Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district

Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district is located primarily in the northeast corner of the state. The district was one of the 12 original districts created prior to the 4th Congress. It is currently represented by Republican Tom Marino, who defeated Democratic incumbent Chris Carney during the 2010 U.S. House elections. In 2006, the 10th district experienced one of the greatest party shifts among all House seats that switched party control: in 2004, Sherwood won with an 86% margin of victory over his nearest opponent and two years later, Carney unseated Sherwood by a 53%-47% margin.^[3] In 2008, Carney won reelection by 12 points but the district swung back in 2010, electing Tom Marino. The district is mostly Republican in its political composition, an aspect of the district that is reflected especially well in presidential elections. In 2004, President George W. Bush won 60 percent of the vote in the district and in 2008, Senator John McCain beat Senator Barack Obama here by a margin of 54 percent to 45 percent. Nonetheless, Carney easily won reelection as a Democrat the same year McCain won the district. However, in the 2010 midterm elections, Marino unseated Carney by a 55%-45% margin, a GOP victory that is largely attributed to Carney's March 2010 vote for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, comprehensive health care reform legislation signed into law by President Obama. The legislation was incredibly unpopular in a district resistant to government-led efforts in economic affairs.

District boundaries

The Pennsylvania 10th is the third-largest congressional district in the state. The district encompasses the following counties and areas:^[4][5]

• Bradford County
• Lackawanna County
  • excluding Old Forge, Moosic, Scranton, and Dunmore but including Clarks Summit
• Luzerne County
  • Back Mountain area, including Dallas, Shavertown, Trucksville, Kingston, Wyoming, and Swoyersville
• Lycoming County
  • Sullivan/Columbia/Montour County boundaries west to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River (except Montoursville), north to Cogan House
• Montour County
• Northumberland County
• Pike County
• Snyder County
• Sullivan County
• Susquehanna County
• Tioga County
  • Ward Township
• Union County
• Wayne County
• Wyoming County

Recent elections

2006 election

2008 election

2010 election

SOURCE: MSNBC ^[7]

Better Know A District

• The Pennsylvania 10th was the 46th congressional district mentioned on the recurring The Colbert Report segment, "Better Know A District," when the December 12, 2006 episode featured incoming House freshmen, including Representative-elect Chris Carney, at the Kennedy School of Government.

List of representatives

District created in 1795 from Pennsylvania's At-large congressional district

1795-1813: One seat

1813-1823: Two seats

Seat A

Seat B

1823-present: One seat

SOURCE: MSNBC ^[7]

References

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

Notes