Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district

Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district is located in the northeastern region of the state. It encompasses all of Wayne, Pike, and Lackawanna Counties; along with portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties.

Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
  Matt Cartwright
D–Moosic
Population (2022)766,586
Median household
income		$63,172
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+4[1]

The district had been anchored in Bucks County from the 1940s until 2018, even as most other districts in Pennsylvania changed drastically during that time frame due to population shifts and Pennsylvania's loss of seats in the House.[2]

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania redrew the district in February 2018 after ruling the previous map unconstitutional due to gerrymandering. The 8th district was reassigned to the northeastern part of the state for the 2018 elections and representation thereafter. It is geographically the successor of the former 17th district, including the ancestrally Democratic cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre in the Wyoming Valley. Portions of the new 8th district also came from the old 10th district, including the more conservative counties of Pike and Wayne. Meanwhile, the Bucks County district was renumbered as the 1st district.[3]

The district has a Cook PVI of R+4;[1] however, the Democratic incumbent of the old 17th district, Matt Cartwright, won in 2018.[4] It was one of five districts that would have voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election had they existed in their current configuration while being won or held by a Democrat in 2022. It is also the most Republican-leaning district held by a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus based on the Cook Partisan Voting Index.

The district is a mix of suburban and rural communities. It is predominantly white and middle-class. The bulk of its population is located in the ancestrally Democratic cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. However, the Democrats in this district are populist-leaning, different from their counterparts in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The old 17th swung from a 55–43 win for Barack Obama to a 54–43 win for Donald Trump, the first time much of this area had voted for a Republican since 1988.

Recent statewide election results
Year Office Result
2020 President Trump 51–47%
2022 Governor Shapiro 54–44%
2022 Senate Fetterman 49–48%

List of members representing the district

The district was created in 1791.

1791–1793: one seat
Representative Party Years Cong
ress		 Electoral history
District first established March 4, 1791

William Findley
(Youngstown)		 Anti-Administration March 4, 1791 –
March 3, 1793		 2nd Elected in 1791.
Redistricted to the at-large district.

District eliminated in 1793 and replaced by the at-large district.

1795–1813: one seat

District restored in 1795.

Representative Party Years Cong
ress		 Electoral history

Thomas Hartley
(York)		 Federalist March 4, 1795 –
December 21, 1800		 4th
5th
6th		 Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1794.
Re-elected in 1796.
Re-elected in 1798.
Retired and then died.
Vacant December 21, 1800 –
January 15, 1801		 6th
John Stewart
(York)		 Democratic-Republican January 15, 1801 –
March 3, 1803		 6th
7th		 Elected in 1800.
Elected January 15, 1801, to finish Hartley's term and seated February 3, 1801.
Redistricted to the 6th district.

William Findley
(Youngstown)		 Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1813		 8th
9th
10th
11th
12th		 Elected in 1802.
Re-elected in 1804.
Re-elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
Redistricted to the 11th district.
William Piper
(Bloodyrun)		 Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1817		 13th
14th		 Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1812.
Re-elected in 1814.
Retired.
Alexander Ogle
(Somerset)		 Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1819		 15th Elected in 1816.
Retired.
Robert Philson
(Somerset)		 Democratic-Republican March 4, 1819 –
March 3, 1821		 16th Elected in 1818.
Lost re-election as a Federalist.

John Tod
(Bedford)		 Democratic-Republican March 4, 1821 –
March 3, 1823		 17th Elected in 1820.
Redistricted to the 13th district.

1823–1833: two seats
Years Cong
ress		 Seat A Seat B
Representative Party Electoral history Representative Party Electoral history
March 4, 1823 –
April 20, 1824		 18th Thomas Jones Rogers
(Easton)		 Democratic-Republican Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1822.
Resigned.
Samuel D. Ingham
(New Hope)		 Democratic-Republican Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Re-elected in 1828 but resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
April 20, 1824 –
December 9, 1824		 Vacant
December 9, 1824 –
March 3, 1825
George Wolf
(Easton)		 Democratic-Republican Elected October 12, 1824, to finish Rogers's term and seated December 9, 1824.
Also elected the same day in 1824 to the next term.
Re-elected in 1826.
Re-elected in 1828 but resigned to become Governor of Pennsylvania.
March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1829		 19th
20th		 Jacksonian Jacksonian
March 4, 1829 –
October 13, 1829		 21st Vacant   Vacant  
October 13, 1829 –
March 3, 1833		 21st
22nd		 Samuel A. Smith
(Rockhill)		 Jacksonian Elected October 13, 1829, to finish Wolf's term and seated December 7, 1829.
Re-elected in 1830.
Retired.		 Peter Ihrie Jr.
(Easton)		 Jacksonian Elected October 13, 1829, to finish Ingham's term and seated December 7, 1829.
Re-elected in 1830.
Redistricted to the 7th district and lost re-election.

1833–present: one seat
Member Party Years Cong
ress		 Electoral history District location
Henry King
(Allentown)		 Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835		 23rd Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1832.
Retired.		 1833–1843
[data missing]
Edward Burd Hubley
(Orwigsburg)		 Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837		 24th
25th		 Elected in 1834.
Re-elected in 1836.
Retired.
Democratic March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
Peter Newhard
(Allentown)		 Democratic March 4, 1839 –
March 3, 1843		 26th
27th		 Elected in 1838.
Re-elected in 1840.
Retired.

Jeremiah Brown
(Goshen)		 Whig March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845		 28th Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1843.
Retired.		 1843–1853
[data missing]
John Strohm
(New Providence)		 Whig March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1849		 29th
30th		 Elected in 1844.
Re-elected in 1846.
[data missing]

Thaddeus Stevens
(Lancaster)		 Whig March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1853		 31st
32nd		 Elected in 1848.
Re-elected in 1850.
[data missing]
Henry A. Muhlenberg
(Reading)		 Democratic March 4, 1853 –
January 9, 1854		 33rd Elected in 1852.
Died.		 1853–1863
[data missing]
Vacant January 9, 1854 –
February 4, 1854

J. Glancy Jones
(Reading)		 Democratic February 4, 1854 –
October 30, 1858		 33rd
34th
35th		 Elected to finish Muhlenberg's term.
Re-elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
Resigned to become United States Minister to Austria.
Vacant October 30, 1858 –
December 7, 1858		 35th

William H. Keim
(Reading)		 Republican December 7, 1858 –
March 3, 1859		 Elected to finish Jones's term.
[data missing]
John Schwartz
(Reading)		 Anti-Lecompton Democratic March 4, 1859 –
June 20, 1860		 36th Elected in 1858.
Died.
Vacant June 20, 1860 –
December 3, 1860
Jacob K. McKenty
(Reading)		 Democratic December 3, 1860 –
March 3, 1861		 Elected to finish Schwartz's term.
Retired.

Sydenham E. Ancona
(Reading)		 Democratic March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1867		 37th
38th
39th		 Elected in 1860.
Re-elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Lost renomination.
1863–1873
[data missing]

James L. Getz
(Reading)		 Democratic March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1873		 40th
41st
42nd		 Elected in 1866.
Re-elected in 1868.
Re-elected in 1870.
Retired.

Hiester Clymer
(Reading)		 Democratic March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1881		 43rd
44th
45th
46th		 Elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
[data missing]		 1873–1883
[data missing]

Daniel Ermentrout
(Reading)		 Democratic March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1889		 47th
48th
49th
50th		 Elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Lost renomination.
1883–1893
[data missing]

William Mutchler
(Easton)		 Democratic March 4, 1889 –
June 23, 1893		 51st
52nd
53rd		 Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Died.
1893–1903
[data missing]
Vacant June 23, 1893 –
August 7, 1893		 53rd

Howard Mutchler
(Easton)		 Democratic August 7, 1893 –
March 3, 1895		 Elected to finish his father's term.
Retired.

Joseph J. Hart
(Milford)		 Democratic March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897		 54th Elected in 1894.
Retired.

William S. Kirkpatrick
(Easton)		 Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899		 55th Elected in 1896.
Lost re-election.

Laird H. Barber
(Mauch Chunk)		 Democratic March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901		 56th Elected in 1898.
Retired.

Howard Mutchler
(Easton)		 Democratic March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1903		 57th Elected in 1900.
Retired.

Irving P. Wanger
(Norristown)		 Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1911		 58th
59th
60th
61st		 Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Lost re-election.		 1903–1913
[data missing]

Robert E. Difenderfer
(Jenkintown)		 Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1915		 62nd
63rd		 Elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Lost renomination.
1913–1933
[data missing]

Henry W. Watson
(Langhorne)		 Republican March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1923		 64th
65th
66th
67th		 Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Redistricted to the Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district.

Thomas S. Butler
(West Chester)		 Republican March 4, 1923 –
May 26, 1928		 68th
69th
70th		 Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Died.
Vacant May 26, 1928 –
November 6, 1928		 70th

James Wolfenden
(Upper Darby)		 Republican November 6, 1928 –
January 3, 1945		 70th
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
75th
76th
77th
78th		 Elected to finish Butler's term.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Redistricted to the Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district.
1933–1943
[data missing]
1943–1953
[data missing]

Charles L. Gerlach
(Allentown)		 Republican January 3, 1945 –
May 5, 1947		 79th
80th		 Redistricted from the 9th district and re-elected in 1944.
Died.
Vacant May 5, 1947 –
September 9, 1947		 80th

Franklin H. Lichtenwalter
(Center Valley)		 Republican September 9, 1947 –
January 3, 1951		 80th
81st		 Elected to finish Gerlach's term.
Re-elected in 1948.
[data missing]

Albert C. Vaughn
(Fullerton)		 Republican January 3, 1951 –
September 1, 1951		 82nd Elected in 1950.
Died.
Vacant September 1, 1951 –
November 6, 1951

Karl C. King
(Morrisville)		 Republican November 6, 1951 –
January 3, 1957		 82nd
83rd
84th		 Elected to finish Vaughn's term.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Retired.
1953–1963
[data missing]

Willard S. Curtin
(Morrisville)		 Republican January 3, 1957 –
January 3, 1967		 85th
86th
87th
88th
89th		 Elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Retired.
1963–1973
[data missing]

Edward G. Biester Jr.
(Furlong)		 Republican January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1977		 90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th		 Elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Retired.
1973–1983
[data missing]

Peter H. Kostmayer
(Solebury)		 Democratic January 3, 1977 –
January 3, 1981		 95th
96th		 Elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Lost re-election.

James K. Coyne, III
(Newtown)		 Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 1983		 97th Elected in 1980.
Lost re-election.

Peter H. Kostmayer
(Solebury)		 Democratic January 3, 1983 –
January 3, 1993		 98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd		 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]

James C. Greenwood
(Erwinna)		 Republican January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2005		 103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th		 Elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Retired.		 1993–2003
[data missing]
2003–2013

Mike Fitzpatrick
(Levittown)		 Republican January 3, 2005 –
January 3, 2007		 109th Elected in 2004.
Lost re-election.

Patrick Murphy
(Bristol)		 Democratic January 3, 2007 –
January 3, 2011		 110th
111th		 Elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Lost re-election.

Mike Fitzpatrick
(Levittown)		 Republican January 3, 2011 –
January 3, 2017		 112th
113th
114th		 Elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Retired.
2013–2019

Brian Fitzpatrick
(Langhorne)		 Republican January 3, 2017 –
January 3, 2019		 115th Elected in 2016.
Redistricted to the 1st district

Matt Cartwright
(Moosic)		 Democratic January 3, 2019 –
present		 116th
117th
118th		 Redistricted from the 17th district and re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.		 2019–2023
2023–

Election results
US House election, 2004: Pennsylvania District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Fitzpatrick 183,229 55 -9
Democratic Virginia Schrader 143,427 44 +7
Libertarian Arthur L. Farnsworth 3,710 1 +1
Constitution Erich Lukas 898 0.3 +0.3
Turnout 331,264
US House election, 2006: Pennsylvania District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Patrick Murphy 125,667 50 +6
Republican Mike Fitzpatrick (incumbent) 124,146 50 -5
Turnout 249,813
US House election, 2008: Pennsylvania District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Patrick Murphy (incumbent) 197,869 57 +7
Republican Tom Manion 145,103 42 -8
Independent Tom Lingenfelter 5,543 2
Turnout 348,515
US House election, 2010: Pennsylvania District 8
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Fitzpatrick 126,404 54 +12
Democratic Patrick Murphy (incumbent) 109,157 46 -11
Turnout 235,561
US House election, 2012: Pennsylvania District 8[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Fitzpatrick (incumbent) 199,379 56.6 +2.6
Democratic Kathy Boockvar 152,859 43.4 -2.6
Turnout 352,238
US House election, 2014: Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Fitzpatrick (Incumbent) 137,731 61.90
Democratic Kevin Strouse 84,767 38.10
Turnout 222,498
US House election, 2016: Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Fitzpatrick 207,263 54.4
Democratic Steve Santarsiero 173,555 45.6
Total votes 380,818 100.0
Republican hold
US House election, 2018: Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matt Cartwright (incumbent) 135,603 54.6
Republican John Chrin 112,563 45.4
Total votes 248,166 100.0
Democratic hold
US House election, 2020: Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matt Cartwright (incumbent) 178,004 51.8
Republican Jim Bognet 165,783 48.2
Total votes 343,787 100.0
Democratic hold
US House election, 2022: Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Matt Cartwright (incumbent) 146,956 51.2
Republican Jim Bognet 139,930 48.8
Total votes 286,886 100.0
Democratic hold

See also

References
  1. "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  2. "Congressional Interactive District Map". Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  3. 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.
  4. "Battle for the House 2018". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  5. "2012 General Election—Official Returns". Pennsylvania Department of State. November 6, 2012. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  6. "Pennsylvania 2014 General Election - November 4, 2014 Official Results". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  7. "2020 Presidential Election - Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  8. "2022 General Election Official Returns - Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Department of State.

40°20′10″N 75°09′04″W

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