CQ Risk Rating: Safe Democrat 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| Jim Turner (D) | 162,891 | 91% |
| Gary Lyndon Dye (LIBERT) | 15,939 | 9% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: MARCH 14, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| Jim Turner | 65,446 | 100% |
Source: Congressional Quarterly. To suggest updates and corrections: politics.feedback@cq.com
Major Industry | Population | Cities | People | Race | Median Household Income | Unusual Features
TEXAS 2
:
East - Lufkin; Orange
A sprawling mass of east Texas territory, the hardscrabble 2nd borders
Louisiana to the east and reaches west to near Bryan. Its southern border is
marked by the oil city of Beaumont and suburbs northeast of Houston. A
mostly rural district, the 2nd's largest city is Lufkin, located in the
northern end of the district and surrounded by vast timber forests.
The 2nd's economy has been split between the eastern and southern
portions, which rely on the chemical and shipping industries based in Orange
and nearby Beaumont and Port Arthur, and the northern and western sections,
where timber still reigns. Government jobs and contracts became increasingly
important to the region as its industrial and manufacturing economies
slipped somewhat during the late 1980s and early '90s. Slow population
growth and a high percentage of blue-collar workers have made it difficult
to attract higher-paying service jobs.
In many ways, the 2nd's political situation hasn't changed much since
populist Democrat Charles Wilson began his 24 years in Congress in 1973.
Although religious conservatives have garnered a base of support, the
region's distance from the GOP-solid suburbs of Houston and Dallas makes it
an important swing area for Democrats, provided they aren't too liberal.
After Wilson retired in 1996, a conservative Democrat won the seat, although
he lost the counties closest to Houston.
Major Industry
Timber, petrochemicals, shipping
Population
565,906 (1990)
Cities
Lufkin, 33,089; Huntsville, 29,060; Orange, 18,953 (1996)
People
61% rural; 14% age 65+ (ranks fourth of 30 in state; top third nationally);
61% married couples, 28% married couples with children; 10% college educated
(ranks 28 of 30 in state; bottom third nationally); 46% white collar (ranks
29 of 30 in state; bottom third nationally), 34% blue collar (ranks second
of 30 in state; top third nationally) (1990)
Race
79% white, 17% black, 0% Asian; 5% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$21,216 (ranks 27 of 30 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
Huntsville's favorite son is Sam Houston, the first president of the
Republic of Texas; Houston died on his way to visit the "medicinal baths" of
Sour Lake, a town north of Beaumont that got its name when crude oil seeped
into the waters of a nearby lake.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
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District 2
