State legislative redistricting causes changes in Alle-Kiski Valley communities

With the state Supreme Court affirming the commonwealth’s new legislative district maps this week, state House and Senate representation changed in many communities in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Pennsylvania’s highest court Wednesday rejected final legal challenges to affirm the state’s new legislative district maps.

A list of local communities and how their state legislative districts have changed can be found here.

State House

The new map for the 60th District of state Rep. Abby Major, R-Ford City, consolidates representation for Kiski Valley communities.

Instead of covering most of Armstrong and parts of Clarion and Butler counties, Major will cover southern Armstrong County and parts of Westmoreland County.

“This unites the Kiski Valley in one district, from Freeport to Vandergrift,” Major said.

“The population center of this district is in the Kiski Valley, and it will be a priority for me,” she said.

Major added that dealing with two counties instead of three is better.

In Westmoreland, some of Major’s new communities include Allegheny Township, East Vandergrift, Hyde Park, most of Lower Burrell and Vandergrift.

While Major will cover most of Lower Burrell, state Rep. Jason Silvis will represent the Kinloch section of the city.

“This presents a unique challenge for council but also a unique opportunity for Lower Burrell,” said Chris Fabry, city councilman.

“Hopefully, we have two sets of ears to go to, both looking to help Lower Burrell,” he said.

Silvis’ district now covers one county — Westmoreland. He no longer will represent parts of Indiana and Armstrong counties.

“With a concentration in one county, the major advantage will be dealing with one set of county commissioners and county courts and not three,” said Silvis, a Republican from Washington Township.

Buffalo Township Supervisor Michael Oehling was pleased for his township to be aligned with other Butler County districts now covered by Rep. Marci Mustello, R-Butler, 11th District.

Previously, the township was in the 60th District, represented by Majors and more aligned with Armstrong County communities, he said.

Oehling said he sees a benefit in finding funding when included in a district with other communities in the same county.

Harrison now will be completely covered by Republican Carrie DelRosso’s 33rd District. The township previously was split between DelRosso and Rep. Bob Brooks of Murrysville.

Harrison Commissioner Charles Dizard said having Oakmont, Arnold and New Kensington in one district “gathered local Upper Allegheny Valley communities together with common needs, similar demographics and long mutual histories.”

Dizard said the 33rd District “goes down the Allegheny River and has much more of a Pittsburgh-centric focus.”

State Senate

The largest shift in districts for the state Senate in the Alle-Kiski Valley occurred in the 45th District, represented by Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport.

Originally, communities in the 45th included Plum, Arnold, Lower Burrell, New Kensington, Allegheny Township, Vandergrift and other communities.

In the Alle-Kiski Valley, Brewster’s district now covers just Plum.

The other communities formerly in the 45th District, including Arnold, Lower Burrell, New Kensington and Vandergrift, now are in Republican state Sen. Joe Pittman’s 41st District. That district also includes all of the Alle-Kiski communities in Armstrong County.

Most of the Alle-Kiski Valley’s Allegheny County communities will remain in Democrat Lindsey Williams’ 38th Senatorial District.

Congressional redistricting

There won’t be much change for congressional representation in the Alle-Kiski Valley, according to the redistricting map released by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Pennsylvania lost a congressional district and will now have 17. The loss of the seat is tied to the 2020 Census population totals that determine the distribution of 435 congressional seats nationwide and Electoral College votes.

Congressional representation will be changing in Buffalo Township, Butler County.

Buffalo Township was in the 15th Congressional District represented by U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Centre County.

Under the congressional districts earlier this year, Buffalo Township will be represented by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, in the 16th District.

Other areas in the region experienced more change with the redistricting, particularly in Westmoreland County. Some Republican strongholds in the western part of the county flipped to a new Democratic-based congressional district.