From the election of Republican John B. Sosnowski in 1925 until 1964, the former 1st district was represented by only one non-Polish-American politician, Robert H. Clancy.

Along with Sosnowski, 6 Polish-Americans served as the 1st district's representatives elected 7 times, since 1925.

John Conyers was elected to congress from the 1st district, a position he would hold until the 1st was removed from Detroit.

After 1992, the 1st district covered land in the UP and Northern Michigan.

The 1st from 1992 to 2002 was similar to the present district, except that it did not extend nearly as far south along Lake Michigan, while it took in Traverse City and some surrounding areas on the west side of the state.