Congressional Districts Map Proposals

On January 15, 2022, Governor Tom Wolf highlighted two redistricting maps as examples of new congressional district boundaries that are consistent with the Redistricting Principles of the Pennsylvania Redistricting Advisory Council, free of gerrymandering and in full accord with the Voting Rights Act and the United States and Pennsylvania Supreme Court precedent. 

Governor’s Map Proposal

Decisions about where to draw new boundaries were made, first and foremost, in accordance with the neutral criteria of compactness, contiguity, minimization of division of political subdivisions, and maintenance of population equality among congressional districts.  

These requirements, as interpreted by the United States and Pennsylvania Supreme Courts, implement the fundamental right to vote and the Free and Equal Clause of Article I, Section 5 of Pennsylvania’s Constitution, the latter of which was intended by the Framers of the Constitution to guarantee, to the greatest degree possible, a voter’s right to equal participation in the electoral process for the selection of their representatives in government.

Overall, this map maintains a degree of continuity with the current congressional map, while making targeted changes to comply with the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions and align with the redistricting principles recommended by the Redistricting Advisory Council and comments received from the public.

Read the full explanation of the governor’s proposed map.

View the governor’s map on Dave’s Redistricting or provide input on the governor’s map on the redistricting portal.

Congressional Districts of the Governor’s Map

• District 1 — Greater Bucks County
• District 2 — The Great Northeast
• District 3 — Schuylkill East
• District 4 — MontCo/Berks
• District 5 — Southeast Corner
• District 6 — Keystone
• District 7 — The Lehigh Valley
• District 8 — Mountain Northeast
• District 9 — East Central
• District 10 — Susquehanna Valley West
• District 11 — Susquehanna Valley East
• District 12 — Ridge and Valley
• District 13 — Southwest Corner
• District 14 — Pennsylvania Wilds
• District 15 — The I-79 Corridor
• District 16 — Allegheny West
• District 17 — Allegheny East

District 1 — Greater Bucks County

Includes all communities of Bucks County outside of those immediately adjacent to Northeast Philadelphia and connects them with similar communities in Montgomery County. These communities include similar economic traits and are experiencing an increased population. This district in Montgomery County has grown slightly to adjust for needed population in Bucks County. Numerous commenters on the Redistricting Public Comment Portal noted that Bucks County is a swing district and that it should continue to maintain its competitiveness. The minimal shifts in the boundaries of District 1 will continue to make it a competitive district going forward.

District 2 — The Great Northeast

Maintains the entirety of Northeast Philadelphia and North Philadelphia east of Broad Street, with the western and southern borders unchanged and linking with the similar suburban communities of Bensalem and Eddington. Interstate 95 and the Roosevelt Boulevard (US-1) run through the district and SEPTA connects the district through multiple bus and train lines. This is an Opportunity District (in other words, Black and Latino voters make up a majority of voters in the district).

District 3 — Schuylkill East

District 3 unites the communities of Northwest and West Philadelphia and North Philadelphia west of Broad Street and Center City, largely along similar lines as the current district. The district picks up a small amount of additional needed population in Southwest and South Philadelphia, but largely maintains continuity with the existing District. This is a Majority-Black District (in other words, Black voters make up a majority of voters in the district).

District 4 — MontCo/Berks

District 4 includes the majority of Montgomery County, which has a fast-growing population that requires more than one district. Popular with commuters to Philadelphia or King of Prussia, the district includes the neighboring communities of Lower Merion, Abington, Cheltenham, Norristown, Upper Dublin, and Lower Providence. Like the existing map, District 4 includes a portion of Berks County.

District 5 — Southeast Corner

With all of Delaware County and portions of South Philadelphia and southern Montgomery County, these communities comprise the southeast border with New Jersey and Delaware. The region has the Philadelphia International Airport, which spans the county border, and industrial areas in Southwest Philadelphia, PhilaPort and the fast-growing Navy Yard, linking them with industrial and port facilities south of Philadelphia in Delaware County. To encompass needed population, the district expands slightly beyond its current area in Montgomery County along the Schuylkill River.

District 6 — Keystone

Much like the current congressional map, District 6 connects Chester County and a portion of southern Berks County including Reading, the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania. Both counties have a rich history dating back to the founding of the commonwealth and contain significant state parks and green space. With Chester among the fastest growing counties in the state, and similarly strong population growth in Reading and the surrounding area, only slight adjustments are needed from the current map. In the Public Comment Portal, numerous commentors expressed their concerns that Reading not be split noting that Reading has grown in population and contains an expanding Latino population that constituents wanted to have equitable representation. This map honors the request and keeps Reading whole.

District 7 — The Lehigh Valley

This district comprises all of Lehigh and Northampton counties and southern Monroe County. Much like the existing district, this map has three third-class cities of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton with their shared heritage of manufacturing and common interests. The district is crisscrossed by major intersecting highways including I-78, I-476 and the Lehigh Valley Thruway, Route 22, making this area an increasing warehousing and logistics hub, and spurring growth that landed Lehigh County in the top five fastest growing counties in the state over the past decade.

District 8 — Mountain Northeast

District 8 centers around the cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazelton. With all of Lackawanna, Pike and Carbon counties, along with neighboring communities in Luzerne, Monroe and Wayne counties, these communities share cultural and geographical similarities as part of the Pocono region. The outdoors and recreation are important to the region’s economy and lifestyle, with many state parks, forests, and game lands. The district includes fast-growing bedroom communities for New York City, and like District 7, is connected by major highways I-78, I-81 and I-476, offering access to both New York and Philadelphia population centers.

District 9 — East Central

Connecting communities with common socio-economic and cultural interests, District 9 includes counties of the Northern Tier with adjoining counties to the south, as well as much of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River with the exception of portions included in District 8 to avoid splitting Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. The district includes larger communities of Lebanon, Pottsville, Bloomsburg, Tunkhannock and Forest City.

District 10 — Susquehanna Valley West

Extending west from the Susquehanna River, District 10 includes all of York and Adams counties, and eastern Cumberland County. This district shares a rich agricultural heritage and identity, even as the district’s economy modernizes increasingly towards manufacturing and logistics. Close to the Maryland border and rich with Pennsylvania history, District 10 contains several interstates – I-81, I-83, I-76 and US 11/15 – making it a busy corridor for the trucking industry, commuters, and visitors to central Pennsylvania creating ease of travel between counties, cities, boroughs, and townships. Residents of Cumberland, Adams and York counties share high quality K-12 schools and top-rated public and private colleges and universities, such as Dickinson, Gettysburg, York, Central Penn, and Penn State York. This region boasts farmland, state parks, ski resorts, and seasonal festivals, as well as a variety of industries from health care and retail to technology, and manufacturing.

District 11 — Susquehanna Valley East

District 11 unites the fast-growing areas of Lancaster County with southern Dauphin County, including Harrisburg. Linked by Route 283, Amtrak’s Keystone Service and the Turnpike, the counties have vibrant urban centers with significant cultural opportunities and restaurants, as well as suburban enclaves transitioning gradually to less dense agricultural areas and rich history in agriculture. The district is home to the State Capitol, and various industries, including candy and confection giant The Hershey Company, major health care providers with Lancaster General Hospital and the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, along with significant agricultural operations and small farms throughout. The Pennsylvania Redistricting Public Comment Portal received many comments on how this area of the map should be drawn, a frequent comment concerned keeping Harrisburg whole and not connecting it with other counties to the north.

District 12 — Ridge and Valley

This district comprises much of the same area as the current 13th District, but like other districts, has stretched eastward, following the ridge and valley geography of the Appalachians. District 12 includes the third-class city of Altoona and significant recreational areas including Raystown Lake, numerous large Game Land tracts and State Parks and Forests.

District 13 — Southwest Corner

District 13 combines the major energy-producing counties of Washington, Greene, Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland into one compact district in the southwest with their shared industries of gas exploration and mining. The district unites businesses and families of the Mon Valley communities—with common interests and history with communities to the east and west. Outdoor recreation with the Laurel Highlands and Great Allegheny Passage Trail is helping to drive tourism to the area. As with other areas of the map, the shifts in District 13 are driven by population shifts, with the addition of Somerset County as the district expands eastward to add needed population.

District 14 — Pennsylvania Wilds

This district joins some of the most rural counties in Pennsylvania and is known for its tourism and outdoor assets, including the largest free-roaming elk herd in the northeastern United States, the Allegheny National Forest, the darkest skies on the East Coast, and several state parks and outdoor recreational opportunities. This district includes all of Warren, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Forest, Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield, Centre, Armstrong, and Indiana counties as well as a portion of Lycoming County. This core of this district remains the same as the current 15th District but has shifted eastward due to population decline in the Northwest and North Central part of the state. The district includes Warren, Bradford, Coudersport, St. Marys, Emporium, Lock Haven, Clarion, Brookville, DuBois, Bellefonte, Parker, and Indiana. Multiple public comments from the Governor’s Redistricting Portal suggest that Centre County not be divided and District 14 honors that request by keeping Centre County whole.

District 15 — The I-79 Corridor

District 15 includes Erie and counties to the south along the Ohio border to Lawrence and Butler counties. For the western tip of Pennsylvania, manufacturing, retail trade, and health care and social assistance are among the largest employers. From shipping ports and vineyards to hiking and biking trails, the northern I-79 corridor of the Lake Erie region bordering Ohio and New York includes counties that are designated transitional as their economic status. As with other areas of the map, the shifts in District 15 are responses to population changes by adding Venango County, and most of Butler County, which was divided nearly in half under the current map. The district expands eastward to add needed population. District 15 includes Erie, along with other communities, including Meadville, Titusville, Oil City, Franklin, Sharon, and New Castle.

District 16 — Allegheny West

Unites Beaver County with western Allegheny County, including part of Pittsburgh and a small part of Butler County. Rich with a history in manufacturing along the Ohio River and throughout the region, the District is transforming with smaller manufacturing and service industries. This configuration was modelled on the original Draw the Lines Pennsylvania Citizens’ Map. In evaluating the 1,500 submissions that contributed to the Citizens’ Map, Draw the Lines found that many mappers created a clear line of demarcation between Beaver County and Washington County and put Butler County in a district with Erie. They thus adopted these preferences and divided Pittsburgh to ensure that there would only be a single county split in Allegheny County.

District 17 — Allegheny East

Connects the eastern portion of Pittsburgh to the eastern suburbs along the Parkway East and south to the entrance to the upper Mon Valley and a portion of Westmoreland County. This map recognizes the decades-long economic connection of these communities and the area’s evolving technology sector along with strong educational and medical institutions.

Pennsylvania Citizens’ Map

Developed by thousands of Pennsylvanians, the Pennsylvania Citizens’ Map represents the voices of more than 7,200 Pennsylvanians who participated in mapping contests hosted by Draw the Lines over the past three years, the first time this large a group of citizens has come together to contribute to a redistricting map.  

The Citizens’ Map draws on over 1,500 map submissions to balance values mappers found important throughout the process.  

While the Citizens’ Map differs from the Governor’s Map in areas, both are in keeping with the principles recommended by the Redistricting Advisory Council.  

The Citizens’ Map is accompanied by an extensive narrative about why key decisions were made as they were. 

Commitment to Fair Maps

As part of the governor’s commitment to transparency, he created the Pennsylvania Redistricting Advisory Council in September to engage with citizens and develop redistricting principles.  

Redistricting Principals

The council, which was comprised of six experts in redistricting, political science, and mapmaking, released a set of principles in late November to help inform and guide the General Assembly’s selection and the governor’s review of a map. 

The principles are intended to prevent gerrymandering and call for districts to be nearly equal in population, compact, and connected with few subdivision splits unless needed to protect communities of interest and encourage competitive elections by responding to changing voter preferences. 

Engaging the Community

The council held eight in-person and one virtual listening session in October and November to gather public feedback.  

All of the citizen map submissions and public comments are available to view on the Wolf Administration’s Pennsylvania Redistricting Public Comment Portal.