Here’s how the new map of Pennsylvania’s congressional districts impacts Centre County
Centre County will no longer be split between two congressional districts, as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court voted 4-3 to approve a new map on Wednesday.
Previously, Centre County was split between congressional districts 12 and 15, represented by Reps. Fred Keller and Glenn Thompson, respectively. The state loses a seat with this map, going from 18 to 17 districts, due to slow population growth. The new map lumps the two Republican incumbents into a northern district that includes Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson, Armstrong, Clarion, Warren, Forest, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Union and Snyder, and parts of Indiana, Venango and Lycoming Counties.
In a press release Wednesday afternoon, Thompson announced he would seek reelection to the newly defined 15th District.
“I look forward to meeting the hardworking families, farmers, small business owners, and veterans in the counties that were added to PA-15,” Thompson said. “In many instances, this will be a reunion, because I have previous(ly) represented many of these counties during my time in Congress.”
Thompson represented the 5th District before the 2018 redistricting shifted him into the 15th District.
He said he’s “deeply disappointed” the map excludes some counties that he currently represents, but said those residents will continue to have his support.
“I am also fully committed to delivering results for every community in PA-15 and continuing with top notch constituent services our residents deserve,” he said.
Keller also will seek reelection, he announced in a press release Wednesday, but will run in the new 9th District rather than challenging Thompson. He will now face off in that district against Republican incumbent Dan Meuser.
“Liberal justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are once again attempting to take away the conservative voices of voters in central and northeast Pennsylvania. I’m not going to let that happen. I remain fully committed to taking back the House from Nancy Pelosi and putting Pennsylvania first,” he said in the release.
The map splits the current 12th District, but the most the population is retained in the new 9th District, the press release stated.
“I look forward to continuing the work our team has accomplished and building on relationships I’ve fostered across the new district, where my family roots run deep. As the people who know me best will attest, no one will show up and fight harder for central and northeast Pennsylvania,” Keller said.
Keller’s and Thompson’s offices didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from the Centre Daily Times.
The map picked by the Democratic-majority state Supreme Court was proposed by a group of Democratic-aligned voters who sued last year in an effort to get the court involved, AP reported. The boundaries “broadly adhere to the outlines of current districts,” even with losing a seat, according to AP.
The court ended up with the decision after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature deadlocked on a new plan, AP reported. Four of five Democrats on the court formed the majority in Wednesday’s decision. One Democrat, Justice Debra Todd, sided with the court’s two Republicans in opposing it.
The court also adjusted the petition gathering schedule, which will start Friday and end March 15. The May 17 primary date remains for congressional races and statewide contests. The court also issued an order that suspended the primary election calendar for state legislative candidates, because new state House and Senate maps are being challenged in court.
