Where Are the Wealthiest Voters?
Where Are the Wealthiest Voters?

by Kelsey Warner

The data analysts at FindTheHome discover the 50 congressional districts that have the highest per capita incomes, based on American Community Survey information. InsideGov provides information on the current elected representative.

The role of money in politics is a contentious issue in the 2016 presidential race that has motivated the rise of anti-establishment candidates. Both Republican businessman Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are running on platforms that promote their freedom from the influence of wealthy donors. The success of these candidates suggests that having affluent supporters does not necessarily translate into success in politics.

Beyond the money game of the national election, the richest voters have the power to choose who they want to represent their interests in Washington. Their representatives in Congress typically align with local needs. The relationship between political parties and money can be examined by looking at the wealthiest voters and their elected officials.

The data analysts at FindTheHome used 2014 American Community Survey information to identify the congressional districts with the highest average per capita income. All the neighborhoods have average per capita incomes that are at least $10,000 higher than the national average of $28,555. We also use data from InsideGov to provide the current representative's name and party affiliation.

50. District 24 of Texas

Average Per Capita Income: $37,802

Representative: Republican Rep. Kenny Marchant

Marchant has represented District 24 of Texas since 2005.

49. District 11 of Michigan

Average Per Capita Income: $37,929

Representative: Republican Rep. David A. Trott

Trott, a lawyer by training, is the fifth-richest member of Congress.

48. District 6 of Pennsylvania

Average Per Capita Income: $38,149

Representative: Republican Rep. Ryan A. Costello

Costello assumed office as the representative for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district in 2015.

47. District 4 of New Jersey

Average Per Capita Income: $38,294

Representative: Republican Rep. Christopher H. Smith

Smith was elected in 1980 and is serving his 18th term as the representative for New Jersey's 4th District.

46. District 32 of Texas

Average Per Capita Income: $38,347

Representative: Republican Rep. Pete Sessions

Sessions, one of the most conservative members of Congress, has represented District 32 of Texas since 2003.

45. District 22 of Florida

Average Per Capita Income: $38,464

Representative: Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel

Frankel, elected in 2012, was previously the mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida.

44. District 16 of New York

Average Per Capita Income: $38,546

Representative: Democratic Rep. Eliot L. Engel

New York's 16th District includes the city of Yonkers.

43. District 6 of Arizona

Average Per Capita Income: $38,624

Representative: Republican Rep. David Schweikert

The 6th District of Arizona includes the city of Scottsdale.

42. District 12 of New Jersey

Average Per Capita Income: $38,627

Representative: Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman

Coleman, who assumed office in 2015, is the first African-American congresswoman to represent New Jersey.

41. District 9 of Illinois

Average Per Capita Income: $38,948

Representative: Democratic Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky

Schakowsky has represented Illinois's 9th Congressional District since 1999.

40. District 1 of Washington

Average Per Capita Income: $39,050

Representative: Democratic Rep. Suzan K. DelBene

DelBene was the 1st Congressional District of Washington's first representative after it was redrawn in 2012.

39. District 9 of North Carolina

Average Per Capita Income: $39,153

Representative: Republican Rep. Robert Pittenger

The 9th District of North Carolina includes the city of Charlotte.

38. District 2 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $39,175

Representative: Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman

California's 2nd District includes a large portion of northern California.

37. District 4 of New York

Average Per Capita Income: $39,198

Representative: Democratic Rep. Kathleen M. Rice

Rice, who once worked as a federal prosecutor in Philadelphia, now represents New York's 4th District.

36. District 7 of Pennsylvania

Average Per Capita Income: $39,560

Representative: Republican Rep. Patrick Meehan

Meehan, previously a U.S. attorney, was elected to represent Pennsylvania's 7th District in 2010.

35. District 6 of Massachusetts

Average Per Capita Income: $39,693

Representative: Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton

Moulton has represented the 6th District of Massachusetts since 2015.

34. District 3 of Texas

Average Per Capita Income: $39,766

Representative: Republican Rep. Sam Johnson

The 3rd District of Texas includes the city of Plano.

33. District 11 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $40,118

Representative: Democratic Rep. Mark DeSaulnier

The 11th District of California includes the cities of Richmond and Concord.

32. District 8 of Massachusetts

Average Per Capita Income: $40,248

Representative: Democratic Rep. Stephen F. Lynch

The 8th District of Massachusetts includes some parts of southern Boston.

31. District 3 of Maryland

Average Per Capita Income: $40,511

Representative: Democratic Rep. John P. Sarbanes

Sarbanes previously worked as a lawyer and has represented Maryland's 3rd District since 2007.

30. District 2 of Missouri

Average Per Capita Income: $40,732

Representative: Republican Rep. Ann Wagner

Wagner served as the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg under President George W. Bush.

29. District 17 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $41,699

Representative: Democratic Rep. Michael M. Honda

The 17th District of California includes the cities of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Fremont.

28. District 14 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $42,307

Representative: Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier

California's 14 District includes the cities of San Mateo, Daly City and part of San Francisco.

27. District 3 of Minnesota

Average Per Capita Income: $42,625

Representative: Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen

Paulsen has represented Minnesota's 3rd District since 2009.

26. District 6 of Georgia

Average Per Capita Income: $42,637

Representative: Republican Rep. Tom Price

Price worked as an orthopedic surgeon before going into politics.

25. District 45 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $42,657

Representative: Republican Rep. Mimi Walters

California's 45th District is based in Orange County and includes the cities of Irvine and Anaheim.

24. District 5 of Illinois

Average Per Capita Income: $42,685

Representative: Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley

Quigley was elected in a special congressional election. Rahm Emanuel left a vacancy when he resigned to become White House Chief of Staff in 2009.

23. District 17 of New York

Average Per Capita Income: $42,830

Representative: Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey

Lowey has served as a member of the House since 1989.

22. District 52 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $43,583

Representative: Democratic Rep. Scott H. Peters

The 52nd District of California includes the city of San Diego. Peters is the 11th wealthiest member of Congress.

21. District 48 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $43,690

Representative: Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher

California's 48th District includes Costa Mesa, Sunset Beach and Huntington Beach.

20. District 6 of Illinois

Average Per Capita Income: $43,896

Representative: Republican Rep. Peter J. Roskam

Roskam has represented the 6th District of Illinois since 2007.

19. District 7 of Texas

Average Per Capita Income: $43,911

Representative: Republican Rep. John Abney Culberson

The 7th District of Texas includes part of the city of Houston.

18. District 5 of New Jersey

Average Per Capita Income: $44,039

Representative: Republican Rep. Scott Garrett

Garrett has represented the 5th District of New Jersey since 2003.

17. District 7 of Washington

Average Per Capita Income: $44,095

Representative: Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott

McDermott has represented Washington as a member of the House since 1989. He recently announced his retirement.

16. District 5 of Massachusetts

Average Per Capita Income: $44,910

Representative: Democratic Rep. Katherine M. Clark

Clark, previously an attorney, has represented the 5th District since 2013.

15. District 11 of Virginia

Average Per Capita Income: $45,049

Representative: Democratic Rep. Gerald E. Connolly

The 11th District of Virginia includes the city of Fairfax.

14. District 4 of Massachusetts

Average Per Capita Income: $45,087

Representative: Democratic Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III

Kennedy, a member of the Kennedy family, has served the 4th District of Massachusetts since 2013.

13. The at-Large Delegate District of D.C.

Average Per Capita Income: $46,502

Representative: Democratic Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

Norton has been ranked as the third most liberal member of Congress.

12. District 10 of Virginia

Average Per Capita Income: $48,395

Representative: Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock

Virginia's 10th District includes the cities of Loudoun, Clarke and Frederick.

11. District 8 of Maryland

Average Per Capita Income: $48,726

Representative: Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen

Van Hollen was recently ranked as the 29th most liberal member of Congress.

10. District 11 of New Jersey

Average Per Capita Income: $48,898

Representative: Republican Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen

Frelinghuysen has been ranked as the 21st wealthiest member of Congress.

9. District 3 of New York

Average Per Capita Income: $50,366

Representative: Democratic Rep. Steve Israel

New York's 3rd District includes part of Long Island and Queens.

8. District 7 of New Jersey

Average Per Capita Income: $50,483

Representative: Republican Rep. Leonard Lance

Lance served as member of the New Jersey General Assembly and Senate before winning the 2008 congressional election.

7. District 12 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $52,031

Representative: Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi

California's 12th District includes the city of San Francisco. Pelosi ranks as the eighth wealthiest member of Congress with an average net worth of $100,864,528.

6. District 8 of Virginia

Average Per Capita Income: $52,137

Representative: Democratic Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr.

District 8 of Virginia includes the cities of Arlington and Alexandria.

5. District 4 of Connecticut

Average Per Capita Income: $53,048

Representative: Democratic Rep. James A. Himes

Connecticut's 4th District includes the cities of Bridgeport and Stamford.

4. District 18 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $57,633

Representative: Democratic Rep. Anna G. Eshoo

Eshoo represents the 18th District of California, which includes part of the Silicon Valley Region.

3. District 10 of New York

Average Per Capita Income: $59,827

Representative: Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler

New York's 10th District includes parts of Manhattan such as the Financial District and Greenwich Village.

2. District 33 of California

Average Per Capita Income: $63,505

Representative: Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu

The 33rd District of California is based in Los Angeles and includes the Beverly Hills and Malibu neighborhoods.

1. District 12 of New York

Average Per Capita Income: $79,172

Representative: Democratic Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney

New York's 12th District includes parts of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.

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Politics: "Where Are the Wealthiest Voters?"