History / Congress

Kentucky's 4th congressional district

83 members have held this seat since Oct 17, 1803. Now: Thomas Massie R.

Holders
83
44 D · 23 R · 7 W · 3 U · 2 A · 2 U · 1 AJ · 1 IRD
Longest tenure
14 years
Frank Leslie Chelf
Current
12 years
Thomas Massie, since Jan 6, 2015
history/seat/ky-4Every holder, newest first
+83
18201840186018801900192019401960198020002020Thomas Sandford · 1803-10-17 – 1805-03-04 · RepublicanThomas Sandford · 1805-12-02 – 1807-03-04 · RepublicanRichard Mentor Johnson · 1807-10-26 – 1809-03-04 · RepublicanRichard Mentor Johnson · 1809-05-22 – 1811-03-04 · RepublicanRichard Mentor Johnson · 1811-11-04 – 1813-03-04 · RepublicanJoseph Desha · 1813-05-24 – 1815-03-04 · RepublicanJoseph Desha · 1815-12-04 – 1817-03-04 · RepublicanJoseph Desha · 1817-12-01 – 1819-03-04 · RepublicanThomas Metcalfe · 1819-12-06 – 1821-03-04 · RepublicanThomas Metcalfe · 1821-12-03 – 1823-03-04 · RepublicanRobert Perkins Letcher · 1823-12-01 – 1825-03-04Robert Perkins Letcher · 1825-12-05 – 1827-03-04 · AdamsRobert Perkins Letcher · 1827-12-03 – 1829-03-04 · AdamsRobert Perkins Letcher · 1829-12-07 – 1831-03-04Robert Perkins Letcher · 1831-12-05 – 1833-03-04Martin Beaty · 1833-12-02 – 1835-03-04 · Anti JacksonSherrod Williams · 1835-12-07 – 1837-03-04 · WhigSherrod Williams · 1837-09-04 – 1839-03-04 · WhigSherrod Williams · 1839-12-02 – 1841-03-04 · WhigBryan Young Owsley · 1841-05-31 – 1843-03-04 · WhigGeorge Alfred Caldwell · 1843-12-04 – 1845-03-04 · DemocratJoshua Fry Bell · 1845-12-01 – 1847-03-04 · WhigAylette Buckner · 1847-12-06 – 1849-03-04 · WhigGeorge Alfred Caldwell · 1849-12-03 – 1851-03-04 · DemocratWilliam Thomas Ward · 1851-12-01 – 1853-03-04 · WhigJames Stone Chrisman · 1853-12-05 – 1855-03-04 · DemocratAlbert Gallatin Talbott · 1855-12-03 – 1857-03-04 · DemocratAlbert Gallatin Talbott · 1857-12-07 – 1859-03-04 · DemocratWilliam Clayton Anderson · 1859-12-05 – 1861-03-04 · Ind. Republican-DemocratAaron Harding · 1861-07-04 – 1863-03-04 · UnionistAaron Harding · 1863-12-07 – 1865-03-04 · UnionistAaron Harding · 1865-12-04 – 1867-03-04 · DemocratJames Proctor Knott · 1867-03-04 – 1871-03-04 · DemocratWilliam Brown Read · 1871-03-04 – 1873-03-04 · DemocratWilliam Brown Read · 1873-12-01 – 1875-03-04 · DemocratJames Proctor Knott · 1875-12-06 – 1877-03-04 · DemocratJames Proctor Knott · 1877-10-15 – 1879-03-04 · DemocratJames Proctor Knott · 1879-03-18 – 1881-03-04 · DemocratJames Proctor Knott · 1881-12-05 – 1883-03-04 · DemocratThomas Austin Robertson · 1883-12-03 – 1885-03-04 · DemocratThomas Austin Robertson · 1885-12-07 – 1887-03-04 · DemocratAlexander Brooks Montgomery · 1887-12-05 – 1889-03-04 · DemocratAlexander Brooks Montgomery · 1889-12-02 – 1891-03-04 · DemocratAlexander Brooks Montgomery · 1891-12-07 – 1893-03-04 · DemocratAlexander Brooks Montgomery · 1893-08-07 – 1895-03-04 · DemocratJohn William Lewis · 1895-12-02 – 1897-03-04 · RepublicanDavid Highbaugh Smith · 1897-03-15 – 1899-03-04 · DemocratDavid Highbaugh Smith · 1899-12-04 – 1901-03-04 · DemocratDavid Highbaugh Smith · 1901-12-02 – 1903-03-04 · DemocratDavid Highbaugh Smith · 1903-11-09 – 1905-03-04 · DemocratDavid Highbaugh Smith · 1905-12-04 – 1907-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1907-12-02 – 1909-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1909-03-15 – 1911-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1911-04-04 – 1913-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1913-04-07 – 1915-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1915-12-06 – 1917-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1917-04-02 – 1919-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1919-05-19 – 1921-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1921-04-11 – 1923-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1923-12-03 – 1925-03-04 · DemocratBen Johnson · 1925-12-07 – 1927-03-05 · DemocratHenry DeHaven Moorman · 1927-12-05 – 1929-03-04 · DemocratJohn Durrett Craddock · 1929-04-15 – 1931-03-04 · RepublicanCap Robert Carden · 1931-12-07 – 1933-03-04 · DemocratCap Robert Carden · 1935-01-03 – 1937-01-04 · DemocratChester Otto Carrier · 1943-01-06 – 1945-01-04 · RepublicanFrank Leslie Chelf · 1959-01-07 – 1963-01-04 · DemocratFrank Leslie Chelf · 1963-01-09 – 1967-01-04 · DemocratMarion Gene Snyder · 1967-01-10 – 1971-01-04 · RepublicanMarion Gene Snyder · 1971-01-21 – 1975-01-04 · RepublicanMarion Gene Snyder · 1975-01-14 – 1979-01-04 · RepublicanMarion Gene Snyder · 1979-01-15 – 1987-01-04 · RepublicanJim Bunning · 1987-01-06 – 1997-01-04 · RepublicanJim Bunning · 1997-01-07 – 1999-01-04 · RepublicanKenneth R. Lucas · 1999-01-06 – 2003-01-04 · DemocratKenneth R. Lucas · 2003-01-07 – 2005-01-04 · DemocratGeoff Davis · 2005-01-04 – 2009-01-04 · RepublicanGeoff Davis · 2009-01-06 – 2012-08-01 · RepublicanThomas Massie · 2012-11-13 – 2015-01-04 · RepublicanThomas Massie · 2015-01-06 – present · RepublicanEdward Wester Creal · 1935-01-03 – 1943-01-04 · DemocratEdward Wester Creal · 1943-01-06 – 1945-01-04 · DemocratFrank Leslie Chelf · 1945-01-03 – 1959-01-04 · Democrat
Thomas Massie R
Jan 6, 2015 – present · 12 years
Thomas Massie R
Nov 13, 2012 – Jan 4, 2015 · 2.1 years
Geoff Davis R
Jan 6, 2009 – Aug 1, 2012 · 3.6 years
Geoff Davis R
Jan 4, 2005 – Jan 4, 2009 · 4 years
Kenneth R. Lucas D
Jan 7, 2003 – Jan 4, 2005 · 2 years
Kenneth R. Lucas D
Jan 6, 1999 – Jan 4, 2003 · 4 years
Jim Bunning R
Jan 7, 1997 – Jan 4, 1999 · 2 years
Jim Bunning R
Jan 6, 1987 – Jan 4, 1997 · 10 years
Marion Gene Snyder R
Jan 15, 1979 – Jan 4, 1987 · 8 years
Marion Gene Snyder R
Jan 14, 1975 – Jan 4, 1979 · 4 years
Marion Gene Snyder R
Jan 21, 1971 – Jan 4, 1975 · 4 years
Marion Gene Snyder R
Jan 10, 1967 – Jan 4, 1971 · 4 years
Frank Leslie Chelf D
Jan 9, 1963 – Jan 4, 1967 · 4 years
Frank Leslie Chelf D
Jan 7, 1959 – Jan 4, 1963 · 4 years
Frank Leslie Chelf D
Jan 3, 1945 – Jan 4, 1959 · 14 years
Chester Otto Carrier R
Jan 6, 1943 – Jan 4, 1945 · 2 years
Edward Wester Creal D
Jan 6, 1943 – Jan 4, 1945 · 2 years
Cap Robert Carden D
Jan 3, 1935 – Jan 4, 1937 · 2 years
Edward Wester Creal D
Jan 3, 1935 – Jan 4, 1943 · 8 years
Cap Robert Carden D
Dec 7, 1931 – Mar 4, 1933 · 15 months
John Durrett Craddock R
Apr 15, 1929 – Mar 4, 1931 · 23 months
Henry DeHaven Moorman D
Dec 5, 1927 – Mar 4, 1929 · 15 months
Ben Johnson D
Dec 7, 1925 – Mar 5, 1927 · 15 months
Ben Johnson D
Dec 3, 1923 – Mar 4, 1925 · 15 months
Ben Johnson D
Apr 11, 1921 – Mar 4, 1923 · 23 months
Ben Johnson D
May 19, 1919 – Mar 4, 1921 · 22 months
Ben Johnson D
Apr 2, 1917 – Mar 4, 1919 · 23 months
Ben Johnson D
Dec 6, 1915 – Mar 4, 1917 · 15 months
Ben Johnson D
Apr 7, 1913 – Mar 4, 1915 · 23 months
Ben Johnson D
Apr 4, 1911 – Mar 4, 1913 · 23 months
Ben Johnson D
Mar 15, 1909 – Mar 4, 1911 · 2 years
Ben Johnson D
Dec 2, 1907 – Mar 4, 1909 · 15 months
David Highbaugh Smith D
Dec 4, 1905 – Mar 4, 1907 · 15 months
David Highbaugh Smith D
Nov 9, 1903 – Mar 4, 1905 · 16 months
David Highbaugh Smith D
Dec 2, 1901 – Mar 4, 1903 · 15 months
David Highbaugh Smith D
Dec 4, 1899 – Mar 4, 1901 · 15 months
David Highbaugh Smith D
Mar 15, 1897 – Mar 4, 1899 · 2 years
John William Lewis R
Dec 2, 1895 – Mar 4, 1897 · 15 months
Alexander Brooks Montgomery D
Aug 7, 1893 – Mar 4, 1895 · 19 months
Alexander Brooks Montgomery D
Dec 7, 1891 – Mar 4, 1893 · 15 months
Alexander Brooks Montgomery D
Dec 2, 1889 – Mar 4, 1891 · 15 months
Alexander Brooks Montgomery D
Dec 5, 1887 – Mar 4, 1889 · 15 months
Thomas Austin Robertson D
Dec 7, 1885 – Mar 4, 1887 · 15 months
Thomas Austin Robertson D
Dec 3, 1883 – Mar 4, 1885 · 15 months
James Proctor Knott D
Dec 5, 1881 – Mar 4, 1883 · 15 months
James Proctor Knott D
Mar 18, 1879 – Mar 4, 1881 · 2 years
James Proctor Knott D
Oct 15, 1877 – Mar 4, 1879 · 17 months
James Proctor Knott D
Dec 6, 1875 – Mar 4, 1877 · 15 months
William Brown Read D
Dec 1, 1873 – Mar 4, 1875 · 15 months
William Brown Read D
Mar 4, 1871 – Mar 4, 1873 · 2 years
James Proctor Knott D
Mar 4, 1867 – Mar 4, 1871 · 4 years
Aaron Harding D
Dec 4, 1865 – Mar 4, 1867 · 15 months
Aaron Harding U
Dec 7, 1863 – Mar 4, 1865 · 15 months
Aaron Harding U
Jul 4, 1861 – Mar 4, 1863 · 20 months
William Clayton Anderson IRD
Dec 5, 1859 – Mar 4, 1861 · 15 months
Albert Gallatin Talbott D
Dec 7, 1857 – Mar 4, 1859 · 15 months
Albert Gallatin Talbott D
Dec 3, 1855 – Mar 4, 1857 · 15 months
James Stone Chrisman D
Dec 5, 1853 – Mar 4, 1855 · 15 months
William Thomas Ward W
Dec 1, 1851 – Mar 4, 1853 · 15 months
George Alfred Caldwell D
Dec 3, 1849 – Mar 4, 1851 · 15 months
Aylette Buckner W
Dec 6, 1847 – Mar 4, 1849 · 15 months
Joshua Fry Bell W
Dec 1, 1845 – Mar 4, 1847 · 15 months
George Alfred Caldwell D
Dec 4, 1843 – Mar 4, 1845 · 15 months
Bryan Young Owsley W
May 31, 1841 – Mar 4, 1843 · 21 months
Sherrod Williams W
Dec 2, 1839 – Mar 4, 1841 · 15 months
Sherrod Williams W
Sep 4, 1837 – Mar 4, 1839 · 18 months
Sherrod Williams W
Dec 7, 1835 – Mar 4, 1837 · 15 months
Martin Beaty AJ
Dec 2, 1833 – Mar 4, 1835 · 15 months
Robert Perkins Letcher
Dec 5, 1831 – Mar 4, 1833 · 15 months
Robert Perkins Letcher
Dec 7, 1829 – Mar 4, 1831 · 15 months
Robert Perkins Letcher A
Dec 3, 1827 – Mar 4, 1829 · 15 months
Robert Perkins Letcher A
Dec 5, 1825 – Mar 4, 1827 · 15 months
Robert Perkins Letcher
Dec 1, 1823 – Mar 4, 1825 · 15 months
Thomas Metcalfe R
Dec 3, 1821 – Mar 4, 1823 · 15 months
Thomas Metcalfe R
Dec 6, 1819 – Mar 4, 1821 · 15 months
Joseph Desha R
Dec 1, 1817 – Mar 4, 1819 · 15 months
Joseph Desha R
Dec 4, 1815 – Mar 4, 1817 · 15 months
Joseph Desha R
May 24, 1813 – Mar 4, 1815 · 21 months
Richard Mentor Johnson R
Nov 4, 1811 – Mar 4, 1813 · 16 months
Richard Mentor Johnson R
May 22, 1809 – Mar 4, 1811 · 21 months
Richard Mentor Johnson R
Oct 26, 1807 – Mar 4, 1809 · 16 months
Thomas Sandford R
Dec 2, 1805 – Mar 4, 1807 · 15 months
Thomas Sandford R
Oct 17, 1803 – Mar 4, 1805 · 17 months

Dates are from the @unitedstates congress-legislators project. Consecutive terms of one person are merged.