CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 30% 66% 87% 9% 1997 33 67 90 10 1996 38 59 91 8 1995 22 78 93 6 1994 41 58 94 4 1993 39 61 84 15 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 97 1997 99 1996 98 1995 99 1994 98 1993 98	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 10% n/a 76% 88 % 1997 20 25 100 84 1996 10 0 88 95 1995 5 0 96 80 1994 20 11 100 90 1993 10 17 91 88
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

FLORIDA 13 : Southwest - Sarasota and Manatee counties, Sarasota

Midwestern retirees flock to the Gulf Coast cities of Sarasota and Bradenton, making the 13th a reliably Republican district. Sarasota and Manatee counties have nearly 90 percent of the district's population; the more affluent tend to live near Sarasota while middle-class residents are more prevalent around Bradenton. The 13th also takes in residential portions of Charlotte and Hillsborough counties.

Most residents live near the coast, while farmland and citrus groves occupy the inland. Sarasota's museums and cultural offerings attract visitors from around the state, while Bradenton has several popular retail centers and boat-maker Wellcraft Marine. The 13th's high proportion of people 65 years and older makes it a popular home for older part-time residents.

During the 1990s, the area has grown both in population and economic development. Service industries, including investment companies, and trade make up much of the labor force. The 13th's expansion has made the environment and growth management top local concerns. The district has the second-highest GOP registration in the state, ensuring Republican dominance in nearly every election.

Major Industry
Health care, financial services, marine

Population
562,501 (1990)

Cities
Sarasota, 50,891; Bradenton, 47,219 (1997); Port Charlotte (unincorporated) (pt.), 30,731 (1990)

People
83% urban; 31% age 65+ (ranks second of 23 in state; top third nationally); 59% married couples, 16% married couples with children; 18% college educated (ranks 13 of 23 in state; middle third nationally); 56% white collar (ranks 17 of 23 in state; middle third nationally), 24% blue collar (ranks eighth of 23 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
93% white, 5% black, 1% Asian; 4% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$27,616 (ranks 12 of 23 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Sarasota's Ringling Museum of Art established by circus owner John Ringling, who brought his circus to the area each winter.

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