CQ Risk Rating: Safe Democrat 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| Ralph M. Hall (D) | 145,887 | 60% |
| Jon Newton (R) | 91,574 | 38% |
| Joe Turner (LIBERT) | 4,417 | 2% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: MARCH 14, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| Ralph M. Hall | 16,403 | 100% |
| | Republican |
| Jon Newton | 21,791 | 55% |
| Mark Peterman | 18,164 | 45% |
Source: Congressional Quarterly. To suggest updates and corrections: politics.feedback@cq.com
Major Industry | Population | Cities | People | Race | Median Household Income | Unusual Features
TEXAS 4
:
Northeast - Sherman; part of Tyler
The 4th covers a wide swath of the Red River Valley area north and east
of Dallas, which was once represented by former Democratic House Speaker Sam
Rayburn but now is increasingly familiar territory for the GOP. The district
extends from the Oklahoma border to the oil cities of Tyler and Longview to
the east. It has an older, more rural and more blue-collar population than
most other Texas districts, and many residents espouse economic conservatism
and gun rights.
Voters in the 4th elect conservatives of both parties to local and
national offices, but the GOP has made dramatic inroads since the 1980s. The
district gave the 1996 Republican presidential nominee 56 percent of the
vote, 7 points higher than the state average. Although Democrats have held
this seat for decades, experts say the 4th will probably elect a Republican
when Rep. Hall steps down.
Many Rockwall County residents commute to jobs in Dallas, while those in
other counties farm the land for peanuts and other crops that became popular
after the cotton industry's decline. The oil bust in the mid-1980s hurt the
economy near Tyler and Longview, but other areas have rebounded with the
help of several electronics manufacturing plants located in or near the
district. Since the mid-1980s, both the agricultural and manufacturing
sectors have posted large gains, offsetting the oil decline.
Major Industry
Health care, electronics manufacturing, agriculture.
Population
567,231 (1990)
Cities
Tyler (pt.), 44,569; Longview (pt.), 37,960 (1990); Sherman, 34,024 (1997)
People
49% rural, 32% urban; 14% age 65+ (ranks fifth of 30 in state; middle third
nationally); 63% married couples, 30% married couples with children; 16%
college educated (ranks 14 of 30 in state; middle third nationally); 54%
white collar (ranks 16 of 30 in state; middle third nationally), 30% blue
collar (ranks eighth of 30 in state; top third nationally) (1990)
Race
88% white, 8% black, 0% Asian; 4% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$26,974 (ranks 14 of 30 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
Tyler bills itself as the "Rose Capital of the World" and hosts a week-long
festival each October; Former House Speaker Rayburn hailed from Bonham, in
Fannin County.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
Front | Political News | Elections | The Issues | Federal Page | Polls
Columns - Cartoons | Live Online | Online Extras | Photo Galleries | Video - Audio
|
District 4
