Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district has been located in western and central Pennsylvania since 2019. Since 2023, the district includes all of Armstrong, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, Union, and Warren counties and parts of Indiana, Lycoming, and Venango counties.
Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district | |||
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Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023 | |||
Representative |
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Population (2022) | 759,208 | ||
Median household income | $53,741 | ||
Ethnicity |
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Cook PVI | R+21[1] |
From 2013 to 2019, the district stretched from the suburbs east of Harrisburg to communities east of Allentown and the New Jersey border. Counties located in the district included all of Lehigh County and parts of Berks County, Dauphin County, Lebanon County, and Northampton County.
From 2003 to 2013 it comprised all of Northampton County, most of Lehigh County, and small parts of Berks and Montgomery counties. The district included the Lehigh Valley, Indian Valley and Upper Perkiomen Valley regions. In the mid-20th century, it included Tioga County.
In its former boundaries, it had a slight Democratic tilt in registered voters due to the presence of fairly large cities such as Allentown and Bethlehem, with industrial histories. The Democrats in the Lehigh Valley are generally considered more moderate than their counterparts in the Philadelphia area, particularly on social issues. The district has elected Republican candidates for all but six years since 1979. During 1999–2005, Pat Toomey represented the district. From 2005 to 2018, fellow Republican Charlie Dent represented the district; in September 2017 he announced he would be retiring and not seek re-election in 2018. Democrat Susan Wild won the special election.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania redrew the district in February 2018 after ruling the previous map unconstitutional because it had gerrymandered too much on behalf of the Republican Party. In 2012 Democrats had won only five of the state's 18 congressional districts, the year the previous redistricting by the legislature took effect, although they won the House statewide popular vote by 1.5 percentage points.[2]
In the redistricting, the old 15th district had its boundaries compressed around Allentown and became the 7th district, while the old 5th district had its boundaries adjusted and became the 15th district for the 2018 election and representation thereafter.[3] It has been represented by Glenn Thompson since January 3, 2019.
Recent statewide election results
Year | Office | Result |
---|---|---|
2020 | President | Trump 71–28% |
2022 | Governor | Mastriano 60–38% |
2022 | Senate | Oz 64–33% |
List of members representing the district
Member | Party | Years | Cong ress |
Electoral history | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District established March 4, 1813 | |||||
Vacant | March 4, 1813 – May 14, 1813 |
13th | Representative-elect Abner Lacock was elected in 1812 but resigned February 24, 1813. | 1813–1823 [data missing] | |
Thomas Wilson (Erie) |
Democratic-Republican | May 14, 1813 – March 3, 1817 |
13th 14th |
Elected to finish Lacock's term. Re-elected in 1814. Retired. | |
Robert Moore (Beavertown) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1821 |
15th 16th |
Elected in 1816. Re-elected in 1818. Lost re-election. | |
Patrick Farrelly (Meadville) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823 |
17th | Elected in 1820. Redistricted to the 18th district. | |
Thomas Patterson (West Middletown) |
Democratic-Republican | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 |
18th | Redistricted from the 12th district and re-elected in 1822. Retired. |
1823–1833 [data missing] |
Joseph Lawrence (Washington) |
Anti-Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829 |
19th 20th |
Elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Lost re-election. | |
William McCreery (Florence) |
Jacksonian | March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831 |
21st | Elected in 1828. Lost re-election. | |
![]() Thomas M. T. McKennan (Washington) |
Anti-Masonic | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 |
22nd | Elected in 1830. Redistricted to the 21st district. | |
Andrew Beaumont (Wilkes-Barre) |
Jacksonian | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 |
23rd 24th |
Elected in 1832. Re-elected in 1834. Retired. |
1833–1843 [data missing] |
David Petrikin (Danville) |
Democratic | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1841 |
25th 26th |
Elected in 1836. Re-elected in 1838. [data missing] | |
Benjamin A. Bidlack (Wilkes-Barre) |
Democratic | March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 |
27th | Elected in 1840. Redistricted to the 11th district. | |
Henry Nes (York) |
Independent Democratic |
March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 |
28th | Elected in 1843. [data missing] |
1843–1853 [data missing] |
![]() Moses McClean (Gettysburg) |
Democratic | March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 |
29th | Elected in 1844. [data missing] | |
Henry Nes (York) |
Whig | March 4, 1847 – September 10, 1850 |
30th 31st |
Elected in 1846. Re-elected in 1848. Died. | |
Vacant | September 10, 1850 – December 2, 1850 |
31st | |||
![]() Joel B. Danner (Gettysburg) |
Democratic | December 2, 1850 – March 3, 1851 |
Elected to finish Nes's term. [data missing] | ||
William H. Kurtz (York) |
Democratic | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 |
32nd | Elected in 1850. Redistricted to the 16th district. | |
James Gamble (Jersey Shore) |
Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 |
33rd | Redistricted from the 13th district and re-elected in 1852. [data missing] |
1853–1863 [data missing] |
![]() John J. Pearce (Williamsport) |
Opposition | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 |
34th | Elected in 1854. Retired. | |
![]() Allison White (Lock Haven) |
Democratic | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859 |
35th | Elected in 1856. Lost re-election. | |
![]() James T. Hale (Bellefonte) |
Republican | March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1863 |
36th 37th |
Elected in 1858. Re-elected in 1860. Redistricted to the 18th district. | |
![]() Joseph Bailey (Newport) |
Democratic | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 |
38th | Redistricted from the 16th district and re-elected in 1862. [data missing] |
1863–1873 [data missing] |
![]() Adam J. Glossbrenner (York) |
Democratic | March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1869 |
39th 40th |
Elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. Lost re-election. | |
![]() Richard J. Haldeman (Harrisburg) |
Democratic | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873 |
41st 42nd |
Elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Retired. | |
![]() John A. Magee (New Bloomfield) |
Democratic | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 |
43rd | Elected in 1872. Lost renomination. |
1873–1883 [data missing] |
![]() Joseph Powell (Towanda) |
Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 |
44th | Elected in 1874. Lost re-election. | |
![]() Edward Overton Jr. (Towanda) |
Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1881 |
45th 46th |
Elected in 1876. Re-elected in 1878. Lost renomination. | |
![]() Cornelius C. Jadwin (Honesdale) |
Republican | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 |
47th | Elected in 1880. Lost re-election. | |
![]() George A. Post (Susquehanna) |
Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 |
48th | Elected in 1882. [data missing] |
1883–1903 [data missing] |
![]() Frank C. Bunnell (Tunkhannock) |
Republican | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 |
49th 50th |
Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Retired. | |
![]() Myron B. Wright (Susquehanna) |
Republican | March 4, 1889 – November 13, 1894 |
51st 52nd 53rd |
Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Died. | |
Vacant | November 13, 1894 – February 23, 1895 |
53rd | |||
Edwin J. Jorden (Coudersport) |
Republican | February 23, 1895 – March 3, 1895 |
Elected to finish Wright's term. Retired. | ||
Vacant | March 4, 1895 – November 5, 1895 |
54th | |||
![]() James H. Codding (Towanda) |
Republican | November 5, 1895 – March 3, 1899 |
54th 55th |
Elected to finish Wright's term Re-elected in 1896. Retired. | |
![]() Charles F. Wright (Susquehanna) |
Republican | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1903 |
56th 57th |
Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Retired. | |
![]() Elias Deemer (Williamsport) |
Republican | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1907 |
58th 59th |
Redistricted from the 16th district and re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Lost re-election. |
1903–1923 [data missing] |
![]() William B. Wilson (Blossburg) |
Democratic | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1913 |
60th 61st 62nd |
Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Lost re-election. | |
![]() Edgar R. Kiess (Williamsport) |
Republican | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1923 |
63rd 64th 65th 66th 67th |
Elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Redistricted to the 16th district. | |
![]() Louis T. McFadden (Canton) |
Republican | March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1935 |
68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd |
Redistricted from the 14th district and re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Re-elected in 1932. Lost re-election. |
1923–1933 [data missing] |
1933–1943 [data missing] | |||||
Charles E. Dietrich (Tunkhannock) |
Democratic | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937 |
74th | Elected in 1934. Lost re-election. | |
![]() Albert G. Rutherford (Honesdale) |
Republican | January 3, 1937 – August 10, 1941 |
75th 76th 77th |
Elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Died. | |
Vacant | August 10, 1941 – November 4, 1941 |
77th | |||
![]() Wilson D. Gillette (Towanda) |
Republican | November 4, 1941 – January 3, 1945 |
77th 78th |
Elected to finish Rutherford's term. Re-elected in 1942. Redistricted to the 14th district. | |
1943–1953 [data missing] | |||||
![]() Robert F. Rich (Woolrich) |
Republican | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1951 |
79th 80th 81st |
Elected in 1944. Re-elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Retired. | |
![]() Alvin Bush (Muncy) |
Republican | January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 |
82nd | Elected in 1950. Redistricted to the 17th district. | |
![]() Francis E. Walter (Easton) |
Democratic | January 3, 1953 – May 31, 1963 |
83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th |
Redistricted from the 21st district and re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Died. |
1953–1963 [data missing] |
1963–1973 [data missing] | |||||
Vacant | May 31, 1963 – July 30, 1963 |
88th | |||
![]() Fred B. Rooney (Bethlehem) |
Democratic | July 30, 1963 – January 3, 1979 |
88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th |
Elected to finish Walter's term. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Lost re-election. | |
1973–1983 [data missing] | |||||
![]() Donald L. Ritter (Coopersburg) |
Republican | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1993 |
96th 97th 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd |
Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Lost re-election. | |
1983–1993 [data missing] | |||||
![]() Paul F. McHale (Bethlehem) |
Democratic | January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1999 |
103rd 104th 105th |
Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Retired. |
1993–2003 [data missing] |
![]() Pat Toomey (Allentown) |
Republican | January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005 |
106th 107th 108th |
Elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | |
2003–2013![]() | |||||
![]() Charlie Dent (Allentown) |
Republican | January 3, 2005 – May 12, 2018 |
109th 110th 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th |
Elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Resigned. | |
2013–2019![]() | |||||
Vacant | May 12, 2018 – November 27, 2018 |
115th | |||
![]() Susan Wild (Allentown) |
Democratic | November 27, 2018 – January 3, 2019 |
Elected to finish Dent's term. Redistricted to the 7th district. | ||
![]() G. T. Thompson (Howard) |
Republican | January 3, 2019 – present |
116th 117th 118th |
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. |
2019–2023![]() |
2023–![]() |
Recent elections
Year | Election | Nominee | Party | Votes | % | Nominee | Party | Votes | % | Nominee | Party | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | General | Pat Toomey | Republican | 118,307 | 53% | Edward J. O'Brien | Democratic | 103,864 | 47% | |||||||
2002 | General | Pat Toomey | Republican | 98,493 | 57% | Edward J. O'Brien | Democratic | 73,212 | 43% | |||||||
2004 | General | Charlie Dent | Republican | 170,634 | 59% | Joe Driscoll | Democratic | 141,646 | 39% | |||||||
2006 | General | Charlie Dent | Republican | 106,153 | 54% | Charles Dertinger | Democratic | 86,186 | 43% | |||||||
2008 | General | Charlie Dent | Republican | 181,433 | 59% | Sam Bennett | Democratic | 128,333 | 41% | |||||||
2010 | General | Charlie Dent | Republican | 109,501 | 54% | John Callahan | Democratic | 79,857 | 39% | Jake Towne | Independent | 14,252 | 8% | |||
2012 | General | Charlie Dent | Republican | 168,960 | 57% | Rick Daugherty | Democratic | 128,764 | 43% | |||||||
2014 | General | Charlie Dent | Republican | 128,285 | 100% | |||||||||||
2016 | General | Charlie Dent | Republican | 185,204 | 58% | Rick Daugherty | Democratic | 120,190 | 38% | Paul Rizzo | Libertarian | 11,332 | 4% | |||
2018 | Special | Marty Nothstein | Republican | 129,594 | 48.26% | Susan Wild | Democratic | 130,353 | 48.54% | |||||||
2018 | General | G. T. Thompson | Republican | 162,386 | 67.9% | Susan Boser | Democratic | 76,769 | 32.1% | |||||||
2020 | General | G. T. Thompson | Republican | 255,051 | 73.46% | Robert Williams | Democratic | 92,143 | 26.54% | |||||||
2022 | General | G. T. Thompson | Republican | 213,417 | 69.09% | Mike Molesevich | Democratic | 91,729 | 30.01% |
References
- "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- "Adventures in Extreme Gerrymandering: See the Fair and Wildly Unfair Maps We Made for Pennsylvania", QUOCTRUNG BUI and NATE COHN, New York Times, 17 January 2018
- Cohn, Nate; Bloch, Matthew; Quealy, Kevin (February 19, 2018). "The New Pennsylvania House Districts Are In. We Review the Mapmakers' Choices". The Upshot. The New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
- "Pennsylvania Elections - Office Results - 2018 Special Election 15th Congressional District". Pennsylvania Elections - Summary Results.
- "Pennsylvania Elections - County Results". Pennsylvania Elections - Summary Results.