I found something very interesting while looking at the PVI of the North Carolina congressional districts.

NC-7, with a PVI of R+12 is the 2nd most Republican leaning district (of all NC districts...NC-11 is highest with R+13) in Presidential elections. 58% for McCain in 2008, 59.2% for Romney 2012.

However, of the 22 congressmen to represent the district since 1842, only 2 were not Democrats. One was a republican when NC was first readmitted to the Union after the civil war, and the other was a populist in the 1890's. Mike McIntyre has won quite convincingly almost every single time since 1996.

Is NC-7 just an anomaly, or is the PVI absolutely pointless? How frequent is it for a district to be so consistently republican voting for one branch of government but consistently democratic for another?

8/21/2013 10:37:27 PM

How conservative were the Representatives?

[Edited on August 22, 2013 at 6:54 AM. Reason : BTW you should really focus since the '60s, when the partisan and ideological divisions aligned.]

8/22/2013 6:52:12 AM

Fair enough:

Frank E. Carlyle Democratic January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1957
Alton A. Lennon Democratic January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1973
Charlie Rose Democratic January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1997
Mike McIntyre Democratic January 3, 1997 – Present

Presidential Elections during McIntyre's tenure:
2012: Romney (59.2%)
2008: McCain (58%)
2004: Bush (56%)
2000: Bush (52%)
1996: (couldn't find it)

And here's how the Dem's did in house elections:


[Edited on August 22, 2013 at 4:10 PM. Reason : -]

8/22/2013 3:55:39 PM

I don't think this matters a whole lot since its possible to redistrict someone out of a job completely every 10 years.

8/22/2013 11:53:13 PM