Arizona's 7th congressional district

Arizona's 7th congressional district is a United States congressional district located in the central portion of Maricopa County, encompassing much of Phoenix and its immediate suburbs. It is one of the most consistently Democratic districts in the Southwest, with a large Hispanic majority population. The district is currently represented in the United States House of Representatives by Democrat Rubén Gallego.

History

The district was created following the 1970 United States census, which granted Arizona a seventh seat in the House. Its boundaries have shifted significantly over the decades, originally covering rural areas and parts of Tucson before the 1990 redistricting moved it entirely to the Phoenix metropolitan area. The 2002 redistricting, overseen by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, dramatically reshaped it into a majority-Hispanic district centered on South Phoenix and Glendale, in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Subsequent redistricting after the 2010 and 2020 censuses have further consolidated its urban, Democratic character, solidifying it as a stronghold for the Democratic Party.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the district had a population of 794,611. It is a majority-minority district, with Hispanic residents constituting 60.5% of the population, the highest percentage of any congressional district in Arizona. Other significant groups include White (23.5%), Black (7.8%), Asian (4.8%), and Native American (2.1%) residents. The district is overwhelmingly urban, covering densely populated neighborhoods in central Phoenix, such as Maryvale and Alhambra, as well as parts of Glendale and Tolleson. The median household income is approximately $66,274, below the state average, and it contains several significant Historically Black Colleges and Universities-adjacent communities and major employers like Sky Harbor International Airport.

Recent election results

The district has been a safe seat for the Democratic Party since its reconstitution in 2002. In the 2022 election, incumbent Rubén Gallego won re-election with over 76% of the vote against Republican Josh Barnett. This followed his decisive victory in the 2020 election. Prior to Gallego, the seat was held by Democrat Ed Pastor, who served from 1991 until his retirement in 2015, and then by Rubén Gallego who succeeded him. Republican candidates have consistently failed to garner more than 40% of the vote in the last two decades, with the Cook Partisan Voting Index rating the district as D+23, indicating it is 23 points more Democratic than the national average.

List of representatives

The following individuals have represented the district since its creation in 1973. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Representative ! Party ! Term ! Congress ! Notes |- | John B. Conlan | Republican | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1977 | 93rd–94th | Redistricted from the 3rd district. |- | Mo Udall | Democratic | January 3, 1977 – May 4, 1991 | 95th–102nd | Resigned. |- | Ed Pastor | Democratic | September 24, 1991 – January 3, 2015 | 102nd–113th | Won special election. |- | Rubén Gallego | Democratic | January 3, 2015 – present | 114th–present | Incumbent. |}

See also

* List of United States congressional districts * Arizona's congressional districts * Politics of Arizona

Category:Arizona's congressional districts