CQ Risk Rating: Republican Favored 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| William M. "Mac" Thornberry (R) | 117,995 | 68% |
| Curtis Clinesmith (D) | 54,343 | 31% |
| Brad Clardy (LIBERT) | 2,137 | 1% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: MARCH 14, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| Curtis Clinesmith | 18,805 | 100% |
| | Republican |
| William M. "Mac" Thornberry | 30,867 | 92% |
| David Morris | 2,863 | 8% |
Source: Congressional Quarterly. To suggest updates and corrections: politics.feedback@cq.com
Major Industry | Military Bases | Population | Cities | People | Race | Median Household Income | Unusual Features
TEXAS 13
:
Eastern Panhandle - Wichita Falls; part of Amarillo
The conservative 13th starts at the Oklahoma border, runs through the
Panhandle to below Lubbock in the west and then heads east, covering the
South Plains, the Red River Valley and taking in a bit of Denton. A
monstrous and mainly rural district, the 13th includes all or part of 38
sparsely settled counties.
Oil and cotton dominate the district's economy, and both suffered during
the 1980s and early '90s as oil prices dropped and droughts starved the
land. Thanks to other industries, the main cities weathered the
difficulties. In Amarillo, Pantex, the nation's only nuclear weapons
assembly and disassembly plant, planned an expansion and a new aircraft
assembly plant in 1999. In Wichita Falls, factories are rampant, but the
jewel of the economy is Sheppard Air Force Base, which has so far escaped
downsizing. Many of the district's rural counties depend on the Ogallala
Aquifer to grow wheat, sorghum, sugar beets, corn and hay.
Republicans took the House seat from Democrats in 1994, the result of a
growing conservative trend. Locally, Republicans do well in many of the
rural small towns that dot the district, particularly around Amarillo. The
portion of Lubbock that's in the 13th favors Democrats. Closer to
blue-collar Wichita Falls, voters traditionally favored Democrats, but
elections are getting more competitive.
Major Industry
Agriculture, oil, defense
Military Bases
Sheppard Air Force Base, 3,441 military, 1,409 civilian (1998)
Population
566,682 (1990)
Cities
Wichita Falls, 100,138 (1996); Amarillo (pt.), 91,502; Denton (pt.),
42,308; Lubbock (pt.), 38,098 (1990)
People
48% urban, 27% rural; 14% age 65+ (ranks third of 30 in state; top third
nationally); 58% married couples, 28% married couples with children; 14%
college educated (ranks 22 of 30 in state; bottom third nationally); 47%
white collar (ranks 26 of 30 in state; bottom third nationally), 30% blue
collar (ranks eighth of 30 in state; top third nationally) (1990)
Race
79% white, 8% black, 1% Asian; 19% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$20,907 (ranks 28 of 30 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
Singer Buddy Holly born and raised in Lubbock; A stretch of Route 66, made
famous by songs and television, cuts through the 13th.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
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District 13
