Population (2000) 646,221 Cook PVI R+2 | Median income 55,611 | |
 | ||
Current Representative Ryan Costello (R–West Chester) Distribution 85.78% urban
14.22% rural Ethnicity 87.9% White
6.8% Black
2.1% Asian
3.7% Hispanic
0.1% Native American
0.2% other | ||
Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District is a congressional district in the state of Pennsylvania. It includes communities north and west of the City of Philadelphia. It is represented by Ryan Costello
Contents
The district was substantially redrawn in 2002 and again slightly modified in 2012. Its strange shape in 2002 brought charges of gerrymandering by Democrats who argued it "looms like a dragon descending on Philadelphia from the west, splitting up towns and communities throughout Montgomery and Berks Counties." The combination of very affluent suburban areas of Philadelphia and sparsely populated rural areas was possibly designed to capture Republican voters, but changes in voting patterns in southeastern Pennsylvania has made the District much more competitive. The District had a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R+1 after the 2012 redistricting. It was rated D+4 before then.
The redistricting of 2011/2012 changed it to include parts of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lebanon counties.
Elections
Gerlach has served as the District's Representative since 2003. In 2004 and 2006, Gerlach won re-election against fellow attorney and now Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Lois Murphy. In 2008, he successfully ran for re-election against businessman and veteran Bob Roggio. In the 2010 and 2012 elections, Gerlach defeated physician and Iraq War veteran Manan Trivedi, the Democratic nominee.
In January, 2014 Gerlach announced that he would not stand for reelection to the 114th Congress. In the race to succeed Gerlach, Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello has won the Republican nomination and physician and Iraq war veteran Manan Trivedi has secured the Democratic party's nomination.
2003 to 2013
The district included parts of Montgomery County, Chester County, Berks County and Lehigh County. The largest cities in the district were Reading and Norristown.
2017
The following municipalities constitute the sixth district:
Berks County
Townships:
Alsace Bern Colebrookdale Cumru District 1,4,6,7 Exeter Heidelberg Herford District 2 Lower Alsace District 2 Lower Heidelberg Maidencreek Marion Muhlenberg 2,3,5,6,7,8,9 North Heidelberg Ontelaunee Penn Richmond Rockland Ruscombmanor South Heidelberg Spring District 5,7,8 Washington
Boroughs:
Bally Bechtelsville Bernville Birdsboro Boyertown Fleetwood Kenhorst Laureldale District 1(part) Leesport Robesonia Shillington St. Lawrence Wernersville Womelsdorf Wyomissing District 1,2,4,5
Chester County
Townships:
Caln District 4 Charlestown East Bradford District 1 East Brandywine East Caln East Goshen East Nantmeal East Pikeland East Whiteland Easttown North Coventry Schuylkill South Coventry Thornbury Tredyffrin Upper Uwchlan Uwchlan West Bradford District 1,2,3 West Goshen West Pikeland West Vincent West Whiteland Westtown Willistown
Boroughs:
Downingtown Malvern Phoenixville Spring City West Chester
Lebanon County
Townships:
Heidelberg Jackson Millcreek North Lebanon District E South Lebanon West Cornwall
Boroughs:
Cornwall Myerstown Richland City of Lebanon Wards 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,10
Montgomery County
Townships:
Douglas Limerick Lower Pottsgrove Lower Providence New Hanover Perkiomen District 1,2 Upper Hanover District 3 Upper Pottsgrove Upper Providence West Norriton District 1,2,3 West Pottsgrove
Boroughs:
Collegeville East Greenville Pennsburg Pottstown Red Hill Royersford Schwenksville Trappe
1791–1793: One seat
District created in 1791 from Pennsylvania's At-large congressional district
District redistricted in 1793 to Pennsylvania's At-large congressional district
1795–1823: One seat, then two
District created in 1795 from Pennsylvania's At-large congressional district