History / Congress

Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district

110 members have held this seat since Oct 24, 1791. Now: Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr. R.

Holders
110
51 R · 36 D · 11 J · 5 W · 3 F · 1 AA · 1 JR · 1 U · 1 ALD
Longest tenure
9.8 years
James Wolfenden
Current
21 months
Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr., since Jan 3, 2025
history/seat/pa-8Every holder, newest first
+110
180018201840186018801900192019401960198020002020William Findley · 1791-10-24 – 1793-03-04 · Anti-AdministrationThomas Hartley · 1795-12-07 – 1797-03-04 · FederalistThomas Hartley · 1797-05-15 – 1799-03-04 · FederalistThomas Hartley · 1799-12-02 – 1801-03-04 · FederalistJohn Stewart · 1801-12-07 – 1803-03-04 · RepublicanWilliam Findley · 1803-10-17 – 1805-03-04 · RepublicanWilliam Findley · 1805-12-02 – 1807-03-04 · RepublicanWilliam Findley · 1807-10-26 – 1809-03-04 · RepublicanWilliam Findley · 1809-05-22 – 1811-03-04 · RepublicanWilliam Findley · 1811-11-04 – 1813-03-04 · RepublicanWilliam Piper · 1813-05-24 – 1815-03-04 · RepublicanWilliam Piper · 1815-12-04 – 1817-03-04 · RepublicanAlexander Ogle · 1817-12-01 – 1819-03-04 · RepublicanRobert Philson · 1819-12-06 – 1821-03-04 · RepublicanJohn Tod · 1821-12-03 – 1823-03-04 · RepublicanThomas Jones Rogers · 1823-12-01 – 1825-03-04 · RepublicanSamuel Delucenna Ingham · 1825-12-05 – 1827-03-04 · JacksonSamuel Delucenna Ingham · 1827-12-03 – 1829-03-04 · JacksonGeorge Wolf · 1829-12-07 – 1831-03-04 · JacksonPeter Ihrie Jr. · 1831-12-05 – 1833-03-04 · JacksonHenry King · 1833-12-02 – 1835-03-04 · JacksonEdward Burd Hubley · 1835-12-07 – 1837-03-04 · JacksonEdward Burd Hubley · 1837-09-04 – 1839-03-04 · DemocratPeter Newhard · 1839-12-02 – 1841-03-04 · DemocratPeter Newhard · 1841-05-31 – 1843-03-04 · DemocratJeremiah Brown · 1843-12-04 – 1845-03-04 · WhigJohn Strohm · 1845-12-01 – 1847-03-04 · WhigJohn Strohm · 1847-12-06 – 1849-03-04 · WhigThaddeus Stevens · 1849-12-03 – 1851-03-04 · WhigThaddeus Stevens · 1851-12-01 – 1853-03-04 · WhigHenry Augustus Muhlenberg · 1853-12-05 – 1855-03-04 · DemocratJehu Glancy Jones · 1855-12-03 – 1857-03-04 · DemocratJehu Glancy Jones · 1857-12-07 – 1859-03-04 · DemocratJacob Kerlin McKenty · 1859-12-05 – 1861-03-04 · DemocratSydenham Elnathan Ancona · 1861-07-04 – 1863-03-04 · DemocratSydenham Elnathan Ancona · 1863-12-07 – 1865-03-04 · DemocratSydenham Elnathan Ancona · 1865-12-04 – 1867-03-04 · DemocratJames Lawrence Getz · 1867-03-04 – 1873-03-04 · DemocratHiester Clymer · 1873-12-01 – 1875-03-04 · DemocratHiester Clymer · 1875-12-06 – 1877-03-04 · DemocratHiester Clymer · 1877-10-15 – 1879-03-04 · DemocratHiester Clymer · 1879-03-18 – 1881-03-04 · DemocratDaniel Ermentrout · 1881-12-05 – 1883-03-04 · DemocratDaniel Ermentrout · 1883-12-03 – 1885-03-04 · DemocratDaniel Ermentrout · 1885-12-07 – 1887-03-04 · DemocratDaniel Ermentrout · 1887-12-05 – 1889-03-04 · DemocratWilliam Mutchler · 1889-12-02 – 1891-03-04 · DemocratWilliam Mutchler · 1891-12-07 – 1893-03-04 · DemocratWilliam Mutchler · 1893-08-07 – 1895-03-04 · DemocratJoseph Johnson Hart · 1895-12-02 – 1897-03-04 · DemocratWilliam Sebring Kirkpatrick · 1897-03-15 – 1899-03-04 · RepublicanLaird Howard Barber · 1899-12-04 – 1901-03-04 · DemocratHoward Mutchler · 1901-12-02 – 1903-03-04 · DemocratIrving Price Wanger · 1903-11-09 – 1905-03-04 · RepublicanIrving Price Wanger · 1905-12-04 – 1907-03-04 · RepublicanIrving Price Wanger · 1907-12-02 – 1909-03-04 · RepublicanIrving Price Wanger · 1909-03-15 – 1911-03-04 · RepublicanRobert Edward Difenderfer · 1911-04-04 – 1913-03-04 · DemocratRobert Edward Difenderfer · 1913-04-07 – 1915-03-04 · DemocratHenry Winfield Watson · 1915-12-06 – 1917-03-04 · RepublicanHenry Winfield Watson · 1917-04-02 – 1919-03-04 · RepublicanHenry Winfield Watson · 1919-05-19 – 1921-03-04 · RepublicanHenry Winfield Watson · 1921-04-11 – 1923-03-04 · RepublicanThomas Stalker Butler · 1923-12-03 – 1925-03-04 · RepublicanThomas Stalker Butler · 1925-12-07 – 1927-03-05 · RepublicanThomas Stalker Butler · 1927-12-05 – 1929-03-04 · RepublicanJames Wolfenden · 1929-04-15 – 1931-03-04 · RepublicanJames Wolfenden · 1931-12-07 – 1933-03-04 · RepublicanJames Wolfenden · 1933-03-09 – 1943-01-04 · RepublicanJames Wolfenden · 1943-01-06 – 1945-01-04 · RepublicanFranklin Herbert Lichtenwalter · 1947-01-03 – 1951-01-04 · RepublicanWillard Sevier Curtin · 1957-01-03 – 1959-01-04 · RepublicanWillard Sevier Curtin · 1959-01-07 – 1963-01-04 · RepublicanWillard Sevier Curtin · 1963-01-09 – 1967-01-04 · RepublicanEdward George Biester Jr. · 1967-01-10 – 1971-01-04 · RepublicanEdward George Biester Jr. · 1971-01-21 – 1975-01-04 · RepublicanEdward George Biester Jr. · 1975-01-14 – 1977-01-04 · RepublicanPeter Houston Kostmayer · 1977-01-04 – 1979-01-04 · DemocratPeter Houston Kostmayer · 1979-01-15 – 1981-01-04 · DemocratJames Kitchenman Coyne III · 1981-01-05 – 1983-01-04 · RepublicanPeter Houston Kostmayer · 1987-01-06 – 1993-01-04 · DemocratJames C. Greenwood · 1993-01-05 – 1997-01-04 · RepublicanJames C. Greenwood · 1997-01-07 – 1999-01-04 · RepublicanJames C. Greenwood · 1999-01-06 – 2003-01-04 · RepublicanJames C. Greenwood · 2003-01-07 – 2005-01-04 · RepublicanMichael G. Fitzpatrick · 2005-01-04 – 2007-01-04 · RepublicanPatrick J. Murphy · 2007-01-04 – 2009-01-04 · DemocratPatrick J. Murphy · 2009-01-06 – 2011-01-04 · DemocratMichael G. Fitzpatrick · 2011-01-05 – 2015-01-04 · RepublicanMichael G. Fitzpatrick · 2015-01-06 – 2017-01-04 · RepublicanMatt Cartwright · 2019-01-03 – 2025-01-04 · DemocratJohn Stewart · 1799-12-02 – 1801-03-04 · RepublicanSamuel Delucenna Ingham · 1823-12-01 – 1825-03-04 · Jackson RepublicanGeorge Wolf · 1825-12-05 – 1827-03-04 · JacksonGeorge Wolf · 1827-12-03 – 1829-03-04 · JacksonPeter Ihrie Jr. · 1829-12-07 – 1831-03-04 · JacksonSamuel A. Smith · 1831-12-05 – 1833-03-04 · JacksonJehu Glancy Jones · 1853-12-05 – 1855-03-04 · DemocratWilliam High Keim · 1857-12-07 – 1859-03-04 · RepublicanJohn Schwartz · 1859-12-05 – 1861-03-04 · Anti-Lecompton DemocratHoward Mutchler · 1893-08-07 – 1895-03-04 · DemocratJames Wolfenden · 1927-12-05 – 1929-03-04 · RepublicanCharles Lewis Gerlach · 1945-01-03 – 1949-01-04 · RepublicanAlbert Clinton Vaughn Sr. · 1951-01-03 – 1953-01-04 · RepublicanPeter Houston Kostmayer · 1983-01-03 – 1987-01-04 · DemocratBrian K. Fitzpatrick · 2017-01-03 – 2019-01-04 · RepublicanRobert P. Bresnahan, Jr. · 2025-01-03 – present · RepublicanGeorge Wolf · 1823-12-01 – 1825-03-04Samuel A. Smith · 1829-12-07 – 1831-03-04 · JacksonKarl Clarence King · 1951-01-03 – 1957-01-04 · Republican
Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr. R
Jan 3, 2025 – present · 21 months
Matt Cartwright D
Jan 3, 2019 – Jan 4, 2025 · 6 years
Brian K. Fitzpatrick R
Jan 3, 2017 – Jan 4, 2019 · 2 years
Michael G. Fitzpatrick R
Jan 6, 2015 – Jan 4, 2017 · 2 years
Michael G. Fitzpatrick R
Jan 5, 2011 – Jan 4, 2015 · 4 years
Patrick J. Murphy D
Jan 6, 2009 – Jan 4, 2011 · 2 years
Patrick J. Murphy D
Jan 4, 2007 – Jan 4, 2009 · 2 years
Michael G. Fitzpatrick R
Jan 4, 2005 – Jan 4, 2007 · 2 years
James C. Greenwood R
Jan 7, 2003 – Jan 4, 2005 · 2 years
James C. Greenwood R
Jan 6, 1999 – Jan 4, 2003 · 4 years
James C. Greenwood R
Jan 7, 1997 – Jan 4, 1999 · 2 years
James C. Greenwood R
Jan 5, 1993 – Jan 4, 1997 · 4 years
Peter Houston Kostmayer D
Jan 6, 1987 – Jan 4, 1993 · 6 years
Peter Houston Kostmayer D
Jan 3, 1983 – Jan 4, 1987 · 4 years
James Kitchenman Coyne III R
Jan 5, 1981 – Jan 4, 1983 · 2 years
Peter Houston Kostmayer D
Jan 15, 1979 – Jan 4, 1981 · 2 years
Peter Houston Kostmayer D
Jan 4, 1977 – Jan 4, 1979 · 2 years
Edward George Biester Jr. R
Jan 14, 1975 – Jan 4, 1977 · 2 years
Edward George Biester Jr. R
Jan 21, 1971 – Jan 4, 1975 · 4 years
Edward George Biester Jr. R
Jan 10, 1967 – Jan 4, 1971 · 4 years
Willard Sevier Curtin R
Jan 9, 1963 – Jan 4, 1967 · 4 years
Willard Sevier Curtin R
Jan 7, 1959 – Jan 4, 1963 · 4 years
Willard Sevier Curtin R
Jan 3, 1957 – Jan 4, 1959 · 2 years
Albert Clinton Vaughn Sr. R
Jan 3, 1951 – Jan 4, 1953 · 2 years
Karl Clarence King R
Jan 3, 1951 – Jan 4, 1957 · 6 years
Franklin Herbert Lichtenwalter R
Jan 3, 1947 – Jan 4, 1951 · 4 years
Charles Lewis Gerlach R
Jan 3, 1945 – Jan 4, 1949 · 4 years
James Wolfenden R
Jan 6, 1943 – Jan 4, 1945 · 2 years
James Wolfenden R
Mar 9, 1933 – Jan 4, 1943 · 9.8 years
James Wolfenden R
Dec 7, 1931 – Mar 4, 1933 · 15 months
James Wolfenden R
Apr 15, 1929 – Mar 4, 1931 · 23 months
Thomas Stalker Butler R
Dec 5, 1927 – Mar 4, 1929 · 15 months
James Wolfenden R
Dec 5, 1927 – Mar 4, 1929 · 15 months
Thomas Stalker Butler R
Dec 7, 1925 – Mar 5, 1927 · 15 months
Thomas Stalker Butler R
Dec 3, 1923 – Mar 4, 1925 · 15 months
Henry Winfield Watson R
Apr 11, 1921 – Mar 4, 1923 · 23 months
Henry Winfield Watson R
May 19, 1919 – Mar 4, 1921 · 22 months
Henry Winfield Watson R
Apr 2, 1917 – Mar 4, 1919 · 23 months
Henry Winfield Watson R
Dec 6, 1915 – Mar 4, 1917 · 15 months
Robert Edward Difenderfer D
Apr 7, 1913 – Mar 4, 1915 · 23 months
Robert Edward Difenderfer D
Apr 4, 1911 – Mar 4, 1913 · 23 months
Irving Price Wanger R
Mar 15, 1909 – Mar 4, 1911 · 2 years
Irving Price Wanger R
Dec 2, 1907 – Mar 4, 1909 · 15 months
Irving Price Wanger R
Dec 4, 1905 – Mar 4, 1907 · 15 months
Irving Price Wanger R
Nov 9, 1903 – Mar 4, 1905 · 16 months
Howard Mutchler D
Dec 2, 1901 – Mar 4, 1903 · 15 months
Laird Howard Barber D
Dec 4, 1899 – Mar 4, 1901 · 15 months
William Sebring Kirkpatrick R
Mar 15, 1897 – Mar 4, 1899 · 2 years
Joseph Johnson Hart D
Dec 2, 1895 – Mar 4, 1897 · 15 months
William Mutchler D
Aug 7, 1893 – Mar 4, 1895 · 19 months
Howard Mutchler D
Aug 7, 1893 – Mar 4, 1895 · 19 months
William Mutchler D
Dec 7, 1891 – Mar 4, 1893 · 15 months
William Mutchler D
Dec 2, 1889 – Mar 4, 1891 · 15 months
Daniel Ermentrout D
Dec 5, 1887 – Mar 4, 1889 · 15 months
Daniel Ermentrout D
Dec 7, 1885 – Mar 4, 1887 · 15 months
Daniel Ermentrout D
Dec 3, 1883 – Mar 4, 1885 · 15 months
Daniel Ermentrout D
Dec 5, 1881 – Mar 4, 1883 · 15 months
Hiester Clymer D
Mar 18, 1879 – Mar 4, 1881 · 2 years
Hiester Clymer D
Oct 15, 1877 – Mar 4, 1879 · 17 months
Hiester Clymer D
Dec 6, 1875 – Mar 4, 1877 · 15 months
Hiester Clymer D
Dec 1, 1873 – Mar 4, 1875 · 15 months
James Lawrence Getz D
Mar 4, 1867 – Mar 4, 1873 · 6 years
Sydenham Elnathan Ancona D
Dec 4, 1865 – Mar 4, 1867 · 15 months
Sydenham Elnathan Ancona D
Dec 7, 1863 – Mar 4, 1865 · 15 months
Sydenham Elnathan Ancona D
Jul 4, 1861 – Mar 4, 1863 · 20 months
Jacob Kerlin McKenty D
Dec 5, 1859 – Mar 4, 1861 · 15 months
John Schwartz ALD
Dec 5, 1859 – Mar 4, 1861 · 15 months
Jehu Glancy Jones D
Dec 7, 1857 – Mar 4, 1859 · 15 months
William High Keim R
Dec 7, 1857 – Mar 4, 1859 · 15 months
Jehu Glancy Jones D
Dec 3, 1855 – Mar 4, 1857 · 15 months
Henry Augustus Muhlenberg D
Dec 5, 1853 – Mar 4, 1855 · 15 months
Jehu Glancy Jones D
Dec 5, 1853 – Mar 4, 1855 · 15 months
Thaddeus Stevens W
Dec 1, 1851 – Mar 4, 1853 · 15 months
Thaddeus Stevens W
Dec 3, 1849 – Mar 4, 1851 · 15 months
John Strohm W
Dec 6, 1847 – Mar 4, 1849 · 15 months
John Strohm W
Dec 1, 1845 – Mar 4, 1847 · 15 months
Jeremiah Brown W
Dec 4, 1843 – Mar 4, 1845 · 15 months
Peter Newhard D
May 31, 1841 – Mar 4, 1843 · 21 months
Peter Newhard D
Dec 2, 1839 – Mar 4, 1841 · 15 months
Edward Burd Hubley D
Sep 4, 1837 – Mar 4, 1839 · 18 months
Edward Burd Hubley J
Dec 7, 1835 – Mar 4, 1837 · 15 months
Henry King J
Dec 2, 1833 – Mar 4, 1835 · 15 months
Peter Ihrie Jr. J
Dec 5, 1831 – Mar 4, 1833 · 15 months
Samuel A. Smith J
Dec 5, 1831 – Mar 4, 1833 · 15 months
George Wolf J
Dec 7, 1829 – Mar 4, 1831 · 15 months
Peter Ihrie Jr. J
Dec 7, 1829 – Mar 4, 1831 · 15 months
Samuel A. Smith J
Dec 7, 1829 – Mar 4, 1831 · 15 months
Samuel Delucenna Ingham J
Dec 3, 1827 – Mar 4, 1829 · 15 months
George Wolf J
Dec 3, 1827 – Mar 4, 1829 · 15 months
Samuel Delucenna Ingham J
Dec 5, 1825 – Mar 4, 1827 · 15 months
George Wolf J
Dec 5, 1825 – Mar 4, 1827 · 15 months
Thomas Jones Rogers R
Dec 1, 1823 – Mar 4, 1825 · 15 months
Samuel Delucenna Ingham JR
Dec 1, 1823 – Mar 4, 1825 · 15 months
George Wolf
Dec 1, 1823 – Mar 4, 1825 · 15 months
John Tod R
Dec 3, 1821 – Mar 4, 1823 · 15 months
Robert Philson R
Dec 6, 1819 – Mar 4, 1821 · 15 months
Alexander Ogle R
Dec 1, 1817 – Mar 4, 1819 · 15 months
William Piper R
Dec 4, 1815 – Mar 4, 1817 · 15 months
William Piper R
May 24, 1813 – Mar 4, 1815 · 21 months
William Findley R
Nov 4, 1811 – Mar 4, 1813 · 16 months
William Findley R
May 22, 1809 – Mar 4, 1811 · 21 months
William Findley R
Oct 26, 1807 – Mar 4, 1809 · 16 months
William Findley R
Dec 2, 1805 – Mar 4, 1807 · 15 months
William Findley R
Oct 17, 1803 – Mar 4, 1805 · 17 months
John Stewart R
Dec 7, 1801 – Mar 4, 1803 · 15 months
Thomas Hartley F
Dec 2, 1799 – Mar 4, 1801 · 15 months
John Stewart R
Dec 2, 1799 – Mar 4, 1801 · 15 months
Thomas Hartley F
May 15, 1797 – Mar 4, 1799 · 22 months
Thomas Hartley F
Dec 7, 1795 – Mar 4, 1797 · 15 months
William Findley AA
Oct 24, 1791 – Mar 4, 1793 · 16 months

Dates are from the @unitedstates congress-legislators project. Consecutive terms of one person are merged.