ɪstˈæblɪʃt ˈæftɚ ðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛnsəs, ðə θˈɜːd dˈɪstɹɪkt wʌz ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntᵻd baɪ dˈɛməkɹˌæts fɔːɹ mˈoʊst əv ðə lˈæɾɚ hˈæf ʌvðə twˈɛntiəθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, ʌntˈɪl dʒəlˈiːn ʌnsˈoʊld wʌz dᵻfˈiːɾᵻd baɪ ɹᵻpˈʌblɪkən lˈɪndə smˈɪθ æz pˈɑːɹt ʌvðə ɹᵻpˈʌblɪkən ɹˌɛvəlˈuːʃən ʌv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ.
Established after the 1900 census, the 3rd district was represented by Democrats for most of the latter half of the 20th century, until Jolene Unsoeld was defeated by Republican Linda Smith as part of the Republican Revolution of 1994.