Wealthiest U.S. Districts Remain Democratic Strongholds Amid Tax Bill Controversy

By Terence P. Jeffrey
Monday, 29 September 2025 06:49 AM EDT

In the 2024 election, the 15 wealthiest congressional districts in the United States—measured by median household income—remained firmly under Democratic control despite voters electing President Donald Trump to a second term. These districts, which included areas like Silicon Valley and Virginia’s Washington, D.C. suburbs, saw Democratic candidates defeat Republican rivals across nearly all races.

The nation’s wealthiest district, California’s 17th Congressional District, reported a median household income of $181,913 in 2024—more than double the national average. Incumbent Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., won re-election with 67.7% of the vote, while Vice President Kamala Harris secured 67% against Trump. The neighboring 16th District, with a slightly lower income of $181,659, also favored Democrats, as Sam Liccardo defeated fellow Democrat Evan Low in a primary before winning the general election.

In Virginia’s Fairfax County, the 11th District—the third wealthiest—re-elected Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., who captured 66.7% of the vote. After Connolly’s passing, James Walkinshaw won a special election with 75.14%. Harris secured 65.18% in the district. The 10th District, fourth wealthiest with a median income of $157,863, saw Suhas Subramanyam narrowly defeat Republican Mike Clancy, while Harris earned 65.18% support.

New York’s 12th District, which includes Central Park, reported the fifth-highest median income at $153,117. Incumbent Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., won 80.5% of the vote, with Harris receiving 81%. California’s 10th and 15th Districts also re-elected Democrats, while Maryland’s 8th District saw Jamie Raskin win 77% of the vote.

Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., represented the ninth-wealthiest district, which had a median income of $142,524. She defeated Republican Bruce Lou with 81% of the vote, while Harris secured 82%. In New Jersey’s 11th District, Mikie Sherrill won 56.5%, and Harris earned 53%.

The only district among the top 15 to favor Trump was New York’s 3rd Congressional District, where Thomas Suozzi, D-N.Y., narrowly retained his seat with 51.8% of the vote. Georgia’s 7th District, the 16th-wealthiest, elected Republican Rich McCormick with 64.9% support.

The article highlights the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which cut federal taxes for individual taxpayers nationwide. A Tax Foundation analysis projected an average $3,752 tax reduction per filer in 2026, though every House Democrat opposed the bill. Pelosi criticized the legislation, questioning its benefits to “billionaires,” despite its broad economic impact.