Texas's 22nd congressional district

Texas's 22nd congressional district of the United States House of Representatives covers a largely suburban southwestern portion of the metropolitan area. The district includes most of Fort Bend County, including most of the cities of Sugar Land, Rosenberg, Needville and the county seat of Richmond as well as the county's share of the largely unincorporated Greater Katy area west of Houston. In addition, the district also contains portions of northern Brazoria County, including most of Pearland and Alvin and all of Wharton and Matagorda counties, as well as a small portion of western Harris County centered on most of that county's share of the Greater Katy area.

The district is represented by Republican Troy Nehls, who was elected in 2020 over two-time challenger Democrat Sri Preston Kulkarni. From 2009-2021 Texas's 22nd Congressional District was represented by Pete Olson. From 1985 until 2006 the district was represented by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and before that, former Congressman and three-time presidential candidate Ron Paul briefly in 1976 and again from 1979 to 1985.

The Cook Partisan Voting Index, which derives its data from the two most recent presidential elections, gave the district a R+10 lean compared to the national average until its 2021 review, when it was lowered to R+4 before redistricting. The district is currently rated R+9. Indeed, following the 2020 census, the district was redrawn again and extended southward into heavily Republican Wharton and Matagorda counties, as well as northward into a western corner of Harris County centered on most of the county's share of the Greater Katy area and all of the city of Katy itself, save for its portion in Waller County. Several of Fort Bend and Brazoria counties' more Democratic portions in the 22nd were moved to nearby districts held by Democrats, including a largely Asian-American portion of Sugar Land in the former that was moved to the 7th District of Lizzie Fletcher and the largely diverse and Democratic west side of Pearland in the latter that was transferred to the 9th District of Al Green. This would leave the bulk of the new 22nd to be anchored in most of Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Needville and the Greater Katy area in Fort Bend County and most of Pearland, Manvel and Alvin in Brazoria County; Nehls would easily win reelection to a second term in 2022 against a nominal Democratic challenger.

Democratic strength is largely concentrated in scattered majority Hispanic and Black precincts in these aforementioned cities that tend to vote Democratic; many of these precincts have largely tended to vote Democratic by margins of 50-60 percent or better. But these voting blocs are outnumbered by large blocs of suburban Republican voters in much of the district, including groups of moderate-leaning ethnic Asian voters centered on Sugar Land, along with some conservative-leaning Hispanic and African-American voters in more affluent parts of the district. While many of these suburban areas have trended Democratic in recent years due to backlash over Trump's campaign style and economic populism, not unlike the situation with many other similar districts of its kind in the Trump era, the district is not expected to be a target of House Democrats for the foreseeable future.

Demographics

According to the APM Research Lab's Voter Profile Tools (featuring the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey), the district contained about 611,000 potential voters (citizens, age 18+). Of these, 54% are White, 23% Latino, 16% Black, and 16% Asian. Immigrants make up 22% of the district's potential voters. Median income among households (with one or more potential voter) is about $102,500. As for the educational attainment of potential voters in the district, 42% hold a bachelor's or higher degree.

Recent election results from statewide races

2008–2024 boundaries

{| class=wikitable

! Year

! Office

! Results

||2008

| President

| align="right" |McCain 66% - 33%

||2012

| President

| align="right" |Romney 70% - 30%

|rowspan=2|2014

| Senate

| align="right" |Cornyn 75% - 25%

| Governor

| align="right" |Abbott 71% - 29%

||2016

| President

| align="right" |Trump 60% - 36%

|rowspan=5|2018

| Senate

| align="right" |Cruz 58% - 41%

| Governor

| align="right" |Abbott 63% - 35%

| Lt. Governor

| align="right" |Patrick 59% - 39%

| Attorney General

| align="right" |Paxton 58% - 40%

| Comptroller of Public Accounts

| align="right" |Hegar 62% - 36%

|rowspan=2|2020

| President

| align="right" |Trump 57% - 41%

| Senate

| align="right" |Cornyn 59% - 38%

|rowspan=4|2022

| Governor

| align="right" |Abbott 59% - 39%

| Lt. Governor

| align="right" |Patrick 59% - 39%

| Attorney General

| align="right" |Paxton 59% - 39%

| Comptroller of Public Accounts

| align="right" |Hegar 62% - 36%

|rowspan=2|2024

| President

| align="right" |Trump 59% - 39%

| Senate

| align="right" |Cruz 56% - 42%

2008–2024 boundaries

{| class=wikitable

! Year

! Office

! Results

||2008

| President

| align="right" |McCain 67% - 33%

||2012

| President

| align="right" |Romney 71% - 29%

|rowspan=2|2014

| Senate

| align="right" |Cornyn 76% - 24%

| Governor

| align="right" |Abbott 72% - 28%

||2016

| President

| align="right" |Trump 60% - 35%

|rowspan=5|2018

| Senate

| align="right" |Cruz 59% - 40%

| Governor

| align="right" |Abbott 64% - 35%

| Lt. Governor

| align="right" |Patrick 60% - 38%

| Attorney General

| align="right" |Paxton 59% - 39%

| Comptroller of Public Accounts

| align="right" |Hegar 62% - 35%

|rowspan=2|2020

| President

| align="right" |Trump 58% - 41%

| Senate

| align="right" |Cornyn 60% - 38%

|rowspan=4|2022

| Governor

| align="right" |Abbott 61% - 38%

| Lt. Governor

| align="right" |Patrick 60% - 38%

| Attorney General

| align="right" |Paxton 60% - 37%

| Comptroller of Public Accounts

| align="right" |Hegar 63% - 35%

|rowspan=2|2024

| President

| align="right" |Trump 60% - 38%

| Senate

| align="right" |Cruz 57% - 40%

Current 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:

Brazoria County (7)

: Alvin (part; also 14th), Brookside Village, Iowa Colony (part; also 9th), Manvel (part; also 9th), Pearland (part; also 9th; shared with Fort Bend and Harris counties), Rosharon, Sandy Point

Fort Bend County (22)

: Arcola (part; also 9th), Beasley, Cinco Ranch (shared with Harris County), Cumings, Fairchilds, Fulshear, Houston (part; also 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 18th, 29th, 36th, 38th; shared with Harris and Montgomery counties), Katy (part; also 8th and 10th; shared with Harris and Waller counties), Kendleton, Meadows Place, Missouri City (part; also 9th), Needville, Orchard, Pecan Grove, Pleak, Richmond (part; also 7th), Rosenberg, Sienna (part; also 9th), Simonton, Sugar Land (part; also 7th), Thompsons, Weston Lakes

Harris County (3)

: Cinco Ranch (shared with Fort Bend County), Houston (part; also 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th, 18th, 29th, 36th, 38th; shared with Fort Bend and Montgomery counties), Katy (part; also 8th and 10th; shared with Fort Bend and Waller counties),

Matagorda County (9)

: All 9 communities

Wharton County (7)

: All 7 communities

Future composition

Beginning with the 2026 election, the 22nd district will consist of the following counties:

Brazoria (part)
Fort Bend (part)
Harris (part)

List of members representing the district

{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"

! Member

! Party

! Years

! Cong ress

! Electoral history

! width=350 | District location

|- style="height:3em"

| colspan=6 | District established January 3, 1959

|- style="height:3em"

| rowspan=5 align=left | 100px Robert R. Casey

| rowspan=5 | Democratic

| rowspan=5 nowrap | January 3, 1959 – January 22, 1976

| rowspan=5 |

| rowspan=5 | 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. Resigned when appointed to the Federal Maritime Commission.

| 1959–1967

|- style="height:3em"

| 1967–1969

|- style="height:3em"

| 1969–1973

|- style="height:3em"

| 1973–1975

|- style="height:3em"

| rowspan=5 | 1975–1983

|- style="height:3em"

| colspan=2 | Vacant

| nowrap | January 22, 1976 – April 3, 1976

| rowspan=2 |

|- style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px Ron Paul

| | Republican

| nowrap | April 3, 1976 – January 3, 1977

| Elected to finish Casey's term. Lost re-election.

|- style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px Robert Gammage

| | Democratic

| nowrap | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979

| Elected in 1976. Lost re-election.

|- style="height:3em"

| rowspan=2 align=left | 100px Ron Paul

| rowspan=2 | Republican

| rowspan=2 nowrap | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1985

| rowspan=2 |

| rowspan=2 | Elected again in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Retired to run for U.S. Senator.

|- style="height:3em"

| 1983–1985

|- style="height:3em"

| rowspan=5 align=left | 100px Tom DeLay

| rowspan=5 | Republican

| rowspan=5 nowrap | January 3, 1985 – June 9, 2006

| rowspan=5 |

| rowspan=5 | Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Resigned.

| 1985–1993

|- style="height:3em"

| 1993–1997 Parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris

|- style="height:3em"

| 1997–2003 Parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris

|- style="height:3em"

| 2003–2005 Parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris

|- style="height:3em"

| rowspan=5 | 2005–2013 300px Parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Harris

|- style="height:3em"

| colspan=2 | Vacant

| nowrap | June 9, 2006 – November 13, 2006

| rowspan=2 |

|- style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px Shelley Sekula-Gibbs

| | Republican

| nowrap | November 13, 2006 – January 3, 2007

| Elected to finish DeLay's term. Lost election to full term.

|- style="height:3em"

| align=left | 100px Nick Lampson

| | Democratic

| nowrap | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009

| Elected in 2006. Lost re-election.

|- style="height:3em"

| rowspan=2 align=left | 100px Pete Olson

| rowspan=2 | Republican

| rowspan=2 nowrap | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2021

| rowspan=2 |

| rowspan=2 | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Retired.

|- style="height:3em"

| rowspan=2 | 2013–2023 300px Parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris

| rowspan=2 align=left | 100px| Troy Nehls

| rowspan=2 | Republican

| rowspan=2 | January 3, 2021 – present

| rowspan=2 |

| rowspan=2 | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. Retiring at the end of term.

|- style="height:3em"

| 2023–2027 300px Brazoria (part), Fort Bend (part), Harris (part), Matagorda, Wharton

Recent elections

1974

Incumbent Democrat Robert R. Casey defeated ob/gyn Ron Paul, a delegate to the Texas Republican convention; Democrats won 1974 heavily.

1976 special

After President Gerald Ford appointed Casey to head the Federal Maritime Commission, Paul won a 1976 special election against Democrat Robert Gammage to fill the empty seat; Paul was sworn in on April 3. Paul had decided to enter politics on August 15, 1971, when President Richard Nixon closed the "gold window" by implementing the U.S. dollar's complete departure from the gold standard.

Paul was the first Republican elected from the area since Reconstruction, and the first from the state since Bill Guill was elected from the 14th congressional district in 1950. He led the Texas Reagan delegation at the national Republican convention. His successful campaign against Gammage surprised local Democrats, who had expected to retain the seat easily following the Watergate scandal of President Richard Nixon. Gammage underestimated Paul's support among local women.

1976 general

Gammage narrowly defeated Paul some months later in the general election, by fewer than 300 votes (0.2%).

1978

Paul defeated Gammage in a 1978 rematch. Paul would go on to win the 1980 and 1982 elections as well.

1984

In 1984, Paul chose to run for the U.S. Senate instead of re-election to the House. He was succeeded by former state representative and Republican Tom DeLay. DeLay would go on to win re-election from 1986 through 2004.

2004

2006 special

On January 2, 2006, Nick Lampson, a Jefferson County tax assessor-collector, filed as a Democrat to challenge incumbent Tom DeLay for the 2006 general election. Lampson had represented the adjacent until DeLay engineered the 2003 Texas redistricting, after which Lampson lost his seat to Republican Ted Poe in 2004.

DeLay won the Republican primary on March 7, 2006, taking 62% of the vote in the four-way race.

Under Texas law, it was too late for the Republican Party to select another candidate for the ballot of the 2006 general election. DeLay announced on August 8, 2006 that he would withdraw in order to allow the party to organize a campaign for a write-in candidate. Texas Governor Rick Perry announced on August 29, 2006 that a special election would take place for the remainder of DeLay's term (November 2006 to January 2007).

The Texas Republican Party supported Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs as their write-in candidate. Lampson chose not to run in the special election. Sekula-Gibbs won and was sworn in on November 13, 2006. She represented the district for the remaining few weeks of the 109th United States Congress. Sekula-Gibbs promised to fix health care, taxes, and immigration.

2006 general

Due to DeLay's late announcement, no Republican was listed on the ballot for the two-year term that began in January 2007.

The special election was held concurrently with the general election on November 7, 2006. Voters cast votes twice on that date, once for the special election, once for the general election. This arrangement ensured that Sekula-Gibbs's name appeared on a November 7 ballot. Nonetheless, Lampson won the general election and was sworn in on January 4, 2007.

2008

Democratic incumbent Nick Lampson sought re-election. The Republican primary was highly competitive, as Lampson's prior victory was seen as the result of Republicans being forced to run a write-in campaign. Former incumbent Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, former Navy pilot and former Senate liaison officer Pete Olson, state representative Robert Talton, former councilman and mayor of Pasadena John Manlove, and former councilman and mayor of Sugar Land Dean Hrbacek all competed in the primary. No candidate won the primary outright, leading to a run-off campaign between the top two finishers, Sekula-Gibbs and Olson. Olson won the run-off and the nomination.

Olson and Lampson faced each other in the November 4, 2008 general election, along with Libertarian candidate, Vietnam veteran, retired businessman, and community volunteer John Wieder. Olson won the election and was sworn into office in January 2009.

2010

Republican incumbent Pete Olson sought re-election and defeated Democrat Kesha Rogers, a LaRouche Movement supporter, in the general election on November 2, 2010.

2012

Two-term Republican incumbent Pete Olson sought re-election. He was challenged in the primary by conservative newspaper columnist Barbara Carlson, winning 76 percent of the vote.

2014

Three-term incumbent Republican Pete Olson sought re-election. Frank Briscoe and Mark Gibson ran for the Democratic Party's nomination; Briscoe won the primary. Libertarian Rob Lapham competed with Olson and Briscoe in the general election. Olson was re-elected with 66.55% of the vote.

2016

Four-term incumbent Republican Pete Olson sought re-election. In the Democratic primary, Mark Gibson, who lost in the primary in 2014, and A. R. Hassan competed for the party's nomination; Gibson won the nomination with 76.16% of the vote. Olson was re-elected with 59.52% of the vote in the general election.

2018

Five-term incumbent Republican Pete Olson sought re-election. In the Democratic primary, several candidates competed for the nomination, including former diplomat Sri Preston Kulkarni, dentist Letitia Plummer, and 2016 nominee Mark Gibson. No candidate won the Democratic nomination outright, leading to a run-off election between the top two finishers, Kulkarni and Plummer. Kulkarni won the run-off with 62% of the vote, and faced Olson, Libertarian John McElligott, and independent candidate Sara Kellen Sweney in the general election. Olson won the general election with 51.4% of the vote, his closest-ever victory.

2020

Six-term incumbent Republican Pete Olson announced he would not seek re-election in 2020, opening up a competitive contest for both major parties. On the Democratic side, 2018 nominee Sri Preston Kulkarni won the nomination again in the March 3 primary, while on the Republican side a large number of candidates ran, including Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls, GOP donor Kathaleen Wall, and Pierce Bush, a member of the Bush family. No candidate won the Republican primary outright, initiating a run-off contest between the top two finishers, Troy Nehls and Kathaleen Wall. Nehls defeated Wall in the July 14 run-off to win the nomination. Nehls defeated Kulkarni in the November election for the seat, which also featured Libertarian candidate Joseph LeBlanc Jr.

2022

2024

References

Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

Demographics

Recent election results from statewide races

2008–2024 boundaries

2008–2024 boundaries

Current composition

Future composition

List of members representing the district

Recent elections

1974

1976 special

1976 general

1978

1984

2004

2006 special

2006 general

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

See also

References