Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district

Summary

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district is located in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh and much of Allegheny County, as well as some of Westmoreland County. Since January 3, 2023, it has been represented by Summer Lee.

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
(Allegheny County outlined in red)
Representative
  Summer Lee
DSwissvale
Population (2022)758,799
Median household
income
$68,078
Cook PVID+8[1]

Before 2018, the 12th district was located in southwestern Pennsylvania and included all of Beaver County, and parts of Allegheny, Cambria, Lawrence, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania redrew this and other state congressional districts in February 2018 after ruling the previous map unconstitutional due to partisan gerrymandering. The new 12th district covers much of the old 10th district. The old 12th district was redrawn to an area north and west of Pittsburgh and renamed the 17th district for the 2018 elections and representation after that.[2]

Before the 2011 round of redistricting, the 12th district was widely considered to be gerrymandered by the Republican-controlled state legislature as a heavily Democratic district. It consisted of all of Greene County, and parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties.

Recent statewide election results edit

Year Office Result
2020 President Biden 67–31%
2022 Governor Shapiro 68–30%
2022 Senate Fetterman 63–35%

[citation needed]

History edit

After the 2000 census, the Republican-controlled state legislature radically altered the 12th to get more Republicans elected from traditionally heavily Democratic southwestern Pennsylvania. A large chunk of the old 20th district was incorporated into the 12th. In some parts of the western portion of the district, one side of the street is in the 12th, while the other is in the 18th district (the reconfigured 20th). This led to criticism that the 12th was a gerrymander intended to pack as many of southwestern Pennsylvania's heavily Democratic areas as possible into just two districts—the 12th and the Pittsburgh-based 14th.

Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, the 12th district consisted of all of Greene County, and parts of Allegheny, Armstrong, Cambria, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties. A thoroughly unionized district, the 12th was historically among the most Democratic areas of the state. However, the Democrats in this area were not as liberal as their counterparts in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Most were somewhat conservative on social issues, particularly abortion and gun control.

The 12th included all of Greene County, a highly rural region that still has a traditionally Democratic influence due to its labor leanings. In Washington county, the city of Washington and eastern portions of the county, a large and Democratic edge suburb of Pittsburgh, was a part of the 12th. Most of the Monongahela Valley region, a very Democratic area once an important steel-making area, was also part of the 12th. However, more rural western Washington County and the suburban northern portion of the county (with towns like McDonald and Canonsburg) then belonged to the 18th. The western portion of Fayette County, including the city of Uniontown, a labor Democratic stronghold, was part of this district. In contrast, the rural mountainous eastern portion was a part of the 9th.

The 12th district continued eastward, including southeastern and northeastern parts of Westmoreland County, including the labor Democratic city of Latrobe, while leaving the suburban western part of the county (with towns such as Murrysville) and the generally left-leaning city of Greensburg in the 18th. The major population base of the district was located just to the east, taking in most of Somerset and Cambria counties. This area, the heart of a sizeable coal-mining region, includes the district's largest city, Johnstown. The 12th also contained a part of Indiana County, mainly the college town of Indiana.

The 12th completed its wrap around the metro Pittsburgh region by ending in the northeastern corner of the city's suburbs, containing middle-class regions such as Lower Burrell and the working-class suburb of New Kensington. A portion of Armstrong County was also included in the district, including several industrial suburbs such as Freeport and Apollo. The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R+1. The district is notable as the only congressional district in the nation that voted for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004 but went for Republican John McCain in 2008. This is mainly because, since 2000, southwestern Pennsylvania has gradually become more Republican.

2006 election edit

In the 2006 election, Murtha was re-elected with 61% of the vote. His Republican opponent, Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey, received 39%.

2008 election edit

John Murtha won the 2008 election with 58% of the vote. Murtha was a United States Marine and the first Vietnam War veteran to serve in Congress. He defeated Lt. Col. William T. Russell, an army veteran.

2010 special election edit

Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell scheduled a special election for May 18, 2010, following the death of Representative John Murtha. On March 8, 2010, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's Executive Committee nominated Mark Critz, Murtha's former district director.[3] On March 11, a convention of Republicans from the 12th district nominated businessman Tim Burns.[4] The Libertarian Party's candidate was Demo Agoris, who ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 48th district as a Libertarian in 2006.

Mark Critz won the election.

2010 election edit

Mark Critz was re-elected in the regularly scheduled 2010 election, again beating Republican Tim Burns (this time with 51% of the vote against 49%).

2012 election edit

Mark Critz ran for re-election to a second full term in the 2012 election but was defeated by Republican challenger Keith Rothfus. Critz garnered 48.5% of the vote to Rothfus' 51.5%.[5] The 12th had absorbed a large chunk of the old 4th district, including Rothfus' home, after the 2010 census, and was significantly more Republican than its predecessor.

2019 special election edit

After Tom Marino's resignation in January 2019, an election was held on May 21 to fill the open seat. Republican Fred Keller defeated 2018 Democratic nominee Mark Friedenberg.[6][7]

List of members representing the district edit

Representative Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history Location
District established March 4, 1795
 
Albert Gallatin
(Springhill Township)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –
May 14, 1801
4th
5th
6th
7th
Elected in 1794.
Re-elected in 1796.
Re-elected in 1798.
Re-elected in 1800 but declined the seat to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
1795–1803
[data missing]
Vacant May 14, 1801 –
December 7, 1801
7th
William Hoge
(Washington)
Democratic-Republican December 7, 1801 –
March 3, 1803
Elected October 13, 1801, to finish Gallatin's term and seated December 7, 1801.
Redistricted to the 10th district.
District dissolved March 3, 1803
District re-established March 4, 1813
Aaron Lyle
(West Middletown)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1817
13th
14th
Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 1812.
Re-elected in 1814.
Retired.
1813–1823
[data missing]
Thomas Patterson
(West Middletown)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1817 –
March 3, 1823
15th
16th
17th
Elected in 1816.
Re-elected in 1818.
Re-elected in 1820.
Redistricted to the 15th district.
John Brown
(Lewistown)
Democratic-Republican March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
18th Redistricted from the 9th district and re-elected in 1822.
Lost re-election.
1823–1833
[data missing]
John Mitchell
(Bellefonte)
Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1829
19th
20th
Elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Retired.
 
John Scott
(Alexandria)
Jacksonian March 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1831
21st Elected in 1828.
Lost re-election.
Robert Allison
(Huntingdon)
Anti-Masonic March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833
22nd Elected in 1830.
Retired.
George Chambers
(Chambersburg)
Anti-Masonic March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1837
23rd
24th
Elected in 1832.
Re-elected in 1834.
[data missing]
1833–1843
[data missing]
Daniel Sheffer
(York)
Democratic March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
25th Elected in 1836.
Lost re-election.
 
James Cooper
(Gettysburg)
Whig March 4, 1839 –
March 3, 1843
26th
27th
Elected in 1838.
Re-elected in 1840.
[data missing]
 
Almon H. Read
(Montrose)
Democratic March 4, 1843 –
June 3, 1844
28th Redistricted from the 17th district and re-elected in 1842.
Died.
1843–1853
[data missing]
Vacant June 3, 1844 –
December 2, 1844
George Fuller
(Montrose)
Democratic December 2, 1844 –
March 3, 1845
Elected to finish Read's term.
[data missing]
 
David Wilmot
(Towanda)
Democratic March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1851
29th
30th
31st
Elected in 1844.
Re-elected in 1846.
Re-elected in 1848.
Retired.
 
Galusha A. Grow
(Glenwood)
Democratic March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853
32nd Elected in 1850.
Redistricted to the 14th district.
 
Hendrick B. Wright
(Wilkes-Barre)
Democratic March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
33rd Elected in 1852.
Lost re-election.
1853–1863
[data missing]
 
Henry M. Fuller
(Wilkes-Barre)
Opposition March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857
34th Elected in 1854.
Retired.
John G. Montgomery
(Danville)
Democratic March 4, 1857 –
April 24, 1857
35th Elected in 1856.
Died.
Vacant April 24, 1857 –
December 7, 1857
 
Paul Leidy
(Danville)
Democratic December 7, 1857 –
March 3, 1859
Elected to finish Montgomery's term.
[data missing]
 
George W. Scranton
(Scranton)
Republican March 4, 1859 –
March 24, 1861
36th
37th
Elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860.
Died.
Vacant March 24, 1861 –
July 4, 1861
37th
 
Hendrick B. Wright
(Wilkes-Barre)
Democratic July 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
Elected to finish Scranton's term.
[data missing]
 
Charles Denison
(Wilkes-Barre)
Democratic March 4, 1863 –
June 27, 1867
38th
39th
40th
Elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Died.
1863–1873
[data missing]
Vacant June 27, 1867 –
November 21, 1867
40th
 
George W. Woodward
(Wilkes-Barre)
Democratic November 21, 1867 –
March 3, 1871
40th
41st
Elected to finish Denison's term.
Re-elected in 1868.
Retired.
 
Lazarus D. Shoemaker
(Wilkes-Barre)
Republican March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1875
42nd
43rd
Elected in 1870.
Re-elected in 1872.
Retired.
1873–1883
[data missing]
 
Winthrop W. Ketcham
(Wilkes-Barre)
Republican March 4, 1875 –
July 19, 1876
44th Elected in 1874.
Resigned to become U.S. District Judge
Vacant July 19, 1876 –
November 7, 1876
 
William H. Stanton
(Scranton)
Democratic November 7, 1876 –
March 3, 1877
Elected to finish Ketcham's term.
Retired.
 
Hendrick B. Wright
(Wilkes-Barre)
Democratic March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1879
45th
46th
Elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Lost re-election.
Greenback March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1881
 
Joseph A. Scranton
(Scranton)
Republican March 4, 1881 –
March 3, 1883
47th Elected in 1880.
Lost re-election.
 
Daniel W. Connolly
(Scranton)
Democratic March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1885
48th Elected in 1882.
Lost re-election.
1883–1893
[data missing]
 
Joseph A. Scranton
(Scranton)
Republican March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1887
49th Elected in 1884.
Lost re-election.
 
John Lynch
(Wilkes-Barre)
Democratic March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1889
50th Elected in 1886.
Lost re-election.
 
Edwin S. Osborne
(Wilkes-Barre)
Republican March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1891
51st Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1888.
Retired.
 
George W. Shonk
(Plymouth)
Republican March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1893
52nd Elected in 1890.
Retired.
 
William H. Hines
(Wilkes-Barre)
Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895
53rd Elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.
1893–1903
[data missing]
 
John Leisenring
(Upper Lehigh)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897
54th Elected in 1894.
Retired.
 
Morgan B. Williams
(Wilkes-Barre)
Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899
55th Elected in 1896.
Lost re-election.
 
Stanley W. Davenport
(Plymouth)
Democratic March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1901
56th Elected in 1898.
Lost renomination.
 
Henry W. Palmer
(Wilkes-Barre)
Republican March 4, 1901 –
March 3, 1903
57th Elected in 1900.
Redistricted to the 11th district.
 
George R. Patterson
(Ashland)
Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 21, 1906
58th
59th
Elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Died.
1903–1913
[data missing]
Vacant January 21, 1906 –
November 6, 1906
59th
 
Charles N. Brumm
(Minersville)
Republican November 6, 1906 –
January 4, 1909
59th
60th
Elected to finish Patterson's term.
Re-elected in 1906.
Retired to run for judge of the court of common pleas of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and then resigned once elected.
Vacant January 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1909
60th
 
Alfred B. Garner
(Ashland)
Republican March 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1911
61st Elected in 1908.
Lost renomination.
 
Robert E. Lee
(Pottsville)
Democratic March 4, 1911 –
March 3, 1915
62nd
63rd
Elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.
1913–1933
[data missing]
 
Robert D. Heaton
(Ashland)
Republican March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1919
64th
65th
Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Retired.
 
John Reber
(Pottsville)
Republican March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1923
66th
67th
Elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Retired.
 
John J. Casey
(Wilkes-Barre)
Democratic March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1925
68th Elected in 1922.
Lost re-election.
 
Edmund N. Carpenter
(Wilkes-Barre)
Republican March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1927
69th Elected in 1924.
Lost re-election.
 
John J. Casey
(Wilkes-Barre)
Democratic March 4, 1927 –
May 5, 1929
70th
71st
Elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Died.
Vacant May 5, 1929 –
June 4, 1929
71st
 
C. Murray Turpin
(Kingston)
Republican June 4, 1929 –
January 3, 1937
71st
72nd
73rd
74th
Elected to finish Casey's term.
Re-elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Lost re-election.
1933–1943
[data missing]
 
J. Harold Flannery
(Pittston)
Democratic January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1942
75th
76th
77th
Elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Resigned to become judge of the common pleas court of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Vacant January 3, 1942 –
May 19, 1942
77th
 
Thomas B. Miller
(Plymouth)
Republican May 19, 1942 –
January 3, 1945
77th
78th
Elected to finish Flannery's term.
Re-elected later in 1942.
Lost re-election.
1943–1953
[data missing]
 
Ivor D. Fenton
(Mahanoy City)
Republican January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1963
79th
80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
Redistricted from the 13th district and re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Lost re-election.
1953–1963
[data missing]
 
J. Irving Whalley
(Windber)
Republican January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1973
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
Redistricted from the 18th district and re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Retired.
1963–1973
[data missing]
 
John P. Saylor
(Johnstown)
Republican January 3, 1973 –
October 28, 1973
93rd Redistricted from the 22nd district and re-elected in 1972.
Died.
1973–1983
[data missing]
Vacant October 28, 1973 –
February 5, 1974
 
John Murtha
(Johnstown)
Democratic February 5, 1974 –
February 8, 2010
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
Elected to finish Saylor's term.
Re-elected later in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-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.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Died.
1983–1993
[data missing]
1993–2003
[data missing]
2003–2013
 
Vacant February 8, 2010 –
May 18, 2010
111th
 
Mark Critz
(Johnstown)
Democratic May 18, 2010 –
January 3, 2013
111th
112th
Elected to finish Murtha's term.
Re-elected later in 2010.
Lost re-election.
 
Keith Rothfus
(Sewickley)
Republican January 3, 2013 –
January 3, 2019
113th
114th
115th
Elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Redistricted to the 17th district and lost re-election.
2013–2019
 
 
Tom Marino
(Williamsport)
Republican January 3, 2019 –
January 23, 2019
116th Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 2018.
Resigned.[8]
2019–2023
 
Vacant January 23, 2019 –
May 21, 2019
 
Fred Keller
(Middleburg)
Republican May 21, 2019 –
January 3, 2023
116th
117th
Elected to finish Marino's term.
Re-elected in 2020.
Redistricted to the 9th district and retired at the end of term.
 
Summer Lee
(Swissvale)
Democratic January 3, 2023 –
present
118th Elected in 2022. 2023–
 

Recent election results edit

2012 edit

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, 2012[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Rothfus 175,352 51.7
Democratic Mark Critz (incumbent) 163,589 48.3
Total votes 338,941 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2014 edit

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Rothfus (incumbent) 127,993 59.3
Democratic Erin McClelland 87,928 40.7
Total votes 215,921 100.0
Republican hold

2016 edit

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, 2016[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Rothfus (incumbent) 221,851 61.8
Democratic Erin Mcclelland 137,353 38.2
Total votes 359,204 100.0
Republican hold

2018 edit

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, 2018[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Marino (incumbent) 161,047 66.0
Democratic Marc Friedenburg 82,825 34.0
Total votes 243,872 100.0
Republican hold

2019 special election edit

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district special election, 2019[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Fred Keller 90,000 68.08% +2.04%
Democratic Marc Friedenberg 42,195 31.92% -2.04%
Total votes '132,195' '100.0%' N/A
Republican hold

2020 edit

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, 2020[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Fred Keller (incumbent) 241,035 70.8
Democratic Lee Griffin 99,199 29.2
Total votes 340,234 100.0
Republican hold

2022 edit

Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, 2022[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Summer Lee 184,674 56.2
Republican Mike Doyle 143,946 43.8
Total votes 328,620 100.0
Democratic hold

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Becker, Bernie (March 8, 2010). "Dems Choose Nominee for Murtha Seat". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  4. ^ Faher, Mike (March 12, 2010). "GOP chooses Burns for special election in 12th". The Tribune-Democratic. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
  5. ^ "2012 General Election: Representative in Congress, District 12". Pennsylvania Department of State. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  6. ^ Levy, Marc (March 2, 2019). "GOP state lawmaker becomes favorite in House race to succeed Marino". Center Daily Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  7. ^ "Pennsylvania Democratic Party Announces Candidate For Special Election In The 12th Congressional District – Pennsylvania Democratic PartyPennsylvania Democratic Party". Padems.com. February 12, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  8. ^ "Ex-Congressman Marino Now Cites Health for Resigning". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Statistics of Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 2012". Karen Haas, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. February 28, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  10. ^ "Pennsylvania 2014 General Election – November 4, 2014 Official Results". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "Pennsylvania 2016 General Election – November 8, 2016 Official Results". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  12. ^ "2018 General Election: Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  13. ^ "2019 Special Election 12th Congressional District". Pennsylvania Department of State. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  14. ^ "2020 Presidential Election – Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  15. ^ "2022 General Election Official Returns - Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Department of State.

Further reading edit

  • 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
  • Congressman Tom Marino resigns, leaving a vacancy in Pa.'s 12th district

External links edit

  • Congressional redistricting in Pennsylvania

40°25′42″N 79°29′11″W / 40.42833°N 79.48639°W / 40.42833; -79.48639