Kentucky's 5th congressional district is a U.S. House district located in southeastern Kentucky, which represents much of the Eastern Kentucky Coalfield in the heart of Appalachia. The rural district as of the 2010 U.S. census, has the highest percentage of White Americans in the nation. It is the second poorest congressional district in the United States, with a median income of $44,175, per a 2024 study. It has been represented by Republican Hal Rogers since 1981.
The district contains the counties of Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, and parts of Bath, and Carter counties. Within the district are the economic leading cities of Ashland, Pikeville, Prestonsburg, Middlesboro, Hazard, Jackson, Morehead, London, and Somerset. It is the most rural district in the United States, with 76.49% of its population in rural areas.
With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+32, it is the most Republican district in Kentucky. The 5th congressional district is one of the few ancestrally Republican regions south of the Ohio River. Much of the region now in the district strongly supported the Union in the Civil War, and identified with the Republicans after hostilities ceased. By contrast, the northeastern portion of the district borders West Virginia. Much of this section of the district was once part of the 7th congressional district, long a Democratic stronghold, which was disbanded in 1992 after the 1990 census. Geographically, the district consists of flat land areas to the west, to Appalachia highland mountains to the east and southeast. To the north and northeast of the district are rolling hills that end at the Ohio River.
Despite the district's strong Republican lean, it features Elliott County, which, before being carried by Donald Trump in 2016, had never voted for a Republican president since its founding in 1869, making it the longest Democratic voting streak. Until 2018, when the county gave Rogers 54.6% of its vote, the county had never voted for Rogers in a contested election, despite him winning at least 65% of the vote in the district in every election except 1992.
Rogers is the dean of the Kentucky delegation and of the entire House of Representatives. Due in part to his seniority, Rogers has served in a number of leadership positions in the chamber.
Voter registration On January 1, 2026, the district had 541,908 registered voters, who were registered with the following parties.
PartyRegistrationVoters%Republican314,19357.98Democratic187,62634.62Independent20,1973.73Libertarian1,7730.33Green2310.04Constitution2050.04Socialist Workers700.01Reform250.00 "Other"17,5883.25Total541,908100.00
Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 65% - 33%2012 PresidentRomney 75% - 25%2016 PresidentTrump 78% - 19% SenatePaul 65% - 35%2019 GovernorBevin 59% - 38% Attorney GeneralCameron 67% - 33%2020 PresidentTrump 79% - 20% SenateMcConnell 73% - 23%2022 SenatePaul 75% - 25%2023 GovernorCameron 58% - 42% Attorney GeneralColeman 72% - 28% Auditor of Public AccountsBall 74% - 26% Secretary of StateAdams 73% - 27% TreasurerMetcalf 70% - 30%2024 PresidentTrump 81% - 17%
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:https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST21/CD118_KY05.pdf
Bath County (3)
All 3 communities
Bell County (3)
All 3 communities
Boyd County (5)
All 5 communities
Breathitt County (1)
Jackson
Carter County (2)
Grayson, Olive Hill
Clay County (3)
All 3 communities
Elliott County (1)
Sandy Hook
Floyd County (10)
All 10 communities
Harlan County (13)
All 13 communities
Jackson County (2)
Annville, McKee
Johnson County (1)
Paintsville
Knott County (3)
All 3 communities
Knox County (5)
All 5 communities
Laurel County (4)
All 4 communities
Lawrence County (2)
Blaine, Louisa
Lee County (1)
Beattyville
Leslie County (1)
Hyden
Letcher County (8)
All 8 communities
Lincoln County (6)
All 6 communities
McCreary County (3)
All 3 communities
Magoffin County (1)
Salyersville
Martin County (2)
Inez, Warfield
Menifee County (1)
Frenchburg
Morgan County (2)
Ezel, West Liberty
Owsley County (1)
Booneville
Perry County (6)
All 6 communities
Pike County (9)
All 9 communities
Pulaski County (5)
All 5 communities
Rockcastle County (3)
All 3 communities
Rowan County (3)
All 3 communities
Wayne County (1)
Monticello
Whitley County (5)
All 5 counties
Wolfe County (2)
Campton, Hazel Green
List of members representing the district Member Party Years Congress Electoral history Location District created March 4, 1803 John Fowler Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –March 3, 1807 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1803.Re-elected in 1804.Retired. 1803–1813Clarke, Fayette, Jessamine, Montgomery, and Woodford counties Benjamin Howard Democratic-Republican March 4, 1807 –April 10, 1810 Elected in 1806.Re-elected in 1808.Resigned to become governor of the Louisiana Territory. William T. Barry Democratic-Republican August 8, 1810 –March 3, 1811 Elected to finish Howard's term.Retired. Henry Clay Democratic-Republican March 4, 1811 –March 3, 1813 Elected in 1810.Redistricted to the . Samuel Hopkins Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –March 3, 1815 Elected in 1812.Retired. 1813–1823Breckinridge, Caldwell, Christian, Grayson, Henderson, Hopkins, Livingston, Muhlenberg, Ohio, and Union counties Alney McLean Democratic-Republican March 4, 1815 –March 3, 1817 Elected in 1814.Retired. Anthony New Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –March 3, 1819 Elected in 1816.Retired. Alney McLean Democratic-Republican March 4, 1819 –March 3, 1821 Elected in 1818.Retired. Anthony New Democratic-Republican March 4, 1821 –March 3, 1823 Elected in 1820.Retired. John T. Johnson Democratic-Republican March 4, 1823 –March 3, 1825 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1822.Retired. 1823–1833 James Johnson Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –August 13, 1826 Elected in 1824.Died. Vacant August 13, 1826 –December 7, 1826 Robert L. McHatton Jacksonian December 7, 1826 –March 3, 1829 Elected to finish Johnson's term.Re-elected in 1827.Retired. Richard M. Johnson Jacksonian March 4, 1829 –March 3, 1833 Elected in 1829.Re-elected in 1831.Redistricted to the . Vacant March 4, 1833 –August 6, 1834 House declared new election after election was contested. 1833–1843Garrard County added to the district. Robert P. Letcher Anti-Jacksonian August 6, 1834 –March 3, 1835 Elected to finish the vacant term.Retired. James Harlan Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –March 3, 1837 Elected in 1835.Re-elected in 1837.Retired. Whig March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1839 Simeon H. Anderson Whig March 4, 1839 –August 11, 1840 Elected in 1839.Died. Vacant August 11, 1840 –December 7, 1840 John B. Thompson Whig December 7, 1840 –March 3, 1843 Elected to finish Anderson's term.Re-elected in 1841.Retired. James W. Stone Democratic March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1845 Elected in 1843.Lost re-election. 1843–1853 Bryan Young Whig March 4, 1845 –March 3, 1847 Elected in 1845.Retired. John B. Thompson Whig March 4, 1847 –March 3, 1851 Elected in 1847.Re-elected in 1849.Retired. James W. Stone Democratic March 4, 1851 –March 3, 1853 Elected in 1851.Lost re-election. Clement S. Hill Whig March 4, 1853 –March 3, 1855 Elected in 1853.Retired. 1853–1863 Joshua Jewett Democratic March 4, 1855 –March 3, 1859 Elected in 1855.Re-elected in 1857.Lost re-election as an Opposition Party candidate. Vacant March 4, 1859 –December 3, 1860 John Y. Brown Democratic December 3, 1860 –March 3, 1861 Elected in 1859 but did not take seat until 2nd session because did not meet age requirement for office.Retired. Charles A. Wickliffe Union Democratic March 4, 1861 –March 3, 1863 Elected in 1861.Retired. Robert Mallory Union Democratic March 4, 1863 –March 3, 1865 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1863.Lost re-election. 1863–1873 Lovell Rousseau Unconditional Union March 4, 1865 –July 21, 1866 Elected in 1865.Resigned following his assault of Rep. Josiah Grinnell. Vacant July 21, 1866 –December 3, 1866 Lovell Rousseau Unconditional Union December 3, 1866 –March 3, 1867 Elected to finish his own term.Lost re-election. Asa Grover Democratic March 4, 1867 –March 3, 1869 Elected in 1867.Retired. Boyd Winchester Democratic March 4, 1869 –March 3, 1873 Elected in 1868.Re-elected in 1870.Retired. Elisha Standiford Democratic March 4, 1873 –March 3, 1875 Elected in 1872.Renominated but declined. 1873–1883 Edward Y. Parsons Democratic March 4, 1875 –July 8, 1876 Elected in 1874.Died. Vacant July 8, 1876 –August 12, 1876 Henry Watterson Democratic August 12, 1876 –March 3, 1877 Elected to finish Parsons's term.Retired. Albert S. Willis Democratic March 4, 1877 –March 3, 1887 Elected in 1876.Re-elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.Re-elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Lost renomination. 1883–1893 Asher G. Caruth Democratic March 4, 1887 –March 3, 1895 Elected in 1886.Re-elected in 1888.Re-elected in 1890.Re-elected in 1892.Lost renomination. 1893–1903 Walter Evans Republican March 4, 1895 –March 3, 1899 Elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Lost re-election. Oscar Turner Democratic March 4, 1899 –March 3, 1901 Elected in 1898.Retired. Harvey S. Irwin Republican March 4, 1901 –March 3, 1903 Elected in 1900.Lost re-election. J. Swagar Sherley Democratic March 4, 1903 –March 3, 1919 Elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Re-elected in 1912.Re-elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Lost re-election. 1903–1913 1913–1933Jefferson County. Charles F. Ogden Republican March 4, 1919 –March 3, 1923 Elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Retired. Maurice Thatcher Republican March 4, 1923 –March 3, 1933 Elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Retired to run for U.S. Senator. District inactive March 4, 1933 –January 3, 1935 Brent Spence Democratic January 3, 1935 –January 3, 1963 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.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.Retired. 1935–1953 1953–1957 1957–1963 Eugene Siler Republican January 3, 1963 –January 3, 1965 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1962.Retired. 1963–1967 Tim Lee Carter Republican January 3, 1965 –January 3, 1981 Elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Re-elected in 1976.Re-elected in 1978.Retired. 1967–1973 1973–1983 Hal Rogers Republican January 3, 1981 –present Elected in 1980.Re-elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected 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.Re-elected 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.Re-elected in 2024. 1983–1993 1993–1997 1997–2003 2003–2013 2013–2023 2023–present
Recent election results
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
See also
Kentucky's congressional districts List of United States congressional districts
References
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present