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Maryland's 3rd congressional district

U.S. House district for Maryland

Summary

U.S. House district for Maryland

FieldValue
stateMaryland
district number3
image name
image captionInteractive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
representativeSarah Elfreth
partyDemocratic
residenceAnnapolis
english area292.74
percent urban98.7
percent rural1.3
population782,840
population year2024
median income$136,641
percent white57.0
percent hispanic9.0
percent black17.2
percent asian10.9
percent more than one race5.1
percent other race0.8
percent blue collar15.7
percent white collar71.7
percent gray collar12.5
cpviD+12

| percent more than one race = 5.1 Maryland's 3rd congressional district covers all of Howard county as well as parts of Anne Arundel and Carroll counties. The seat is currently represented by Sarah Elfreth, a Democrat.

Three people who represented Maryland in the United States Senate were also former representatives of the 3rd district, including Ben Cardin, Barbara Mikulski, and Paul Sarbanes.

The district's previously odd shape was attributed to gerrymandering to favor Democratic candidates, following the 2000 and 2010 censuses. In 2012, the district was found to be the third least compact congressional district in the United States, and in 2014, The Washington Post called it the nation's second-most gerrymandered district. John Sarbanes, the previous Democratic Representative for the district, put forth the For the People Act of 2019 to address electoral reform, voting rights, and gerrymandering in the United States. Following the 2020 redistricting cycle, it now includes Howard County, most of Anne Arundel County including Glen Burnie and Annapolis, and part of Carroll County, specifically the areas around Mount Airy. For the first time in decades, the district did not include Baltimore City or Baltimore County. It not only lost its connection to Mikulski, Cardin, and Paul Sarbanes, but left John Sarbanes' home outside the district.

Historical boundaries

Maryland's 3rd district was one of the 61 districts that elected a representative to the 1st United States Congress. It also has the distinction of being one of the few congressional districts that once included areas not currently in the state they are in. The 3rd congressional district originally was composed of Prince George's County, Maryland and Anne Arundel County, Maryland. At that point, what is now Howard County, Maryland, was in Anne Arundel County, and Prince George's County included the eastern half of the District of Columbia.

In 1792, the Maryland 3rd Congressional District was moved to include Montgomery County, Maryland, and the eastern half of Frederick County, Maryland. The population was about 33,000. However, the western portion of what is today Carroll County, Maryland was at this point in Frederick County, and the western half of the District of Columbia was in Montgomery County. This latter fact explains why the district lost population, even though it, in theory, did not experience redistricting after the 1800 census. With the population of Georgetown, D. C., no longer in the district, its 1800 population was about 31,000. At this point, the 3rd was Maryland's least populous district, barely having half the population of the Baltimore City and County 5th district, which, in 1800, had just above 59,000 inhabitants.

The boundaries remained the same after the 1810, 1820, and 1830 censuses. While, in 1820, the district had about 36,000 inhabitants, its population had risen to 53,622 in 1830. With the formation of Carroll County in the 1830s, as well as Maryland falling from 8 to 6 congressional seats, the boundaries of the 3rd Congressional District were drastically redrawn. The only area that remained in the 3rd Congressional District was the part of Carroll County that had been in Frederick County. The 3rd also included Baltimore County and the western half of the city of Baltimore. Its new population was 69,923, 24.5% of whom were black.

In 1853, the 3rd district was redrawn again. The new district consisted of Baltimore County, except for the northern and western parts of the county and about the eastern third of the City of Baltimore. The district now had a population of 95,729. In the redistricting following the 1860 census, Maryland was reduced to five congressional districts. The 3rd was moved so that it contained the part of Baltimore that had not been in the 3rd before 1863. It now had a population of 130,040. In 1873, the 3rd district was moved again, to be the east side of Baltimore. It now had a population of 120,978.

Recent election results from statewide races

YearOfficeResults
2008PresidentObama 52% – 46%
2012PresidentObama 54% – 46%
SenateCardin 47% – 34%
2014GovernorHogan 62% – 38%
2016PresidentClinton 53% – 40%
SenateVan Hollen 53% – 44%
2018SenateCardin 58% – 35%
GovernorHogan 64% – 35%
Attorney GeneralFrosh 58% – 41%
2020PresidentBiden 61% – 36%
2022SenateVan Hollen 62% – 38%
GovernorMoore 62% – 34%
Attorney GeneralBrown 61% – 39%
ComptrollerLierman 57% – 43%
2024PresidentHarris 60% – 36%
SenateHogan 49.0% – 48.6%

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:

Anne Arundel County (20)

: Annapolis, Annapolis Neck, Arden on the Severn, Arnold, Brooklyn Park, Cape St. Claire, Crownsville, Ferndale, Gambrills, Glen Burnie, Herald Harbor, Jessup (part; also 5th; shared with Howard County), Lake Shore, Linthicum, Odenton (part; also 5th), Pasadena, Parole, Riviera Beach, Severn, Severna Park

Carroll County (2)

: Eldersburg (part; also 2nd), Mount Airy (part; also 6th; shared with Frederick County)

Howard County (10)

: All 10 communities

Recent elections

2000s

2010s

2020s

List of members representing the district

MemberPartyYearsCong
ressElectoral historyLocation
District created March 4, 1789
[[File:Benjamin Contee.jpg100px]]
Benjamin Contee
(Charles County)Anti-AdministrationnowrapMarch 4, 1789 –
March 3, 1791Elected in 1789.
Lost re-election.
[[File:Williampinkney (1).jpg100px]]
William Pinkney
(Annapolis)Pro-AdministrationnowrapMarch 4, 1791 –
November 9, 1791Elected in 1790.
Resigned due to questions of ineligibility.
VacantnowrapNovember 9, 1791 –
February 5, 1792
[[File:John Francis Mercer.jpg100px]]
John Francis Mercer
(Galesville)Anti-AdministrationnowrapFebruary 5, 1792 –
March 3, 1793Elected October 26–29, 1791 to finish Pinkney's term.
Redistricted to the .
[[File:Uriah Forrest.jpg100px]]
Uriah Forrest
(Georgetown)Pro-AdministrationnowrapMarch 4, 1793 –
November 8, 1794Elected in 1792.
Re-elected in 1794.
Resigned.
VacantnowrapNovember 8, 1794 –
January 2, 1795
Benjamin Edwards
(Montgomery County)Pro-AdministrationnowrapJanuary 2, 1795 –
March 3, 1795Elected to finish Forrest's term.
Retired.
Jeremiah Crabb
(Rockville)FederalistnowrapMarch 4, 1795 –
June 1, 1796Elected in 1794.
Resigned.
VacantnowrapJune 1, 1796 –
December 5, 1796
William Craik
(Baltimore)FederalistnowrapDecember 5, 1796 –
March 3, 1801Elected October 3, 1796 to finish Crabb's term.
Also elected the same day to the next term.
Re-elected in 1798.
Retired.
Thomas Plater
(Georgetown)FederalistnowrapMarch 4, 1801 –
March 3, 1805Elected in 1801.
Re-elected in 1803.
Lost re-election.
[[File:Patrick Magruder.tif100px]]
Patrick Magruder
(Rockville)Democratic-RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1805 –
March 3, 1807Elected in 1804.
Lost re-election.
[[File:Philip Barton Key (1757–1815).jpg100px]]
Philip Barton Key
(Rockville)FederalistnowrapMarch 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1813Elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
Retired.
[[File:Alexanderhanson.jpg100px]]
Alexander Contee Hanson
(Rockville)FederalistnowrapMarch 4, 1813 –
1816Elected in 1812.
Re-elected in 1814.
Resigned when elected U.S. Senator.
Vacantnowrap1816 –
October 7, 1816
[[File:GeorgePeter.jpg100px]]
George Peter
(Darnestown)FederalistnowrapOctober 7, 1816 –
March 3, 1819Elected to finish Hanson's term.
Also elected to the next term in 1816.
Lost re-election.
Henry Ridgely Warfield
(Middleburg)FederalistnowrapMarch 4, 1819 –
March 3, 1825Elected in 1818.
Re-elected in 1820.
Re-elected in 1822.
Retired.
[[File:GeorgePeter.jpg100px]]
George Peter
(Darnestown)JacksoniannowrapMarch 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1827Elected in 1824.
Lost re-election.
[[File:George Corbin Washington (cropped).jpg100px]]
George Corbin Washington
(Rockville)Anti-JacksoniannowrapMarch 4, 1827 –
March 3, 1833Elected in 1826.
Re-elected in 1829.
Re-elected in 1831.
James Turner
(Wiseburg)JacksoniannowrapMarch 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1837Elected in 1833.
Re-elected in 1835.
John Tolley Hood Worthington
(Shawan)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1841Elected in 1837.
Re-elected in 1839.
James Wray Williams
(Churchville)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1841 –
December 2, 1842Elected in 1841.
Died.
VacantnowrapDecember 2, 1842 –
January 2, 1843
Charles S. Sewall
(Elkton)DemocraticnowrapJanuary 2, 1843 –
March 3, 1843Elected to finish Williams's term.
John Wethered
(Franklin)WhignowrapMarch 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845Elected late in 1844.
[[File:Thomas ligon maryland.jpg100px]]
Thomas Watkins Ligon
(Ellicotts Mills)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1849Elected in 1845.
Re-elected in 1847.
Edward Hammond
(Ellicotts Mills)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1853Elected in 1849.
Re-elected in 1851.
[[File:Joshua Van Sant (Baltimore mayor).jpg100px]]
Joshua Van Sant
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855Elected in 1853.
[[File:JamesMorrisonHarris.jpg100px]]
James Morrison Harris
(Baltimore)Know NothingnowrapMarch 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1861Elected in 1855.
Re-elected in 1857.
Re-elected in 1859.
Cornelius Leary
(Baltimore)UnionnowrapMarch 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863Elected in 1861.
[[File:Henry Winter Davis.jpg100px]]
Henry Winter Davis
(Baltimore)Unconditional UnionnowrapMarch 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1865Elected in 1863.
[[File:Hon. Charles E. Phelps, Maryland - NARA - 527033.jpg100px]]
Charles Edward Phelps
(Baltimore)Unconditional UnionnowrapMarch 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1867Elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
ConservativenowrapMarch 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1869
[[File:Thomas Swann of Maryland - photo portrait seated.jpg100px]]
Thomas Swann
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1873Elected in 1868.
Re-elected in 1870.
Redistricted to the .
[[File:William James O'Brien of Maryland - photo portrait seated.jpg100px]]
William James O'Brien
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1877Elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
[[File:William Kimmel of Maryland - photo portrait seated circa 1865 to 1880.jpg100px]]
William Kimmel
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1881Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
[[File:FetterSchrierHoblitzell.jpg100px]]
Fetter Schrier Hoblitzell
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1885Elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
[[File:WilliamHinsonCole.jpg100px]]
William Hinson Cole
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1885 –
July 8, 1886Elected in 1884.
Died.
VacantnowrapJuly 8, 1886 –
November 2, 1886
[[File:HarryWellesRusk.jpg100px]]
Harry Welles Rusk
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapNovember 2, 1886 –
March 3, 1897Elected to finish Cole's term.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
[[File:William S. Booze (Maryland Congressman).jpg100px]]
William Samuel Booze
(Baltimore)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899Elected in 1896.
[[File:Frank Charles Wachter.jpg100px]]
Frank Charles Wachter
(Baltimore)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1907Elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
[[File:Harry B. Wolf (Maryland Congressman).jpg100px]]
Harry Benjamin Wolf
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1907 –
March 3, 1909Elected in 1906.
[[File:JohnKronmiller.jpg100px]]
John Kronmiller
(Baltimore)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1911Elected in 1908.
[[File:GeorgeKonig (cropped).jpg100px]]
George Konig
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1911 –
May 31, 1913Elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Died.
VacantnowrapMay 31, 1913 –
November 4, 1913
[[File:CharlesPearceCoady.jpg100px]]
Charles Pearce Coady
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapNovember 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1921Elected to finish Konig's term.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
[[File:John Phillip Hill, Md. LCCN2016845174 (cropped).jpg100px]]
John B.P.C. Hill
(Baltimore)RepublicannowrapMarch 4, 1921 –
March 3, 1927Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
[[File:VincentLukePalmisano.jpg100px]]
Vincent L. Palmisano
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapMarch 4, 1927 –
January 3, 1939Elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
[[File:Thomas D'Alesandro Jr.jpg100px]]
Thomas D'Alesandro Jr.
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapJanuary 3, 1939 –
May 16, 1947Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Resigned to become Mayor of Baltimore.
VacantnowrapMay 16, 1947 –
July 15, 1947
[[File:Edward Garmatz.jpg100px]]
Edward Garmatz
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapJuly 15, 1947 –
January 3, 1973Elected to finish D'Alesandro Jr.'s term.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-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.
[[File:Sen Paul Sarbanes (higher res).jpg100px]]
Paul Sarbanes
(Baltimore)DemocraticnowrapJanuary 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1977Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.1973–1983
[[File:Barbara A Mikulski.jpg100px]]
Barbara Mikulski
(Baltimore)DemocraticJanuary 3, 1977 –
January 3, 1987Elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
1983–1993
[[File:Ben Cardin portrait.jpg100px]]
Ben Cardin
(Baltimore)DemocraticJanuary 3, 1987 –
January 3, 2007Elected 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.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.
1993–2003
2003–2013
[[File:United States House of Representatives, Maryland District 3 map.png300px]]
[[File:Rep. John Sarbanes official portrait, 117th Congress.jpg100px]]
John Sarbanes
(Baltimore)DemocraticJanuary 3, 2007 –
January 3, 2025Elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Retired.
2013–2023
[[File:Maryland US Congressional District 3 (since 2013).tif300px]]
2023–present
[[File:Maryland's 3rd congressional district in Baltimore (since 2023).svg300px]]
[[File:Representative Sarah Elfreth Official Portrait.jpg100px]]
Sarah Elfreth
(Annapolis)DemocraticJanuary 3, 2025–
presentElected in 2024.

Notes

References

References

  1. "My Congressional District".
  2. (April 3, 2025). "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)".
  3. (February 20, 2004). "Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows, Even Stranger Congressional Boundaries". Maryland Newsline, [[University of Maryland, College Park.
  4. (October 17, 2011). "Maryland Redistricting Plan Advances". [[The Washington Post]].
  5. Lazarick, Len. (October 3, 2012). "Maryland has least compact congressional districts in nation". MarylandReporter.com.
  6. (May 15, 2014). "America's most gerrymandered congressional districts". The Washington Post.
  7. Sarbanes, John. (2019-01-03). "H.R.1 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): To expand Americans' access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and for other purposes.".
  8. 116th Congress (2019). (January 3, 2019). "H.R. 1 (116th)". GovTrack.us.
  9. Parson, Stanley B., William W. Beach, and Dan Hermann. ''United States Congressional Districts, 1788–1841'' (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1978) p. 8-9
  10. Parsons. ''Congressional Districts''. p. 42-43
  11. Parsons. ''Congressional Districts''. p. 93-94
  12. Parsons. ''Congressional Districts''. p. 94
  13. Parsons. ''Congressional Districts'' p. 234, 318
  14. Parson, Stanley B., William W. Beach, and Michael J. Durbin. ''United States Congressional Districts, 1843–1883'' (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1986) p. 16
  15. Parsons. ''Con. Dis. 1843–1883'' p. 64
  16. Parsons. ''Con. Dis. 1843–1883'' p. 115
  17. Parsons. ''Con. Dis. 1843–1883'' p. 177
  18. "Dra 2020".
  19. "Statewide Data Breakdown by State Congressional Districts".
  20. "Statewide Data Breakdown by State Congressional Districts".
  21. [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST24/CD118_MD01.pdf https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST24/CD118_MD03.pdf]
  22. "Unofficial 2012 Presidential General Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections.
  23. "Official 2016 Presidential General Election results for Representative in Congress". Maryland Secretary of State.
  24. "Official 2020 Presidential General Election results for Representative in Congress".
  25. "Official 2024 Presidential General Election Results for Representative in Congress". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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