Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district

Summary

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
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
  Glenn Thompson
RHoward
Population (2022)759,208
Median household
income
$53,741
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+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 edit

Year Office Result
2020 President Trump 71–28%
2022 Governor Mastriano 60–38%
2022 Senate Oz 64–33%

[citation needed]

List of members representing the district edit

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 edit

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%

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "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
  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.
  • 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.

External links edit

  • Congressional redistricting in Pennsylvania

40°31′44″N 75°57′45″W / 40.52889°N 75.96250°W / 40.52889; -75.96250