# Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district

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 Anthracite 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.
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.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 56% – 42% |
| 2008 | Attorney General | Corbett 67% – 33% |
| 2008 | Auditor General | Beiler 52% – 48% |
| 2010 | Senate | Toomey 65% – 35% |
| 2010 | Governor | Corbett 69% – 31% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 61% – 39% |
| 2012 | Senate | Smith 59% – 41% |
| 2014 | Governor | Corbett 57% – 43% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 68% – 28% |
| 2016 | Senate | Toomey 62% – 31% |
| 2016 | Attorney General | Rafferty Jr. 65% – 35% |
| 2016 | Treasurer | Voit III 57% – 35% |
| 2016 | Auditor General | Brown 60% – 33% |
| 2018 | Senate | Barletta 62% – 37% |
| 2018 | Governor | Wagner 58% – 40% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 68% – 31% |
| 2020 | Attorney General | Heidelbaugh 63% – 34% |
| 2020 | Treasurer | Garrity 66% – 30% |
| 2020 | Auditor General | DeFoor 66% – 29% |
| 2022 | Senate | Oz 63% – 33% |
| 2022 | Governor | Mastriano 59% – 38% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 68% – 31% |

## Counties and municipalities
### Berks County (23)

    Albany Township, Bernville, Bethel Township, Centerport, Centre Township, Hamburg, Heidelberg Township, Jefferson Township, Lower Heidelberg Township (part; also 4th), Marion Township, North Heidelberg Township, Penn Township, Perry Township (part; also 4th), Robesonia, Shoemakersville, South Heidelberg Township, Tilden Township, Tulpehocken Township, Upper Bern Township, Upper Tulpehocken Township, Wernersville, Windsor Township, Womelsdorf
Bradford County (51)
    All 51 municipalities
Columbia County (34)
    All 34 municipalities
Lebanon County (26)
    All 26 municipalities
Luzerne County (25)
    Black Creek Township, Butler Township (part; also 8th), Conyngham Borough, Conyngham Township, Dallas Borough, Dorrance Township, East Berwick, Fairmount Township, Hollenback Township, Hunlock Township, Huntington Township, Lake Township, Lehman Township, Nescopeck Borough, Nescopeck Township, New Columbus, Newport Township (part; also 8th; includes Glen Lyon), Nuremberg (shared with Schuylkill County), Ross Township, Salem Township, Shickshinny, Slocum Township, Sugar Loaf Township, Union Township, Weston
Lycoming County (21)
    Clinton Township, Eldred Township, Fairfield Township, Franklin Township, Hughesville, Jordan Township, Loyalsock Township, Mill Creek Township, Montgomery, Montoursville, Moreland Township, Muncy Borough, Muncy Township, Muncy Creek Township, Penn Township, Picture Rocks, Plunketts Creek Township, Shrewsbury Township, Upper Fairfield Township, Williamsport (part; also 15th), Wolf Township
Montour County (11)
    All 11 municipalities
Northumberland County (36)
    All 36 municipalities
Schuylkill County (68)
    All 68 municipalities
Sullivan County (13)
    All 13 municipalities
Susquehanna County (40)
    All 40 municipalities
Wyoming County (23)
    All 23 municipalities

## 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 | 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 | Vacant | March 12, 1815 – October 10, 1815 | 14th | |
| Thomas Burnside (Bellefonte) | Democratic-Republican | October 10, 1815 – April 1816 | 14th | Elected to finish Bard's term. Resigned to become President judge of Luzerne District Courts. |
| Vacant | Vacant | April, 1816 – October 8, 1816 | 14th | |
| 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 A | Seat A | Seat B | Seat B | Seat B | Seat C | Seat C | Seat C |
| Years | Cong ress | 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 | George Kremer (Lewisburg) | Jacksonian | Elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Retired. | Samuel McKean (Burlington) | Jacksonian | Elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Retired. | 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 | 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. | 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. |
| Henry A. P. Muhlenberg (Reading) | Democratic | March 4, 1837 – February 8, 1838 | 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. |
| Vacant | 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. |
| Anthony Ellmaker Roberts (Lancaster) | Republican | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859 | 34th 35th | Elected in 1854. Re-elected in 1856. Retired. |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 119th | 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 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Shuster (incumbent) | 169,177 | 61.7 |
| | Democratic | Karen Ramsburg | 105,128 | 38.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 274,305 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

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

### 2016

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

### 2018

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

### 2020

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

### 2022

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

## Historical district boundaries

* 2003–2013
* 2013–2019
* 2019–2023