Harold Rogers

[constituency_baseline] District summary: Kentucky's 5th Congressional District encompasses all of southeastern Kentucky — the heart of Appalachia and the Eastern Kentucky Coalfield. It spans 29 counties bordering West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. With a population of approximately 743,000, it is the most rural district in the United States (76.5% rural) and the second most impoverished congressional district in the nation, with a 24.3% poverty rate in 2024. The district is overwhelmingly White (93.7% non-Hispanic), with a median household income of $45,798 and a homeownership rate of 72.2%. Only 16.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. An astounding 44% of residents rely on Medicaid and 23% rely on SNAP. Rogers has held this seat since 1981 — 45 years — making him Dean of the House. With a Cook PVI of R+33, it is the most Republican district in Kentucky. The district has more black lung benefit recipients than any other congressional district, and the coal industry's decline has shifted employment toward healthcare, which is now the largest sector.

Voted yea on H.R.8034 (Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 ($26.4 billion in military aid to Israel)) on 2024-04-20: Rogers voted for the Israel aid package that passed 366-58 with broad bipartisan support. His defense contractor donors (RTX, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, L3Harris — over $500,000 career total) are major suppliers to Israel's military, and Rogers personally greeted Netanyahu on the House floor. While broadly bipartisan, the vote is closely aligned with his career donor base.

Voted yea on H.R.29 (Laken Riley Act (requiring mandatory ICE detention for undocumented immigrants charged with certain crimes)) on 2025-01-07: Rogers voted with all 216 Republicans for the bill. With only 0.975% of his district foreign-born, the bill carried minimal direct constituency cost while reinforcing his tough-on-immigration brand in a district Trump won with 64.5% of the vote. 48 Democrats joined the GOP majority.

Voted yea on H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act (extending 2017 tax cuts, restructuring Medicaid and SNAP, border security, energy provisions)) on 2025-07-03: Rogers voted for the bill while 44% of his constituents rely on Medicaid and 23% rely on SNAP — the highest rates of any congressional district. Independent analysis projected Kentucky would suffer the biggest hit: $10 billion in lost Medicaid payments over 10 years and 130,000 rural Kentuckians losing coverage. Rogers claimed the bill 'strengthens Medicaid and SNAP benefits.'

[vote] Rogers voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which independent analysis by KFF found would cause Kentucky to suffer the biggest hit of any state — a decline of $10 billion in Medicaid payments to rural providers over 10 years as 130,000 rural Kentuckians lose coverage. The Kentucky Hospital Association warned the bill would eliminate 33,000 healthcare jobs. Rogers' own district has 44% of residents relying on Medicaid, more than any other congressional district.