Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district was a district including the city of Pittsburgh and parts of surrounding suburbs. A variety of working class and majority black suburbs located to the east of the city were included, such as McKeesport and Wilkinsburg. Also a major part of the district was a number of middle class suburbs that have historic Democratic roots, such as Pleasant Hills and Penn Hills. The district became obsolete following the 2020 United States census. It was largely replaced by Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district.
The district covered much of the area that was the center of the Whiskey Rebellion of the 1790s.
History Pre-2018 boundaries In February 2018, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that the district map violated the state constitution due to gerrymandering and redrew all of the state's congressional districts. The 18th and 14th districts swapped numbers and had their boundaries adjusted for the 2018 elections (after March's special election) and thereafter.
Before the court-ordered redistricting in February 2018, the district was concentrated in the southern suburbs of Pittsburgh. It was predominantly white, although it contained a diverse range of suburbs. It was drawn in such a way that in some locations, neighborhoods and even streets were split between the 18th and the neighboring 12th and 14th districts. In parts of the eastern portion of the district, one side of the street was in the 12th while the other side was in the 18th. In the west, one side of the street was in the 14th while the other side was in the 18th.
Although there were 35,000 more Democrats in the district than Republicans in 2018, the district had been trending increasingly Republican since the mid-1990s; most of the district's state legislators were Republicans. The district was home to many large coal mines and the energy industry was an important employer. The western part of the district contained some rural regions of Washington County, as well as the very wealthy suburbs in the northern part of that county, which tends to be more Republican than the part contained in the neighboring 9th District. The district also contained many of Allegheny County's southern suburbs of Pittsburgh, which ranged from traditionally wealthy areas such as Upper St. Clair to middle-class communities such as Bethel Park and working-class labor towns such as Elizabeth.
The district skewed older and had the second-oldest electorate in the state in 2017.
The district wound along the eastern suburbs at the edge of Allegheny County, including most of the large suburban commercial center of Monroeville, and in western Westmoreland County. Central Westmoreland County, including the city of Greensburg, was also part of the district. It also contained the rural foothills of the county at the district's eastern end. Westmoreland County has become a major Republican stronghold.
Voter registration Party enrollment as of October 18, 2021 Party Total voters Percentage Democratic 328,743 62.84% Republican 118,874 22.72% Independent/other parties 75,486 14.43% Total 523,103 100%
Dissolution The district became obsolete following the 2020 United States census. It was largely replaced by Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, while some suburbs of Pittsburgh, such as Wilkinsburg, were redrawn into the 17th district.
Election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 63% - 36% Attorney GeneralMorganelli 55% - 45% Auditor GeneralWagner 78% - 22%2010 SenateSestak 61% - 39% GovernorOnorato 56% - 44%2012 PresidentObama 63% - 35% SenateCasey Jr. 67% - 33%2014 GovernorWolf 65% - 35%2016 PresidentClinton 62% - 35% SenateMcGinty 62% - 34% Attorney GeneralShapiro 66% - 34% Auditor GeneralDePasquale 68% - 27% TreasurerTorsella 65% - 29%2018 SenateCasey Jr. 71% - 27% GovernorWolf 72% - 26%2020 PresidentBiden 65% - 34% Attorney GeneralShapiro 67% - 30% Auditor GeneralAhmad 62% - 34% TreasurerTorsella 63% - 33%
List of members representing the district Representatives Party Years Congress Electoral history District map District established March 4, 1823 Patrick Farrelly JacksonianRepublican March 4, 1823 –March 3, 1825 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1822.Re-elected in 1824.Died. 1823–1833 Jacksonian March 4, 1825 –January 12, 1826 Vacant January 12, 1826 –March 14, 1826 Thomas H. Sill Anti-Jacksonian March 14, 1826 –March 3, 1827 Elected to finish Farrelly's term.Lost re-election. Stephen Barlow Jacksonian March 4, 1827 –March 3, 1829 Elected in 1826.Lost re-election. Thomas H. Sill Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1829 –March 3, 1831 Elected in 1828.Retired. John Banks Anti-Masonic March 4, 1831 –March 3, 1833 Elected in 1830.Redistricted to the . George Burd Anti-Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –March 3, 1835 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1832.Retired. 1833–1843 Job Mann Jacksonian March 4, 1835 –March 3, 1837 Elected in 1834.Lost re-election. Charles Ogle Anti-Masonic March 4, 1837 –March 3, 1841 Elected in 1836.Re-elected in 1838.Elected in 1840.Died. Whig March 4, 1841 –May 10, 1841 Vacant May 10, 1841 –June 28, 1841 Henry Black Whig June 28, 1841 –November 28, 1841 Elected to finish Ogle's term.Died. Vacant November 28, 1841 –December 21, 1841 James M. Russell Whig December 21, 1841 –March 3, 1843 Elected to finish Black's term.Retired. Andrew Stewart Whig March 4, 1843 –March 3, 1849 Elected in 1843.Re-elected in 1844.Re-elected in 1846.Retired. 1843–1853 Andrew J. Ogle Whig March 4, 1849 –March 3, 1851 Elected in 1848.Lost re-election. John L. Dawson Democratic March 4, 1851 –March 3, 1853 Elected in 1850.Redistricted to the . John McCulloch Whig March 4, 1853 –March 3, 1855 Elected in 1852.Retired. 1853–1863 John R. Edie Opposition March 4, 1855 –March 3, 1857 Elected in 1854.Re-elected in 1856.Retired. Republican March 4, 1857 –March 3, 1859 Samuel S. Blair Republican March 4, 1859 –March 3, 1863 Elected in 1858.Re-elected in 1860.Lost re-election. James T. Hale Independent Republican March 4, 1863 –March 3, 1865 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1862. 1863–1873 Stephen F. Wilson Republican March 4, 1865 –March 3, 1869 Elected in 1864.Re-elected in 1866.Resigned to become judge of the fourth judicial district of Pennsylvania. William H. Armstrong Republican March 4, 1869 –March 3, 1871 Elected in 1868.Lost re-election. Henry Sherwood Democratic March 4, 1871 –March 3, 1873 Elected in 1870.Lost re-election. Sobieski Ross Republican March 4, 1873 –March 3, 1875 Elected in 1872.Redistricted to the . 1873–1883 William Stenger Democratic March 4, 1875 –March 3, 1879 Elected in 1874.Re-elected in 1876.Lost re-election. Horatio G. Fisher Republican March 4, 1879 –March 3, 1883 Elected in 1878.Re-elected in 1880.Retired. Louis E. Atkinson Republican March 4, 1883 –March 3, 1893 Elected in 1882.Re-elected in 1884.Re-elected in 186.Re-elected in 1888.Re-elected in 1890.Withdrew from election. 1883–1893 Thaddeus M. Mahon Republican March 4, 1893 –March 3, 1903 Elected in 1892.Re-elected in 1894.Re-elected in 1896.Re-elected in 1898.Re-elected in 1900.Redistricted to the . 1893–1903 Marlin E. Olmsted Republican March 4, 1903 –March 3, 1913 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1902.Re-elected in 1904.Re-elected in 1906.Re-elected in 1908.Re-elected in 1910.Retired. 1903–1913 Aaron S. Kreider Republican March 4, 1913 –March 3, 1923 Elected in 1912.Re-elected in 1914.Re-elected in 1916.Re-elected in 1918.Re-elected in 1920.Lost re-election. 1913–1933 Edward M. Beers Republican March 4, 1923 –April 21, 1932 Elected in 1922.Re-elected in 1924.Re-elected in 1926.Re-elected in 1928.Re-elected in 1930.Died. Vacant April 11, 1932 –November 8, 1932 Joseph F. Biddle Republican November 8, 1932 –March 3, 1933 Elected to finish Beers's term.Retired. Benjamin K. Focht Republican March 4, 1933 –March 27, 1937 Elected in 1932.Re-elected in 1934.Re-elected in 1936.Died. 1933–1943 Vacant March 27, 1937 –May 11, 1937 Richard M. Simpson Republican May 11, 1937 –January 3, 1945 Elected to finish Focht's term.Re-elected in 1938.Re-elected in 1940.Re-elected in 1942.Redistricted to the . 1933–1953 John C. Kunkel Republican January 3, 1945 –January 3, 1951 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1944.Re-elected in 1946.Re-elected in 1948. Walter M. Mumma Republican January 3, 1951 –January 3, 1953 Elected in 1950.Redistricted to the . Richard M. Simpson Republican January 3, 1953 –January 7, 1960 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1952.Re-elected in 1954.Re-elected in 1956.Re-elected in 1958.Died. 1953–1963 Vacant January 7, 1960 –April 26, 1960 Douglas H. Elliot Republican April 26, 1960 –June 19, 1960 Elected to finish Simpson's term.Died. Vacant June 19, 1960 –November 8, 1960 J. Irving Whalley Republican November 8, 1960 –January 3, 1963 Elected to finish Elliot's term.Also elected to the next term in 1960.Redistricted to the . Robert J. Corbett Republican January 3, 1963 –April 25, 1971 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1962.Re-elected in 1964.Re-elected in 1966.Re-elected in 1968.Re-elected in 1970.Died. 1963–1973 Vacant April 25, 1971 –November 2, 1971 John Heinz Republican November 2, 1971 –January 3, 1977 Elected to finish Corbett's term.Re-elected in 1972.Re-elected in 1974.Retired to run for U.S. Senator. 1973–1983 Doug Walgren Democratic January 3, 1977 –January 3, 1991 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.Lost re-election. 1983–1993 Rick Santorum Republican January 3, 1991 –January 3, 1995 Elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Retired to run for U.S. Senator. 1993–2003 Mike Doyle Democratic January 3, 1995 –January 3, 2003 Elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Re-elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Redistricted to the . Tim Murphy Republican January 3, 2003 –October 21, 2017 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.Resigned. 2003–2013 2013–2019 Vacant October 21, 2017 –March 13, 2018 Conor Lamb Democratic March 13, 2018 –January 3, 2019 Elected to finish Murphy's term.Redistricted to the . Mike Doyle Democratic January 3, 2019 –December 31, 2022 Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2018.Re-elected in 2020.Redistricted to the and resigned early. 2019–2023Vacant December 31, 2022 –January 3, 2023 District dissolved January 3, 2023
Recent election results
2012
2014
2016
2018 special election
2018
2020
See also List of United States congressional districts Pennsylvania's congressional districts
Notes
References
External links Congressional redistricting in Pennsylvania