Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district

Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district
Boundaries beginning January 2019.
Statistics below, except PVI, apply to the old boundaries.
Current Representative Ryan Costello (RWest Chester)
Distribution
  • 89.07[1]% urban
  • 10.93% rural
Population (2000) 646,221
Median income 55,611
Ethnicity
Cook PVI D+2[2]
The 6th congressional district's boundaries from January 3, 2013 to January 2019

Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District is a congressional district in the state of Pennsylvania. It includes communities north and west of the City of Philadelphia, represented by Ryan Costello.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania redrew the district in February 2018 after ruling the previous map unconstitutional. The district's boundaries will be adjusted for the 2018 elections and representation thereafter.[3]

The district's current incarnation dates from 2002. Its strange shape brought charges of gerrymandering by Democrats who argued it "looms like a dragon descending on Philadelphia from the west, splitting up towns and communities throughout Montgomery and Berks Counties."[4] The combination of very affluent suburban areas of Philadelphia and sparsely populated rural areas was possibly designed to capture Republican voters, but changes in voting patterns in southeastern Pennsylvania has made the District much more competitive. The District had a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R+1 after the 2012 redistricting. It was rated D+4 before then.[5]

The redistricting of 2011/2012 changed it to include parts of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lebanon counties. The court-ordered map made the 6th a more compact district in Berks and Chester counties.[3]

Elections

Gerlach has served as the District's Representative since 2003. In 2004 and 2006, Gerlach won re-election against fellow attorney and now Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Lois Murphy. In 2008, he successfully ran for re-election against businessman and veteran Bob Roggio. In the 2010 and 2012 elections, Gerlach defeated physician and Iraq War veteran Manan Trivedi, the Democratic nominee.

In January, 2014 Gerlach announced that he would not stand for reelection to the 114th Congress. In the race to succeed Gerlach, Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello won the Republican nomination and physician and Iraq war veteran Manan Trivedi secured the Democratic party's nomination.[6]

Year Office Results
2002 Representative Gerlach 51.4 - 48.6%
2004 President Kerry 52 - 48%
Representative Gerlach 51 - 49%
2006 Representative Gerlach 50.7 - 49.3%
2008 President Obama 58 - 41%
Representative Gerlach 52.1 - 47.9%
2010 Representative Gerlach 57.1 - 42.9%
2012 President Romney 50.6 - 48.1%
Representative Gerlach 57.1 - 42.9%
2016 President Clinton 47.6 - 47.0%
Representative Costello 57.3 - 42.7%

Geography

2003 to 2013

The district included parts of Montgomery County, Chester County, Berks County and Lehigh County. The largest cities in the district were Reading and Norristown.

2017

The following municipalities constitute the sixth district:[7]

Berks County

TownshipsBoroughs
  • Alsace
  • Bern
  • Colebrookdale
  • Cumru District 1,4,6,7
  • Exeter
  • Heidelberg
  • Herford District 2
  • Lower Alsace District 2
  • Lower Heidelberg
  • Maidencreek
  • Marion
  • Muhlenberg 2,3,5,6,7,8,9
  • North Heidelberg
  • Ontelaunee
  • Penn
  • Richmond
  • Rockland
  • Ruscombmanor
  • South Heidelberg
  • Spring District 5,7,8
  • Washington
  • Bally
  • Bechtelsville
  • Bernville
  • Birdsboro
  • Boyertown
  • Fleetwood
  • Kenhorst
  • Laureldale District 1(part)
  • Leesport
  • Robesonia
  • Shillington
  • Sinking Spring
  • St. Lawrence
  • Wernersville
  • Womelsdorf
  • Wyomissing District 1,2,4,5

Chester County

TownshipsBoroughs
  • Caln District 4
  • Charlestown
  • East Bradford District 1
  • East Brandywine
  • East Caln
  • East Goshen
  • East Nantmeal
  • East Pikeland
  • East Whiteland
  • Easttown
  • Londonderry
  • North Coventry
  • Schuylkill
  • South Coventry
  • Thornbury
  • Tredyffrin
  • Upper Uwchlan
  • Uwchlan
  • West Bradford District 1,2,3
  • West Goshen
  • West Pikeland
  • West Vincent
  • West Whiteland
  • Westtown
  • Willistown
  • Downingtown
  • Malvern
  • Phoenixville
  • Spring City
  • West Chester

Lebanon County

TownshipsBoroughs
  • Heidelberg
  • Jackson
  • Millcreek
  • North Lebanon District E
  • South Lebanon
  • West Cornwall
  • Cornwall
  • Myerstown
  • Richland
  • City of Lebanon
  • Wards 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,10


Montgomery County

TownshipsBoroughs
  • Douglas
  • Limerick
  • Lower Pottsgrove
  • Lower Providence
  • New Hanover
  • Perkiomen District 1,2
  • Upper Hanover District 3
  • Upper Pottsgrove
  • Upper Providence
  • West Norriton District 1,2,3
  • West Pottsgrove
  • Collegeville
  • East Greenville
  • Pennsburg
  • Pottstown
  • Red Hill
  • Royersford
  • Schwenksville
  • Trappe

List of representatives

1791–1793: One seat

District created in 1791 from Pennsylvania's At-large congressional district

Representative Party Years District home Note
Andrew Gregg Anti-Administration March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1793 Redistricted to At-large district

District redistricted in 1793 to Pennsylvania's At-large congressional district

1795–1823: One seat, then two

District created in 1795 from Pennsylvania's At-large congressional district

Cong
ress
Years Seat A Seat B
Representative Party Electoral history Representative Party Electoral history
4 March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1797
Samuel Maclay Democratic-Republican [Data unknown/missing.] Second seat added in 1813
5 March 4, 1797 –
March 3, 1803
John A. Hanna Democratic-Republican Redistricted to the 4th district
6 March 4, 1799 –
March 3, 1801
7 March 4, 1801 –
March 3, 1803
8 March 4, 1803 –
March 3, 1805
John Stewart Democratic-Republican Redistricted from the 8th district
9 March 4, 1805 –
March 3, 1807
James Kelly Federalist [Data unknown/missing.]
10 March 4, 1807 –
March 3, 1809
11 March 4, 1809 –
March 3, 1811
William Crawford Democratic-Republican Redistricted to the 5th district
12 March 4, 1811 –
March 3, 1813
13 March 4, 1813 –
March 3, 1815
Samuel D. Ingham Democratic-Republican Resigned Robert Brown Democratic-Republican Redistricted from the 2nd district
Retired
14 March 4, 1815 –
March 3, 1817
John Ross Democratic-Republican Resigned to become president judge of the seventh judicial district of Pennsylvania
15 March 4, 1817 –
February 24, 1818
February 24, 1818 –
March 3, 1818
Vacant
March 3, 1818 –
July 6, 1818
Thomas Jones Rogers Democratic-Republican Redistricted to the 8th district
July 6, 1818 –
October 13, 1818
Vacant
October 13, 1818 –
March 3, 1819
Samuel Moore Democratic-Republican Resigned
16 March 4, 1819 –
March 3, 1821
17 March 4, 1821 –
May 20, 1822
May 20, 1822 –
October 7, 1822
Vacant
October 7, 1822 –
March 3, 1823
Samuel D. Ingham Democratic-Republican Redistricted to the 8th district

1823 – present: One seat

Representative Party Years Electoral history
Robert Harris Jackson
Democratic-Republican
March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825
[Data unknown/missing.]
Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1827
Innis Green Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –
March 3, 1831
[Data unknown/missing.]
John C. Bucher Jacksonian March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833
[Data unknown/missing.]
Robert Ramsey Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1835
Retired
Mathias Morris Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –
March 3, 1837
[Data unknown/missing.]
Whig March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
John Davis Democratic March 4, 1839 –
March 3, 1841
Lost re-election
Robert Ramsey Whig March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1843
Retired
Michael H. Jenks Whig March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
Lost re-election
Jacob Erdman Democratic March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
Lost re-election
John Westbrook Hornbeck Whig March 4, 1847 –
January 16, 1848
Died
Vacant January 17, 1848 –
March 5, 1848
Samuel A. Bridges Democratic March 6, 1848 –
March 3, 1849
Retired
Thomas Ross Democratic March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1853
[Data unknown/missing.]
William Everhart Whig March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855
[Data unknown/missing.]
John Hickman Democratic March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1859
[Data unknown/missing.]
Anti-Lecompton Democrat March 4, 1859 –
March 3, 1861
Republican March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863
John D. Stiles Democratic March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1865
[Data unknown/missing.]
Benjamin M. Boyer Democratic March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1869
Retired
John D. Stiles Democratic March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
Redistricted from the 7th district

Retired

Ephraim L. Acker Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
Lost re-election
James S. Biery Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
Retired
Washington Townsend Republican March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
Redistricted from the 7th district

Retired

William Ward Republican March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1883
Retired
James B. Everhart Republican March 4, 1883 –
March 3, 1887
Lost renomination
Smedley Darlington Republican March 4, 1887 –
March 3, 1891
Retired
John B. Robinson Republican March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 1897
Lost re-election
Thomas S. Butler Independent Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1899
[Data unknown/missing.]
Republican March 4, 1899 –
March 3, 1903
George D. McCreary Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1913
Retired
J. Washington Logue Democratic March 4, 1913 –
March 4, 1915
Lost re-election
George P. Darrow Republican March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1923
Redistricted to the 7th district
George A. Welsh Republican March 4, 1923 –
May 31, 1932
Resigned to become a district court judge
Vacant May 31, 1932 –
November 8, 1932
Robert L. Davis Republican November 8, 1932 –
March 3, 1933
[Data unknown/missing.]
Edward L. Stokes Republican March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935
Redistricted from the 2nd district, Retired to run for Governor
Michael J. Stack Democratic January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1939
Lost renomination, and lost re-election under a different Party
Francis J. Myers Democratic January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1945
Herbert J. McGlinchey Democratic January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1947
Lost re-election
Hugh Scott Republican January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1959
Retired to run for U.S. Senate
Herman Toll Democratic January 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1963
Redistricted to the 4th district
George M. Rhodes Democratic January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1969
Redistricted from the 14th district
Retired
Gus Yatron Democratic January 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1993
Retired
Tim Holden Democratic January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2003
Redistricted to the 17th district
Jim Gerlach Republican January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2015
First elected in 2002
Ryan Costello Republican January 3, 2015 –
present
First elected in 2014

Historical district boundaries

2003 - 2013

See also

References

  1. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/cd_state.html
  2. "New Pennsylvania Map Is a Major Boost for Democrats". The Cook Political Report. February 20, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  3. 1 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.
  4. VIETH et al. v. JUBELIRER, PRESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATE, et al., 541 U.S. 267 (United States Supreme Court 2004) (see http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=02-1580) (plurality opinion of Court holding political gerrymandering claims in the District nonjusticiable based on the lack of workable standards)
  5. "2012 COMPETITIVE HOUSE RACE CHART". The Cook Political Report. The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
  6. http://ballotpedia.org/Pennsylvania's_6th_Congressional_District_elections,_2014
  7. https://costello.house.gov/about/municipalities
  • 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

Coordinates: 40°03′37″N 75°38′27″W / 40.06028°N 75.64083°W / 40.06028; -75.64083

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