Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district

"PA-9" redirects here. For other uses, see PA9.

Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
Distribution
  • 53.11% urban[1]
Population (2023)765,968
Median household
income		$67,325
Ethnicity
Cook PVIR+21[2]

Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district is located in the east central part of the state and encompasses all of Bradford, Columbia, Lebanon, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties, as well as parts of Berks, Luzerne, and Lycoming counties.

Much of the district includes Pennsylvania's Coal Region. Republican Dan Meuser represents the district, serving since 2019.

History

Before 2019, the district was located in the southern part of the state and was a very safe seat for Republicans. According to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, in 2010 the 9th was the most Republican district in Pennsylvania (and the Industrial Midwest), then with a score of R+17.

Redistricting slightly increased the number of Democrats in the district, with the addition of majority-Democratic Fayette County as well as some of the Democratic portions of Washington, Greene, Cambria and Westmoreland Counties.

In 2014, the long-time Republican incumbent, former businessman Bill Shuster, won 52.8% of the vote in a three-way Republican primary race over retired Coast Guard search and rescue pilot Art Halvorson (34.5%) and livestock farmer Travis Schooley (12.7%). In the 2012 general election, he beat his Democratic opponent, nurse Karen Ramsburg, taking 62% of the vote.

In 2010, he won 73% of the vote, and in 2008 won 64%. Shuster was first elected to the district in 2001, effectively inheriting the seat from his father, Bud Shuster, who had held the seat since 1973. Shuster announced in January 2018 that he would retire from Congress at the end of his term, and did not run for re-election in 2018.[3]

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania redrew this district's boundaries in February 2018 after ruling the previous map unconstitutional, also re-assigning the number to a district in east central Pennsylvania–essentially, the successor to the old 11th district – for the 2018 elections and representation thereafter. Meanwhile, the bulk of the old ninth became the new 13th district, and is as Republican as its predecessor.[4]

Recent statewide election results

Year Office Results
2008 President McCain 57–42%
2012 President Romney 63–35%
2016 President Trump 69–27%
2020 President Trump 64–34%
2022 Governor Mastriano 59–38%
2022 Senate Oz 63–33%

[citation needed]

List of members representing the district

The district was created in 1795.

1795–1823: one seat

Member
(District home) 		Party Years Cong
ress 		Electoral history
District first established March 4, 1795

Andrew Gregg
(Bellefonte) 		Democratic-Republican March 4, 1795 –
March 3, 1803 		4th
5th
6th
7th 		Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1794.
Re-elected in 1796.
Re-elected in 1798.
Re-elected in 1800.
Redistricted to the 5th district.
John Smilie
(Fayette) 		Democratic-Republican March 4, 1803 –
December 30, 1812 		8th
9th
10th
11th
12th 		Redistricted from the 11th district and re-elected in 1802.
Re-elected in 1804.
Re-elected in 1806.
Re-elected in 1808.
Re-elected in 1810.
Redistricted to the 13th district and re-elected in 1812 but died.
Vacant December 30, 1812 –
March 3, 1813 		12th
David Bard
(Frankstown) 		Democratic-Republican March 4, 1813 –
March 12, 1815 		13th
14th 		Redistricted from the 4th district and re-elected in 1812.
Re-elected in 1814.
Died.
Vacant March 12, 1815 –
October 10, 1815 		14th
Thomas Burnside
(Bellefonte) 		Democratic-Republican October 10, 1815 –
April 1816 		Elected to finish Bard's term.
Resigned to become President judge of Luzerne District Courts.
Vacant April, 1816 –
October 8, 1816
William Plunkett Maclay
(Lewistown) 		Democratic-Republican October 8, 1816 –
March 3, 1821 		14th
15th
16th 		Elected to finish Burnside's term.
Re-elected in 1816.
Re-elected in 1818.
Lost re-election.
John Brown
(Lewistown) 		Democratic-Republican March 4, 1821 –
March 3, 1823 		17th Elected in 1820.
Redistricted to the 12th district.

1823–1833: three seats

Years Cong
ress 		Seat A Seat B Seat C
Member
(District home) 		Party Electoral history Member
(District home) 		Party Electoral history Member
(District home) 		Party Electoral history
March 4, 1823 –
March 3, 1825 		18th George Kremer
(Lewisburg) 		Democratic-Republican Elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Retired.
Samuel McKean
(Burlington) 		Democratic-Republican Elected in 1822.
Re-elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Retired. 		William Cox Ellis
(Muncy) 		Jackson Federalist Elected in 1822.
Lost re-election.
March 4, 1825 –
March 3, 1829 		19th
20th 		Jacksonian Jacksonian Espy Van Horne
(Williamsport) 		Jacksonian Elected in 1824.
Re-elected in 1826.
Retired.
March 4, 1829 –
March 3, 1831 		21st James Ford
(Lawrenceville) 		Jacksonian Elected in 1828.
Re-elected in 1830.
[data missing] 		Philander Stephens
(Montrose) 		Jacksonian Elected in 1828.
Re-elected in 1830.
Retired. 		Alem Marr
(Danville) 		Jacksonian Elected in 1828.
Retired.
March 4, 1831 –
March 3, 1833 		22nd Lewis Dewart
(Sunbury) 		Jacksonian Elected in 1830.
[data missing]

1833–present: one seat

Member
(District home) 		Party Years Cong
ress 		Electoral history

Henry A. P. Muhlenberg
(Reading) 		Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1837 		23rd
24th
25th 		Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1832.
Re-elected in 1834.
Re-elected in 1836.
Resigned to become U.S. Minister to the Austrian Empire.
Democratic March 4, 1837 –
February 8, 1838
Vacant February 8, 1838 –
March 17, 1838 		25th

George M. Keim
(Reading) 		Democratic March 17, 1838 –
March 3, 1843 		25th
26th
27th 		Elected to finish Muhlenberg's term.
Re-elected in 1838.
Re-elected in 1840.
[data missing]
John Ritter
(Reading) 		Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1847 		28th
29th 		Elected in 1843.
Re-elected in 1844.
Retired.

William Strong
(Reading) 		Democratic March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1851 		30th
31st 		Elected in 1846.
Re-elected in 1848.
Retired.

J. Glancy Jones
(Reading) 		Democratic March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1853 		32nd Elected in 1850.
Retired.

Isaac E. Hiester
(Lancaster) 		Whig March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855 		33rd Elected in 1852.
Lost re-election.

Anthony Ellmaker Roberts
(Lancaster) 		Opposition March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857 		34th
35th 		Elected in 1854.
Re-elected in 1856.
Retired.
Republican March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1859

Thaddeus Stevens
(Lancaster) 		Republican March 4, 1859 –
August 11, 1868 		36th
37th
38th
39th
40th 		Elected in 1858.
Re-elected in 1860.
Re-elected in 1862.
Re-elected in 1864.
Re-elected in 1866.
Died.
Vacant August 11, 1868 –
December 7, 1868 		40th

Oliver James Dickey
(Lancaster) 		Republican December 7, 1868 –
March 3, 1873 		40th
41st
42nd 		Elected to finish Stevens's term.
Re-elected in 1868.
Re-elected in 1870.
Retired.

A. Herr Smith
(Lancaster) 		Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1885 		43rd
44th
45th
46th
47th
48th 		Elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Re-elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Re-elected in 1882.
Lost renomination.

John A. Hiestand
(Lancaster) 		Republican March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1889 		49th
50th 		Elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Lost renomination.

David B. Brunner
(Reading) 		Democratic March 4, 1889 –
March 3, 1893 		51st
52nd 		Elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Retired.

Constantine J. Erdman
(Allentown) 		Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1897 		53rd
54th 		Elected in 1892.
Re-elected in 1894.
Retired.

Daniel Ermentrout
(Reading) 		Democratic March 4, 1897 –
September 17, 1899 		55th
56th 		Elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Died.
Vacant September 17, 1899 –
November 7, 1899 		56th

Henry D. Green
(Reading) 		Democratic November 7, 1899 –
March 3, 1903 		56th
57th 		Elected to finish Ermentrout's term.
Re-elected in 1900.
Retired.

Henry B. Cassel
(Marietta) 		Republican March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 1909 		58th
59th
60th 		Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
[data missing]

William W. Griest
(Lancaster) 		Republican March 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1923 		61st
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th 		Elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Redistricted to the 10th district.

Henry Winfield Watson
(Langhorne) 		Republican March 4, 1923 –
August 27, 1933 		68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
73rd 		Redistricted from the 8th 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.
Died.
Vacant August 27, 1933 –
November 7, 1933 		73rd

Oliver W. Frey
(Allentown) 		Democratic November 7, 1933 –
January 3, 1939 		73rd
74th
75th 		Elected to finish Watson's term.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.

Charles L. Gerlach
(Allentown) 		Republican January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1945 		76th
77th
78th 		Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Redistricted to the 8th district.

J. Roland Kinzer
(Lancaster) 		Republican January 3, 1945 –
January 3, 1947 		79th Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 1944.
Retired.

Paul B. Dague
(Downingtown) 		Republican January 3, 1947 –
December 30, 1966 		80th
81st
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th 		Elected in 1944.
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.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Resigned.
Vacant December 30, 1966 –
January 3, 1967 		89th

G. Robert Watkins
(West Chester) 		Republican January 3, 1967 –
August 7, 1970 		90th
91st 		Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Died.
Vacant August 7, 1970 –
November 3, 1970 		91st

John H. Ware III
(Oxford) 		Republican November 3, 1970 –
January 3, 1973 		91st
92nd 		Elected to finish Watkins's term.
Re-elected in 1970.
Redistricted to the 5th district.

Bud Shuster
(Everett) 		Republican January 3, 1973 –
February 3, 2001 		93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th 		Elected in 1972.
Re-elected 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.
Resigned.
Vacant February 4, 2001 –
May 15, 2001 		107th

Bill Shuster
(Hollidaysburg) 		Republican May 15, 2001 –
January 3, 2019 		107th
108th
109th
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th 		Elected to finish his father's term.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-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.
Redistricted to the 13th district and retired.

Dan Meuser
(Dallas) 		Republican January 3, 2019 –
present 		116th
117th
118th 		Elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.

Recent election results

2012

Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district, 2012[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Shuster (incumbent) 169,177 61.7
Democratic Karen Ramsburg 105,128 38.3
Total votes 274,305 100.0
Republican hold

2014

Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district, 2014[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Shuster (Incumbent) 110,094 63.5
Democratic Alanna Hartzok 63,223 36.5
Total votes 173,317 100.0
Republican hold

2016

Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district, 2016[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Shuster (incumbent) 186,580 63.3
Democratic Arthur L Halvorson 107,985 36.7
Total votes 294,565 100.0
Republican hold

2018

Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district, 2018[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Meuser 148,723 59.7
Democratic Denny Wolff 100,204 40.3
Total votes 248,927 100.0
Republican hold

2020

Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district, 2020[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Meuser (incumbent) 232,988 66.3
Democratic Gary Wegman 118,266 33.7
Total votes 351,254 100.0
Republican hold

2022

Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district, 2022[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Meuser (incumbent) 209,185 69.3
Democratic Amanda Waldman 92,622 30.7
Total votes 301,807 100.0
Republican hold

Historical district boundaries

  • 2003–2013
    2003–2013
  • 2013–2019
    2013–2019
  • 2019–2023
    2019–2023

See also

References

  1. ^ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (State-based)". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Zito, Salena (January 2, 2018). "GOP Rep. Bill Shuster to retire, spend final year working with Trump on massive infrastructure bill". The Washington Examiner. Washington, D.C. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Pennsylvania 2014 General Election - November 4, 2014 Official Results". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "Pennsylvania 2016 General Election - November 8, 2016 Official Results". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  8. ^ "2018 General Election: Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  9. ^ "2020 Presidential Election - Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  10. ^ "2022 General Election Official Returns - Representative in Congress". Pennsylvania Department of State.

40°08′30″N 78°40′25″W / 40.14167°N 78.67361°W / 40.14167; -78.67361