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Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District

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Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 3, 2023

Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives is represented by Summer Lee (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Pennsylvania representatives represented an average of 765,403 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 707,495 residents.

Elections

See also: Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Incumbent Summer Lee (D), Adam Forgie (D), Benson Fechter (R), James Hayes (R), and Arnold Santos (R) are running in the general election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on November 3, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District election, 2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Incumbent Summer Lee (D) defeated James Hayes (R) in the general election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Summer Lee
Summer Lee (D)
 
56.2
 
234,802
Image of James Hayes
James Hayes (R)  Candidate Connection
 
43.5
 
181,426
  Other/Write-in votes
 
0.3%
 
1,280

Total votes: 417,508
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Incumbent Summer Lee (D) defeated Bhavini Patel (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on April 23, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Summer Lee
Summer Lee
 
60.4
 
64,594
Image of Bhavini Patel
Bhavini Patel
 
39.2
 
41,902
  Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4%
 
415

Total votes: 106,911
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

James Hayes (R) defeated Paul Bryant (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on April 23, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of James Hayes
James Hayes  Candidate Connection
 
98.5
 
34,759
Image of Paul Bryant
Paul Bryant (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
0
  Other/Write-in votes
 
1.5%
 
543

Total votes: 35,302
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

See also: Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Summer Lee (D) defeated Michael Doyle (R) in the general election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Summer Lee
Summer Lee (D)
 
56.2
 
184,674
Image of Michael Doyle
Michael Doyle (R)
 
43.8
 
143,946

Total votes: 328,620
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Summer Lee (D) defeated Steve Irwin (D), Jerry Dickinson (D), Jeff Woodard (D), and William Parker (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Summer Lee
Summer Lee
 
41.9
 
48,002
Image of Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin
 
41.0
 
47,014
Image of Jerry Dickinson
Jerry Dickinson
 
10.9
 
12,440
Image of Jeff Woodard
Jeff Woodard  Candidate Connection
 
4.8
 
5,454
Image of William Parker
William Parker
 
1.5
 
1,670

Total votes: 114,580
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Michael Doyle (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Michael Doyle
Michael Doyle
 
100.0
 
39,531

Total votes: 39,531
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Incumbent Fred Keller (R) defeated Lee Griffin (D) and Elizabeth Terwilliger (L) in the general election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Fred Keller
Fred Keller (R)
 
70.8
 
241,035
Image of Lee Griffin
Lee Griffin (D)  Candidate Connection
 
29.2
 
99,199
Image of Elizabeth Terwilliger
Elizabeth Terwilliger (L) (Write-in) Candidate Connection
 
0.0
 
0

Total votes: 340,234
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Lee Griffin (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lee Griffin
Lee Griffin  Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
41,313

Total votes: 41,313
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Incumbent Fred Keller (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Fred Keller
Fred Keller
 
100.0
 
87,886

Total votes: 87,886
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District special election, 2019

General election

Special general election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Fred Keller (R) defeated Marc Friedenberg (D) in the special general election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on May 21, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Fred Keller
Fred Keller (R)
 
68.1
 
90,000
Image of Marc Friedenberg
Marc Friedenberg (D)
 
31.9
 
42,195

Total votes: 132,1950
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic convention

The Democratic convention scheduled for March 2, 2019, was canceled. Marc Friedenberg (D) advanced from the special Democratic convention for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 without appearing on the ballot.

Republican convention

Special Republican convention for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Fred Keller (R) defeated Malcolm Derk (R), Stacy Garrity (R), Chris Hoffman (R), and Joseph Moralez (R) in the special Republican convention for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on March 2, 2019.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Incumbent Tom Marino (R) defeated Marc Friedenberg (D) in the general election for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tom Marino
Tom Marino (R)
 
66.0
 
161,047
Image of Marc Friedenberg
Marc Friedenberg (D)
 
34.0
 
82,825

Total votes: 243,8720
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Marc Friedenberg (D) defeated Judy Herschel (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Marc Friedenberg
Marc Friedenberg
 
50.4
 
12,802
Image of Judy Herschel
Judy Herschel
 
49.6
 
12,606

Total votes: 25,408
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12

Incumbent Tom Marino (R) defeated Doug McLinko (R) in the Republican primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 12 on May 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tom Marino
Tom Marino
 
67.0
 
39,967
Image of Doug McLinko
Doug McLinko
 
33.0
 
19,662

Total votes: 59,629
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Previous election results


District map

2023_01_03_pa_congressional_district_012.jpg

Redistricting

2020-2021

See also: Redistricting in Pennsylvania after the 2020 census

On February 23, 2022, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled to enact a new congressional map.[10] Over a dozen maps were submitted to the supreme court, including the map approved by the legislature. The court ultimately selected the Carter map in a 4-3 ruling, which was submitted by a group of Pennsylvania citizens who were petitioners in a redistricting-related lawsuit. Justices Debra Todd (D), Sallie Mundy (R), and Kevin Brobson (R) dissented.[11] Spotlight PA's Kate Huangpu wrote that the map is "as similar as possible to the current congressional map, with nearly 90% of residents staying in the same district."[11] This map took effect for Pennsylvania's 2022 congressional elections.

The state supreme court took authority over the redistricting process after Gov. Tom Wolf (D) vetoed the legislature's enacted map on January 26.[12] The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to approve the initial map 110-91 on January 12, and the Pennsylvania State Senate voted 29-20 to approve the map on January 24.[13][14] Following Wolf's veto, the authority for determining a new map initially rested with a lower court, but in a February 2 ruling the supreme court ruled that it would have control over the process to select a new congressional map.[15]

How does redistricting in Pennsylvania work? In Pennsylvania, the statutory authority to draw congressional district boundaries is vested with the Pennsylvania General Assembly. These lines are subject to gubernatorial veto.[16]

State legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission. Established in 1968, the commission comprises five members:[16]

  1. The majority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
  2. The minority leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate appoints one member.
  3. The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
  4. The minority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives appoints one member.
  5. The first four commissioners appoint a fifth member to serve as the commission's chair. If the commission is unable to reach an agreement, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must appoint a commission chair.[16]


The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Further, state legislative districts should "respect county, city, incorporated town, borough, township and ward boundaries." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[16]

2020

2019_05_02_pa_congressional_district_012.jpg

2024

2023_01_03_pa_congressional_district_012.jpg

2018

On January 22, 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the state's congressional district map, finding that the map constituted an illegal partisan gerrymander. On February 19, 2018, the court adopted a remedial map for use in the 2018 election cycle. Pennsylvania Republicans filed suit in federal district court to prevent implementation of the new map. The district court dismissed the suit on March 19, 2018. State Republicans also petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States to stay the state supreme court's order pending appeal. The court rejected this request on March 19, 2018. To learn more, see here.

2010-2011

This is the 12th Congressional District prior to the 2010 redistricting.
See also: Redistricting in Pennsylvania after the 2010 census

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission in Pennsylvania approved the GOP-proposed map. It was signed into law on December 22, 2001.[17][18]

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

2026

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is D+10. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 10 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Pennsylvania's 12th the 131st most Democratic district nationally.[19]

2024

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+8. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Pennsylvania's 12th the 145th most Democratic district nationally.[20]

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have defeated Donald Trump (R) 59.4%-39.5%.[21]

2022

Heading into the 2022 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+8. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Pennsylvania's 12th the 143rd most Democratic district nationally.[22]

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 59.4% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 39.5%.[23]

2018

Heading into the 2018 elections, based on results from the 2016 and 2012 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+17. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 17 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District the 60th most Republican nationally.[24]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.01. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.01 points toward that party.[25]

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Pennsylvania Department of State, "Unofficial Candidate Listing – Pre Ballot Lottery," accessed February 17, 2016
  2. The New York Times, "Pennsylvania Primary Results," April 26, 2016
  3. Politico, "2012 Election Map, Pennsylvania"
  4. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  5. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
  6. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
  7. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
  8. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
  9. U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
  10. Pennsylvania Supreme Court, "Order," February 23, 2022
  11. 11.0 11.1 Spotlight PA, "Pennsylvania Supreme Court picks congressional map put forth by state voters," February 23, 2022
  12. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named wtae
  13. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named sen
  14. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named house
  15. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named psc
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 All About Redistricting, "Pennsylvania," accessed May 8, 2015
  17. ABC 27, "Corbett signs off on new congressional map," December 22, 2011
  18. The Republic, "Senate Democrats and Chester County group plan to contest Pa. legislative redistricting plan," January 7, 2012
  19. Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  20. Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed January 10, 2024
  21. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
  22. Cook Political Report, "The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index (Cook PVI℠)," accessed February 6, 2023
  23. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts," accessed September 15, 2022
  24. Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  25. FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
Republican Party (11)
Democratic Party (8)