Pennsylvania's third congressional district includes several areas of the city of Philadelphia, including West Philadelphia, most of Center City, and parts of North Philadelphia. It has been represented by Democrat Dwight Evans since 2019. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+40, it is the most Democratic district in both Pennsylvania and the United States, as well as the most extreme (the most Republican district, Alabama's 4th, has a rating of R+33).
Prior to 2018, the district was located in the northwestern part of the state and included the cities of Erie, Sharon, Hermitage, Butler and Meadville. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania redrew this district in February 2018 after ruling the previous map unconstitutional. The new third district is similar to the old second district and was heavily Democratic for the 2018 election and representation thereafter. Dwight Evans, the incumbent from the old 2nd district, ran for re-election in the new 3rd District.
The current version of the 3rd, like the old 2nd, is heavily Democratic and, according to the Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey, almost half-black. In 2020, the district gave Joe Biden 91 percent of the vote, his best showing in the nation.
From 1983 to 2003, the district was located in Northeast Philadelphia and was represented by Rep. Robert Borski; much of that district was merged with the 13th district after the 2000 census, while the 3rd was reconfigured to take in most of the territory in the old 21st district. This version of the 3rd supported President George W. Bush in 2004 as well as John McCain in 2008, Mitt Romney in 2012 and Donald Trump in 2016.
Philadelphia neighborhoods in the 3rd district include:
The district was organized from Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district in 1791
The district was reorganized in 1823 to have one seat.