Richest House districts skew blue

Eight of the 10 richest House districts are represented by Democratic members of Congress, according to a report from The Associated Press.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) represents the wealthiest district: New York’s 12th. Maloney’s constituents have a $75,479 per capita income.

{mosads}Retiring Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman represents the second richest district, which is in Southern California.

House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) presides over the eighth richest district.

That contrasts with the perception that the nation’s wealthy prefer the GOP. Democrats often paint the Republicans as the party of the rich, noting their support for tax cuts.

The Associated Press, though, notes that, during the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney won the segment of voters who made $100,000 or more.

But nationwide, the difference between GOP and Democratic House districts appears less stark. Republican House districts average about $1,000 less in per capita income than Democratic districts, which average $27,893. 

The two Republicans on the list are Reps. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) and Frank Wolf (R-Va). Lance represents northern New Jersey and Wolf represents northern Virginia.

Wolf will retire after this term after 17 terms. Republican Barbara Comstock and Democrat John Foust are in a tight battle to take over the seat, with Comstock leading in recent polls.

Democratic Reps. Jerry Nadler (N.Y), Anna Eshoo (Calif.), Jim Himes (Conn.), Jim Moran (Va.), and Steve Israel (N.Y.) round out the list of lawmakers from the wealthiest districts.