| State: | Pennsylvania |
| District Number: | 7 |
| Image Caption: | Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023 |
| Representative: | Susan Wild |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Residence: | Allentown |
| Population: | 774,340 |
| Population Year: | 2022 |
| Median Income: | $72,660 |
| Percent White: | 68.6 |
| Percent Hispanic: | 19.1 |
| Percent Black: | 5.5 |
| Percent Asian: | 3.1 |
| Percent More Than One Race: | 3.1 |
| Percent Other Race: | 0.6 |
| Cpvi: | R+2[1] |
Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district includes all of Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties; and parts of Monroe County. The district is represented by Democrat Susan Wild.
From March 2003 through 2018, the district incorporated parts of the Philadelphia suburbs, including most of Delaware County, along with portions of Chester, Montgomery, Berks, and Lancaster Counties. The district exhibited extreme non-congruity during that time as a result of gerrymandering.[2] On January 22, 2018, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that the map violated the state constitution, and in February, it issued its own district boundaries for use in the 2018 elections and representation thereafter.[3] Most of the population in the old 7th district became part of a new 5th district, encompassing all of Delaware County and parts of South Philadelphia; while most of the old 15th district became the new 7th district.[4] [5] In the 2020 redistricting cycle, Carbon County was added into the district, in exchange for the area around East Stroudsburg in Monroe County.
Pat Meehan, who had represented the old 7th district since 2011, resigned on April 27, 2018, amid a sexual harassment case. Mary Gay Scanlon won the special election on November 6, 2018, to replace him for the remainder of his term, and she served for slightly less than two months as the last representative for the old 7th district before being transferred to the newly redrawn 5th district. Susan Wild won the general election in the newly redrawn 7th district, and she took office January 3, 2019.
The district was identified as a presidential bellwether by Sabato's Crystal Ball, having voted for the Electoral College winner in the past four presidential elections as of 2020.[6]
The following table includes election results for previous incarnations of the 7th congressional district; see
| Year | Presidential | Representative | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | align=center | – | align=right | Weldon 66.1–33.9% | New district boundaries | |
| 2004 | align=right | Kerry 53–47% | align=right | Weldon 58.8–40.3% | ||
| 2006 | align=center | – | align=right | Sestak 56.4–43.6% | ||
| 2008 | align=right | Obama 56–43% | align=right | Sestak 59.6–40.4% | ||
| 2010 | align=center | – | align=right | Meehan 54.9–44.1% | ||
| 2012 | align=right | Romney 50.4–48.5% | align=right | Meehan 59.4–40.6% | ||
| 2014 | align=center | – | align=right | Meehan 62.0–38.0% | New district boundaries | |
| 2016 | align=right | Clinton 49.3–47.0% | align=right | Meehan 59.5–40.5% | ||
| 2018 | – | align=right | Scanlon 52.3–46.0% | Special following Meehan's resignation | ||
| align=right | Wild 53.5–43.5% | New district boundaries | ||||
| 2020 | align=right | Biden 51.8–47.0% | align=right | Wild 51.9–48.1% | ||
| 2022 | align=center | – | align=right | Wild 51.0–49.0% | New district boundaries |
The 2003–2012 version of the district was located in southeastern Pennsylvania. It contained the western and northwestern suburbs of Philadelphia. It consisted of the majority of Delaware County (except for the City of Chester and some of the eastern boroughs), a portion of Chester County east of West Chester in the affluent Philadelphia Main Line area, and a portion of southern Montgomery County centered on Upper Merion Township.
The 2013–2018 version of the district contained most of Delaware County outside of the City of Chester and the heavily African American townships and boroughs in the eastern portion of the county. It also contained parts of central Montgomery County, southern portions of Berks County, southern and central portions of Chester County, and a small portion of eastern Lancaster County. The District as it stood in October 2016 was named on NPR's On the Media as an egregious example of gerrymandering. The shape of the district was described as "Goofy kicking Donald Duck. The only point that is essentially contiguous there is Goofy's foot in Donald Duck's rear end. ... However these district lines are the building blocks of democracy, and when they get as perverted and twisted as this, it leads to deeply undemocratic outcomes."[7] The Washington Post listed it as one of the ten most gerrymandered districts in the country.[8]
On February 19, 2018, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania released a new congressional map after lawmakers had failed to agree on a map that would reduce gerrymandering. The map substantially redrew the District, relocating it to the Lehigh Valley. The newly redrawn district includes all of Lehigh County and Northampton County as well as parts of Monroe County.
District created in 1791.
| Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District first established March 4, 1791 | ||||||||
| align=left | Thomas Hartley | Pro-Administration | nowrap | March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1793 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1791. Redistricted to the . | |||
District redistricted in 1793 to the .
District restored in 1795.
| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align=left | John W. Kittera | Federalist | nowrap | March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1801 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1794. Re-elected in 1796. Re-elected in 1798. Retired. | ||
| align=left | Thomas Boude | Federalist | nowrap | March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803 | Elected in 1800. Redistricted to the and lost re-election. | ||
| align=left | John Rea | Democratic-Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1811 | Elected in 1802. Re-elected in 1804. Re-elected in 1806. Re-elected in 1808. Lost re-election. | ||
| align=left | William Piper | Democratic-Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813 | Elected in 1810. Redistricted to the . | ||
| align=left | John M. Hyneman | Democratic-Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1813 – August 2, 1813 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1812. Resigned. | ||
| Vacant | nowrap | August 2, 1813 – October 12, 1813 | |||||
| align=left | Daniel Udree | Democratic-Republican | nowrap | October 12, 1813 – March 3, 1815 | Elected October 12, 1813, to finish Hyneman's term and seated December 6, 1813. Lost re-election. | ||
| align=left | Joseph Hiester | Democratic-Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1815 – December ????, 1820 | Elected in 1814. Re-elected in 1816. Resigned to become Governor of Pennsylvania. | ||
| Vacant | nowrap | December ????, 1820 – December 26, 1820 | |||||
| align=left | Daniel Udree | Democratic-Republican | nowrap | December 26, 1820 – March 3, 1821 | Elected December 10, 1820, to finish Hiester's term and seated January 8, 1821.[9] Had not been a candidate for the next term. | ||
| align=left | Ludwig Worman | Federalist | nowrap | March 4, 1821 – October 17, 1822 | Elected in 1820. Lost re-election and then died. | ||
| Vacant | nowrap | October 17, 1822 – December 10, 1822 | |||||
| align=left | Daniel Udree | Democratic-Republican | nowrap | December 10, 1822 – March 3, 1823 | Elected in 1822. Later elected December 10, 1822, to finish Worman's term and seated December 23, 1822. | ||
| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Wilson | Democratic-Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | Elected in 1822. Re-elected in 1824. Died. | align=left | Daniel Udree | Democratic-Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | Re-elected in 1822. Retired. | ||||
| Jacksonian | nowrap | March 4, 1825 – August 24, 1826 | William Addams | Jacksonian | March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829 | Elected in 1824. Re-elected in 1826. Lost re-election. | ||||||||
| Vacant | nowrap | August 24, 1826 – December 4, 1826 | ||||||||||||
| align=left | Jacob Krebs | Jacksonian | nowrap | December 4, 1826 – March 3, 1827 | Elected October 10, 1826, to finish Wilson's term and seated December 4, 1826. Was not a candidate for the next term. | |||||||||
| Joseph Fry Jr. | Jacksonian | March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1831 | Elected in 1826. Re-elected in 1828. Retired. | |||||||||||
Henry A. P. Muhlenberg | Jacksonian | March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1833 | Elected in 1828. Re-elected in 1830. Redistricted to the . | |||||||||||
| align=left | Henry King | Jacksonian | nowrap | March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 | Elected in 1830. Redistricted to the . | |||||||||
| Member | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David D. Wagener | Jacksonian | nowrap | March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1837 | Elected in 1832 Re-elected in 1834 Re-elected in 1836 Re-elected in 1838 | ||||
| Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1841 | ||||||
| align=left | John Westbrook | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | Elected in 1840. Retired. | |||
| align=left | Abraham R. McIlvaine | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849 | Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1844. Re-elected in 1846. Lost renomination. | |||
| align=left | Jesse C. Dickey | Whig | nowrap | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 | Elected in 1848. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | John A. Morrison | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | Elected in 1850. | |||
| align=left | Samuel A. Bridges | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | Elected in 1852. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | Samuel C. Bradshaw | Opposition | nowrap | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 | Elected in 1854. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | Henry Chapman | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859 | Elected in 1856. Retired. | |||
| align=left | Henry C. Longnecker | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861 | Elected in 1858. | |||
| align=left | Thomas B. Cooper | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1861 – April 4, 1862 | Elected in 1860. Died. | |||
| Vacant | nowrap | April 4, 1862 – June 3, 1862 | ||||||
| align=left | John D. Stiles | Democratic | nowrap | June 3, 1862 – March 3, 1863 | Elected to finish Cooper's term. Redistricted to the . | |||
| align=left | John M. Broomall | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869 | Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. Retired. | |||
| align=left | Washington Townsend | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1875 | Elected in 1868. Re-elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Redistricted to the . | |||
| align=left | Alan Wood Jr. | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | Elected in 1874. Retired. | |||
| align=left | Isaac N. Evans | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879 | Elected in 1876. Retired. | |||
| align=left | William Godshalk | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1883 | Elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Retired. | |||
| align=left | Isaac N. Evans | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1887 | Elected in 1882. Re-elected in 1884. Retired. | |||
| align=left | Robert M. Yardley | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891 | Elected in 1886. Re-elected in 1888. Retired. | |||
| align=left | Edwin Hallowell | Democratic | nowrap | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | Elected in 1890. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | Irving P. Wanger | Republican | nowrap | 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 . | |||
| align=left | Thomas S. Butler | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1923 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-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 . | |||
| align=left | George P. Darrow | Republican | nowrap | March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1937 | Redistricted from the 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. Re-elected in 1934. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | Ira W. Drew | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939 | Elected in 1936. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | George P. Darrow | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1941 | Elected in 1938. Retired. | |||
| align=left | Hugh Scott | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1945 | Elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | James Wolfenden | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947 | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 1944. Retired. | |||
| align=left | E. Wallace Chadwick | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 | Elected in 1946. Lost renomination. | |||
| align=left | Benjamin F. James | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1959 | Elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Retired. | |||
| align=left | William H. Milliken Jr. | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1965 | Elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Retired. | |||
| align=left | G. Robert Watkins | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 | Elected in 1964. Redistricted to the . | |||
| align=left | Lawrence G. Williams | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1975 | Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | Robert W. Edgar | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1987 | Elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | |||
| align=left | Curt Weldon | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2007 | 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. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Lost re-election. | |||
| align=left | Joe Sestak | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. | |||
| align=left | Pat Meehan | Republican | nowrap | January 3, 2011 – April 27, 2018 | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Resigned. | |||
| Vacant | nowrap | April 27, 2018 – November 13, 2018 | ||||||
| align=left | Mary Gay Scanlon | Democratic | nowrap | November 13, 2018 – January 3, 2019 | Elected to finish Meehan's term. Redistricted to the . | |||
| align=left | Susan Wild | Democratic | nowrap | January 3, 2019 – present | Redistricted from the and re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020 Re-elected in 2022. | |||
