This is the Pennsylvania Judicial Center, home to the Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania's highest court is breaking a partisan deadlock over a new map of congressional districts by selecting boundaries that broadly adhere to the current outlines of the state's districts. AP Photo

Julio Cortez

Shown is a new map of congressional districts provided by the Supreme Court Of Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Pennsylvania's highest court is breaking a partisan deadlock over a new map of congressional districts by selecting boundaries that broadly adhere to the current outlines of the state's districts. Supreme Court Of Pennsylvania via AP

The new U.S. House map chosen Wednesday by the state’s highest court keeps Butler County in one congressional district, something for which county officials have advocated.

The state Supreme Court-selected map, which divides Pennsylvania into 17 congressional districts and was proposed by a group of Democratic voters, keeps all of Butler within the 16th District, a seat currently occupied by Republican Rep. Mike Kelly.

The group of voters sued in 2021 in an attempt to have the state’s high court, rather than the legislature, draw the new districts ahead of the 2022 elections.

All three Butler County commissioners have lobbied the state legislature since it was tasked with redrawing the political map to keep Butler County within one district. At minimum, Commissioners Chairwoman Leslie Osche said, they didn’t want to see a map with district boundaries splitting individual communities.

A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. To read the full story and support our local, independent newsroom, please subscribe at butlereagle.com.