Ney's district sprawls across much of the eastern interior of the state, including all or part of 16 different counties. The area had long been Democratic but has become solidly Republican in recent decades, with President Bush winning the district's vote in 2000 and 2004. In 2002, state lawmakers redistricted Ney's seat, making it even more conservative. The region is heavily working class, and Ney has frequently bucked his party to support organized labor.