Alabama's 7th congressional district

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Alabama's 7th congressional district is a United States congressional district in Alabama that elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives. The district encompasses Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Pickens, Perry, Sumter and Wilcox counties, and portions of Clarke, Jefferson, and Tuscaloosa counties. The district encompasses portions of the Birmingham, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa/Northport urban areas. The largest city entirely within the district is Selma.

The district has been majority nonwhite, with a majority of African-American residents, since the redistricting following the 1990 census. As such, and with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+13, it is the most Democratic district in Alabama.^[1] The district was adjusted due to the judicial selection of a new congressional map as a result of the case Allen v. Milligan, with its share of Montgomery and half of Clarke County shifted to the 2nd district and a portion of Tuscaloosa County given to the 4th district. It is currently represented by Democrat Terri Sewell.

Character

Alabama's 7th congressional district was first defined in 1843; it has continued since then with the exception of the years 1867–1873 during the Reconstruction era. The geographic area represented by this district has changed over time, depending upon the number of U.S. Representatives apportioned to Alabama. Around the turn of the 20th century, the district included the city of Gadsden. Over time, the district was redefined to include the area around Tuscaloosa. The last two representatives for the district before its reconfiguration as a majority-minority area were Richard Shelby and Claude Harris, both Tuscaloosa residents.

The shape of the current district was largely established in 1992, when it was reconstituted as a majority-minority district under provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended in 1982 to encourage greater representation for minorities in Congress.^[2] Half of the western Alabama portion of the district was moved to the 4th district, and a large portion of Tuscaloosa County was moved into the 6th district, which had primarily been based around Birmingham. To counter the loss in population and to create the majority-minority, many counties from the Black Belt region, a rural expanse in Alabama with a high proportion of African-American residents descended from workers on cotton plantations, were added to the district, as was an arm extending from Tuscaloosa roughly along the Interstate 20/59 corridor into Jefferson County to take in most of the black precincts of Birmingham. Most of Birmingham's white residents remained in the 6th district. The three representatives elected from the district following reconfiguration—Earl F. Hilliard, Artur Davis, and Terri Sewell—have all been residents of Birmingham.

Mostly minor changes in the following two redistrictings have not substantially changed the shape of the district. But, western portions of Montgomery County have been restored to this district, including large swaths of inner-city Montgomery in the redistricting following the 2010 census. This area had earlier been removed after the 2000 census. The district contains urbanized areas of Birmingham, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa, and ten of the fourteen rural counties in the Black Belt. Three of the state's largest colleges are located in the district: Alabama State University in Montgomery, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Alabama's 7th Congressional district is a good example of a state that has experienced partisan gerrymandering over the last decade. In the 2010 redistricting cycle, Republicans drew district lines to pack together several major Democratic communities into a single district, ensuring that Democrats were only elected to one seat. Alabama's District 7 reaches into several other districts' regions to pick out Democratic voters. The 7th district is the most gerrymandered in the state.^[3]

Democrats have represented the 7th district in all but 6 years since 1843.

Counties and communities

For the 119th and successive Congresses (based on the districts drawn following the Supreme Court's decision in Allen v. Milligan), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities.^[4]

Choctaw County (8)

All eight communities

Clarke County (6)

Coffeeville, Fulton, Grove Hill, Jackson (part; also 2nd), Thomasville, Whatley

Dallas County (4)

All four communities

Greene County (4)

All four communities

Hale County (4)

All four communities

Jefferson County (32)

Adamsville, Bessemer, Birmingham (part; also 6th), Brighton, Brookside, Cardiff, Center Point (part; also 6th), Concord, Edgewater, Fairfield, Forestdale, Fultondale (part; also 6th), Graysville (part; also 6th), Helena (part; also 6th; shared with Shelby County), Homewood (part; also 6th), Hoover (part; also 6th; shared with Shelby County), Hueytown, Irondale (part; also 6th), Lake View (shared with Tuscaloosa County), Lipscomb, Maytown, McCalla, McDonald Chapel, Midfield, Minor, Mulga, North Johns, Pleasant Grove, Rock Creek, Sylvan Springs, Tarrant, West Jefferson

Lowndes County (7)

All seven communities

Marengo County (10)

All 10 communities

Perry County (2)

Marion, Uniontown

Pickens County (9)

All nine communities

Sumter County (9)

All nine communities

Tuscaloosa County (9)

Brookwood, Coaling, Cottondale, Holt (part; also 4th), Lake View (shared with Jefferson County), Moundville (shared with Hale County), Tuscaloosa (part; also 4th), Vance (part; also 6th; shared with Bibb County), Woodstock (part; also 6th; shared with Bibb County)

Wilcox County (7)

All seven communities

Recent election results from statewide races

A majority of voters in the district are African Americans who support the Democratic Party and its candidates.

Year	Office	Results^[5]
2008	President	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Obama 63% - 36%
2012	President	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Obama 65% - 35%
2016	President	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Clinton 62% - 36%
2016	Senate	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Crumpton 62% - 38%
2017	Senate (Spec.)	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Jones 74% - 25%
2018	Governor	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Maddox 67% - 33%
	Lt. Governor	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Boyd 66% - 34%
	Attorney General	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Siegelman 67% - 33%
2020	President	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Biden 64% - 35%
2020	Senate	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Jones 66% - 34%
2022	Senate	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Boyd 60% - 38%
	Governor	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Flowers 58% - 39%
	Attorney General	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Major 61% - 39%
	Secretary of State	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Laffitte 60% - 37%
2024	President	align="right" style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"\|Harris 61% - 37%

List of members representing the district

Member	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history	Location
District created March 4, 1843
Felix Grundy McConnell (Talladega)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	March 4, 1843 – September 10, 1846	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1845. Died.	1843–1853 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Vacant		September 10, 1846 – December 7, 1846	Template:USCongressOrdinal
Franklin Welsh Bowdon (Talladega)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	December 7, 1846 – March 3, 1851	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected to finish McConnell's term. Re-elected in 1847. Re-elected in 1849. Retired.
Alexander White (Talladega)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="background-color:Template:Party color" \| Whig	March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1851. Retired.
File:James Ferguson Dowdell.jpg James Ferguson Dowdell (Chambers)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1853. Redistricted to the Template:Ushr.	1853–1863 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Sampson Willis Harris (Wetumpka)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Redistricted from the Template:Ushr and re-elected in 1855. Retired.
File:Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry.jpg Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry (Talladega)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	March 4, 1857 – January 21, 1861	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1857. Re-elected in 1859. Withdrew due to Civil War.
Vacant		January 21, 1861 – March 3, 1863	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Members withdrew during the American Civil War.
District eliminated in 1863 and re-established in 1877
File:William H. Forney.jpg William H. Forney (Jacksonville)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1893	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Redistricted from the Template:Ushr and re-elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Re-elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Retired.	1877–1893 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
File:William Henry Denson.png William Henry Denson (Gadsden)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1892. Lost renomination.	1893–1903 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
File:MW Howard(1).jpg Milford W. Howard (Fort Payne)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="background:Template:Party color" \| Populist	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Retired.
File:BURNETT, HON. LCCN2016856440.jpg John L. Burnett (Gadsden)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	rowspan=2 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	March 4, 1899 – May 13, 1919	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Died.
	1913–1933 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".	March 4, 1899 – May 13, 1919	Template:USCongressOrdinal
Vacant		May 13, 1919 – September 30, 1919	Template:USCongressOrdinal
File:Lilius Bratton Rainey circa 1920.jpg Lilius Bratton Rainey (Gadsden)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	September 30, 1919 – March 3, 1923	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected to finish Burnett's term. Re-elected in 1920. Retired.
File:Miles Allgood.png Miles C. Allgood (Allgood)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1933	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Redistricted to the Template:Ushr.
File:William Brockman Bankhead (Young).jpg William B. Bankhead (Jasper)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".		style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	March 4, 1933 – September 15, 1940	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Redistricted from the Template:Ushr and re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Died.	1933–1943 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Vacant		September 15, 1940 – November 5, 1940	Template:USCongressOrdinal
Zadoc L. Weatherford (Red Bay)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	November 5, 1940 – January 3, 1941	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected to finish William Bankhead's term. Retired.
Walter W. Bankhead (Jasper)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	January 3, 1941 – February 1, 1941	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1940. Resigned.
Vacant		February 1, 1941 – June 24, 1941	Template:USCongressOrdinal
Carter Manasco (Jasper)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	June 24, 1941 – January 3, 1949	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected to finish Walter Bankhead's term. Re-elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Lost renomination.
File:Carl Elliott.jpg Carl Elliott (Jasper)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1963	Template:USCongressOrdinal	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. Redistricted to the Template:Ushr.	1953–1963 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
District inactive		January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1965	Template:USCongressOrdinal	All representatives elected Template:Ushr on a general ticket.
File:James D. Martin.jpg James D. Martin (Gadsden)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Republican	January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1964. Retired to run for Governor.	1965–1973 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
File:Tombevill.jpg Tom Bevill (Jasper)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Redistricted to the Template:Ushr.	1965–1973 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
File:Walter Flowers.jpg Walter Flowers (Tuscaloosa)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Redistricted from the Template:Ushr and re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.	1973–1983 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
File:Richard Shelby 97th Congress 1981.jpg Richard Shelby (Tuscaloosa)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1987	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Retired to run for U.S. senator.	1983–1993 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
File:Claude Harris, Jr.jpg Claude Harris Jr. (Tuscaloosa)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Retired.	1983–1993 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
File:Earl Hilliard.jpg Earl Hilliard (Birmingham)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Lost renomination.	1993–2003 Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
File:Artur Davis.jpg Artur Davis (Birmingham)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2011	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Retired to run for Governor.	2003–2013 File:AL07 110.png
File:Terri Sewell 116th Congress.jpg Terri Sewell (Birmingham)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".	rowspan=5 style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" \| Democratic	January 3, 2011 – present	Template:USCongressOrdinal	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. Re-elected in 2024.	2003–2013 File:AL07 110.png
	2013–2023 File:Alabama US Congressional District 7 (since 2013).tif
	2023–2025 File:Alabama's 7th congressional district (2023–2025) (new version).svg
	2025–present File:Alabama's 7th congressional district (since 2025) (new version).svg