refused to elect anyone to fill the vacancy.
William N. Sweeney(Owensboro)	Democratic	March 4, 1869 –March 3, 1871	41st	Elected in 1868.Renominated but declined.
Henry D. McHenry(Hartford)	Democratic	March 4, 1871 –March 3, 1873	42nd	Elected in 1870.Retired.
John Y. Brown(Henderson)	Democratic	March 4, 1873 –March 3, 1877	43rd44th	Elected in 1872.Re-elected in 1874.Retired.	1873–1883[_data missing_]
James A. McKenzie(Long View)	Democratic	March 4, 1877 –March 3, 1883	45th46th47th	Elected in 1876.Re-elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.Lost renomination.
James F. Clay(Henderson)	Democratic	March 4, 1883 –March 3, 1885	48th	Elected in 1882.Lost renomination.	1883–1893[_data missing_]
Polk Laffoon(Madisonville)	Democratic	March 4, 1885 –March 3, 1889	49th50th	Elected in 1884.Re-elected in 1886.Retired.
William T. Ellis(Owensboro)	Democratic	March 4, 1889 –March 3, 1895	51st52nd53rd	Elected in 1888.Re-elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Retired.
1893–1903[_data missing_]
John D. Clardy(Newstead)	Democratic	March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1899	54th55th	Elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Retired.
Henry D. Allen(Morganfield)	Democratic	March 4, 1899 –March 3, 1903	56th57th	Elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Retired.
Augustus O. Stanley(Henderson)	Democratic	March 4, 1903 –March 3, 1915	58th59th60th61st62nd63rd	Elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Re-elected in 1912.Retired to run for U.S. Senator.	1903–1913[_data missing_]
1913–1923[_data missing_]
David H. Kincheloe(Madisonville)	Democratic	March 4, 1915 –October 5, 1930	64th65th66th67th68th69th70th71st	Elected in 1914.Re-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.Resigned when appointed to the U.S. Customs Court.
1923–1933[_data missing_]
Vacant	October 5, 1930 –November 4, 1930	71st
John L. Dorsey Jr.(Henderson)	Democratic	November 4, 1930 –March 3, 1931	Elected to finish Kincheloe's term.Retired.
Glover H. Cary(Owensboro)	Democratic	March 4, 1931 –March 3, 1933	72nd	Elected in 1930.Redistricted to the at-large district.
District inactive	March 4, 1933 –March 3, 1935	73rd
Glover H. Cary(Owensboro)	Democratic	March 4, 1935 –December 5, 1936	74th	Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1934.Died.	1935–1943[_data missing_]
Vacant	December 5, 1936 –March 2, 1937
Beverly M. Vincent(Brownsville)	Democratic	March 2, 1937 –January 3, 1945	74th75th76th77th78th	Elected to finish Cary's term.Also elected to the next full term.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Retired.
1943–1953[_data missing_]
Earle Clements(Morganfield)	Democratic	January 3, 1945 –January 6, 1948	79th80th	Elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Resigned when elected Governor of Kentucky.
Vacant	January 6, 1948 –April 17, 1948	80th
John A. Whitaker(Russellville)	Democratic	April 17, 1948 –December 15, 1951	80th81st82nd	Elected to finish Clements's term.Re-elected in 1948.Re-elected in 1950.Died.
Vacant	December 15, 1951 –August 2, 1952	82nd
Garrett Withers(Dixon)	Democratic	August 2, 1952 –April 30, 1953	82nd83rd	Elected to finish Whitaker's term.Re-elected later in 1952.Died.
1953–1963[_data missing_]
Vacant	April 30, 1953 –August 1, 1953	83rd
William Natcher(Bowling Green)	Democratic	August 1, 1953 –March 29, 1994	83rd84th85th86th87th88th89th90th91st92nd93rd94th95th96th97th98th99th100th101st102nd103rd	Elected to finish Wither's term.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Re-elected in 1960.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.Re-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.Died.
1963–1973[_data missing_]
1973–1983[_data missing_]
1983–1993[_data missing_]
1993–2003[_data missing_]
Vacant	March 29, 1994 –May 24, 1994	103rd
Ron Lewis(Cecilia)	Republican	May 24, 1994 –January 3, 2009	103rd104th105th106th107th108th109th110th	Elected to finish Natcher's term.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Retired.
2003–2013
Brett Guthrie(Bowling Green)	Republican	January 3, 2009 –present	111th112th113th114th115th116th117th118th	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.Re-elected in 2022.
2013–2023Counties: Barren, Boyle, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Daviess, Edmonson, Garrard, Grayson, Green, Hancock, Hardin, Hart, Jessamine (partial), LaRue, Meade, Mercer, Nelson, Spencer (partial), Warren, Washington (partial)
2023–present

Recent election results

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• Kentucky's congressional districts
• List of United States congressional districts

1. ^ Geography. "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based) Bureau". www.census.gov. Archived from the original on July 17, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
2. ^ "My Congressional District". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.
3. ^ "My Congressional District Bureau". www.census.gov. Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.
4. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
5. ^ "Registration Statistics". Kentucky State Board of Elections. January 2022.
6. ^ "Kentucky Administrative Regulations 31KAR4:150". Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. November 2005. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
7. ^ "Register To Vote". Kentucky State Board of Elections. August 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2014.

• 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

37°32′41″N 85°59′26″W / 37.54472°N 85.99056°W / 37.54472; -85.99056