Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district

Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district is one of five United States congressional districts in Oklahoma and covers approximately one-fourth of the state in the east. The district borders Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas and includes (in whole or in part) a total of 24 counties. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+28, it is the most Republican district in Oklahoma, a state with an all-Republican congressional delegation.

Historically, the district has supported conservative Democrats, and was reckoned as a classic Yellow dog Democrat district. However, the growing Republican trend in the state has overtaken the district since the start of the 21st century. In the last two elections, the Republican presidential candidate has carried it by the largest margin in the state. Urban voters comprise a third of the district.

The district is represented by Republican Josh Brecheen, becoming only the third Republican to hold the seat since 1923. Brecheen was first elected in 2022, following the retirement of five-term Republican incumbent Markwayne Mullin, who was elected to the United States Senate.

Geography

The district borders Kansas to the north, Missouri and Arkansas to the east, and Texas (along the Red River) to the south. It covers all or part of 26 counties. It includes the remainder of Rogers County (including the county seat of Claremore) that is not included in the 1st district, and then, also, all of the following counties: Adair, Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Mayes, Delaware, Cherokee, Okmulgee, Muskogee, Sequoyah, Okfuskee, McIntosh, Haskell, LeFlore, Hughes, Pittsburg, Latimer, Coal, Atoka, Pushmataha, McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, Marshall and Johnston.

Some of the principal cities in the district include Miami, Claremore, Muskogee, Tahlequah, Okmulgee, McAlester, and Durant.

The northern half of the district includes most of the area of Oklahoma referred to as Green Country, while the southern half of the district includes a part of Oklahoma often referred to as Little Dixie. It contains the majority of lands in the Choctaw Nation and the Cherokee Nation, as well as smaller parts of the Creek and Chickasaw nations.

History

In the 20th century, the district heavily favored conservative Democratic candidates, being represented in the House only by Democrats from 1923 to 1994. The district's Democratic leanings stem partly from historic migration patterns into the state– the Little Dixie region of the district imported the people and culture of southern states such as Mississippi after Reconstruction. Voter registration in Little Dixie ran as high as 90 percent Democratic in the past. Additionally, Native Americans in the region tend to vote for Democratic candidates and they have helped Democratic candidates win statewide elections.

The district first shifted Republican in electing Tom Coburn in 1994, who vacated the seat due to a self-imposed term limit pledge (he was elected to the United States Senate 4 years later). It was held by conservative Democrats Brad Carson and Dan Boren from 2001 to 2012. Since the 2012 election, the 2nd district has been safely Republican at all levels including the House: it was represented by Markwayne Mullin from 2013. Mullin assumed office as a U.S. Senator in 2023, and was succeeded as the Representative from the 2nd district by fellow Republican Josh Brecheen.

Presidentially, this was the best-performing district for Democrats in the 20th century; Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win the district, easily carrying it in 1992 and 1996. Since then it has been safely Republican: George W. Bush received 59 percent of the vote in this district in 2004, John McCain received 66 percent of the vote in this district in 2008, and in 2020, Donald Trump won one of the highest percentages for a Republican presidential candidate, winning 76% of the vote to only 22% for the Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Muskogee has produced six representatives, more than any other city in the district. Tahlequah has produced three representatives, the second most of any city in the district.

According to the 2000 U.S. census, the district is 35.51 percent urban, 23.95 percent non-white, and has a population that is 2.40 percent Latino and 1.36 percent foreign-born. The district has a higher percentage of Native Americans than any other congressional district in Oklahoma. Its representative, Josh Brecheen, is one of four Native Americans currently serving in Congress.

Recent election results from statewide races

Year	Office	Results
2008	President	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|McCain 65% - 33%
2012	President	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Romney 68% - 32%
2016	President	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Trump 73% - 23%
	Senate	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Lankford 70% - 24%
2018	Governor	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Stitt 60% - 37%
	Lt. Governor	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Pinnell 67% - 30%
	Attorney General	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Hunter 69% - 31%
2020	President	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Trump 76% - 22%
	Senate	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Inhofe 72% - 24%
2022	Senate (Reg.)	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Lankford 73% - 23%
	Senate (Spec.)	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Mullin 73% - 25%
	Governor	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Stitt 63% - 34%
	Lt. Governor	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Pinnell 73% - 23%
	Treasurer	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Russ 73% - 23%
2024	President	align="right" style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading"|Trump 77% - 21%

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:

Adair County (30)

All 15 communities

Atoka County (6)

All 6 communities

Bryan County (19)

All 19 communities

Cherokee County (33)

All 33 communities

Choctaw County (7)

All 7 communities

Coal County (7)

All 7 communities

Craig County (6)

All 6 communities

Delaware County (32)

All 32 communities

Haskell County (9)

All 9 communities

Hughes County (12)

All 12 communities

Johnston County (14)

All 14 communities

Latimer County (5)

All 5 communities

LeFlore County (20)

All 20 communities

McCurtain County (11)

All 11 communities

McIntosh County (10)

All 10 communities

Marshall County (8)

All 8 communities

Mayes County (29)

All 29 communities

Muskogee County (20)

All 20 communities

Nowata County (6)

All 6 communities

Okfuskee County (9)

All 9 communities

Ottawa County (10)

All 10 communities

Pittsburg County (23)

All 23 communities

Pushmataha County (8)

All 8 communities

Rogers County (16)

Bushyhead, Chelsea, Claremore, Collinsville, Fair Oaks (part; also 2nd; shared with Wagoner County), Foyil, Gregory, Inola, Justice, Limestone (part; also 1st), Oologah, Talala, Tiawah, Tulsa (part; also 1st and 3rd; shared with Osage, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties), Valley Park, Verdigris

Sequoyah County (33)

All 33 communities

Wagoner County (7)

Mallard Bay, Okay, Rocky Point, Taylor Ferry, Toppers, Wagoner, Whitehorn Cove

Washington County (6)

All 6 communities

Recent election results

2004

2004 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dan Boren		65.9%
		Wayland Smalley		34.1%
Total votes				100.00%
	hold

2006

2006 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dan Boren (Incumbent)		72.7%
		Patrick K. Miller		27.3%
Total votes				100.00%
	hold

2008

2008 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dan Boren (Incumbent)		70.5%
		Raymond J. Wickson		29.5%
Total votes				100.00%
	hold

2010

2010 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dan Boren (Incumbent)		56.5%
		Charles Thompson		43.5%
Total votes				100.00%
	hold

2012

Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2012

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Markwayne Mullin		57.3%
		Rob Wallace		38.3%
	Independent	Michael G. Fulks		4.3%
Total votes				100.0%
	gain from

2014

Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2014

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Markwayne Mullin (Incumbent)		70.0%
		Earl Everett		24.6%
	Independent	Jon Douthitt		5.4%
Total votes				100.0%
	hold

2016

Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2016

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Markwayne Mullin (Incumbent)		70.6%
		Joshua Harris-Till		23.2%
	Independent	John McCarthy		6.2%
Total votes				100.0%
	hold

2018

Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2018

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Markwayne Mullin (Incumbent)		65.0%
		Jason Nichols		30.1%
	Independent	John Foreman		3.0%
		Richard Castaldo		1.9%
Total votes				100.0%
	hold

2020

Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2020

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Markwayne Mullin (incumbent)		75.0
		Danyell Lanier		22.0
		Richie Castaldo		3.0
Total votes				100.0
	hold

2022

Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Josh Brecheen		72.4
		Naomi Andrews		23.3
	Independent	"Bulldog" Ben Robinson		4.1
Total votes				100.0
	hold

2024

2024 Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Josh Brecheen (incumbent)		74.18%
		Brandon Wade		21.44%
	Independent	Ronnie Hopkins		4.38%
Total votes				100%
	hold

List of members representing the district

Name	Party	Years	Cong ress	Electoral history
District established November 15, 1907
File:Elmer L. Fulton.jpg Elmer L. Fulton (Oklahoma City)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	November 16, 1907 – March 3, 1909	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1907. Lost re-election.
File:DickTMorgan.jpg Dick T. Morgan (Woodward)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1915	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Redistricted to the Template:Ushr.
File:WilliamWHastings.jpg William Hastings (Tahlequah)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1921	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Lost re-election.
File:A.M. Robertson.jpg Alice Robertson (Muskogee)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1920. Lost re-election.
File:HASTINGS, WILLIAM. HONORABLE LCCN2016862065 (cropped) (cropped).jpg William Hastings (Tahlequah)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1935	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected again in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Retired.
File:John Conover Nichols.jpeg John C. Nichols (Eufaula)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	January 3, 1935 – July 3, 1943	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Resigned to become vice president of Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc.
Vacant		July 3, 1943 – March 28, 1944	Template:USCongressOrdinal
File:STIGLER, William Grady.jpg William G. Stigler (Stigler)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	March 28, 1944 – August 21, 1952	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected to finish Nichols's term. Re-elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Died.
Vacant		August 21, 1952 – January 3, 1953	Template:USCongressOrdinal
File:Rep Ed Edmondson.jpg Ed Edmondson (Muskogee)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1973	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1952. 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. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
File:Clem McSpadden.jpg Clem McSpadden (Claremore)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1972. Retired to run for Governor of Oklahoma.
File:Theodore Marshall Risenhoover.jpg Ted Risenhoover (Tahlequah)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1979	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Lost renomination.
File:Mike Synar (Oklahoma Congressman).jpg Mike Synar (Muskogee)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1995	Template:USCongressOrdinal	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. Lost renomination.
File:Tom Coburn.gif Tom Coburn (Muskogee)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Retired to practice medicine.
File:BradCarson OfficialPortrait.jpg Brad Carson (Claremore)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2005	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
File:Dan Boren, official Congressional photo.jpg Dan Boren (Muskogee)	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Democratic	January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2013	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Retired.
File:Markwayne Mullin, 117th Congress portrait.jpg Markwayne Mullin (Westville)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2023	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
File:Rep. Josh Brecheen official photo, 118th Congress.jpg Josh Brecheen (Coalgate)	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican	January 3, 2023 – present	Template:USCongressOrdinal	Elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024.

Historical district boundaries

File:OK district 2.gif

2003–2013

File:Oklahoma US Congressional District 2 (since 2013).tif

2013–2023

See also

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

References

• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present