Population (2000) 619,178 Cook PVI R+12 | Median income 34,720 | |
Current Representative Mark Meadows (R–Cashiers) Distribution 43.86% urban
56.14% rural Ethnicity 91.2% White
4.6% Black
0.5% Asian
2.6% Hispanic
1.6% Native American
0.1% other | ||
North Carolina's 11th congressional district encompasses most of Western North Carolina. Starting in the 113th Congress, it is represented by Mark Meadows, a Republican. He replaced Democrat Heath Shuler, who retired in 2013. Shuler had won the seat in the 2006 midterm elections, defeating 8-term Republican Representative Charles H. Taylor.
The 11th District was traditionally one of the most competitive congressional districts in North Carolina. This was largely because of the district's volatile politics. It was historically anchored by Asheville, which was heavily Democratic. However, many of the city's suburbs are among the most conservative areas of North Carolina. The rest of the district was split between Democratic-leaning counties in the south and Republican-leaning counties in the north. Consequently, congressional races in this district have historically been very close and hard-fought.
In 2011 the Republican-dominated legislature redrew the district, shifting most of Asheville to the 10th district. To make up for the loss in population, the 11th absorbed some strongly Republican territory in the Foothills which had previously been in the 10th. On paper, the 11th was one of the strongest Republican districts in the South. In February 2012 Shuler announced he would not seek a fourth term. Meadows won the seat in 2012.