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.[2] 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 a heavily Democratic, black-majority district. In 2020, the district gave Joe Biden 91 percent of the vote, his best showing in the nation.[3]
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.
^"2002 General Election". Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. November 5, 2002. Archived from the original on October 30, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
^"2004 General Election". Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. November 2, 2004. Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
^"2006 General Election". Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. November 7, 2006. Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
^"2008 General Election". Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. November 4, 2008. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
^"2010 General Election". Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on November 6, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
^"2012 General Election". Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. November 6, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
^"2014 General Election". Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. November 4, 2008. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
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.