Prior to the court-ordered redistricting, the 6th district's incarnation dated back to 2002. Its strange shape brought charges of gerrymandering by Democrats who argued it "looms like a dragon descending on Philadelphia from the west, splitting up towns and communities throughout Montgomery and Berks Counties." The combination of very affluent suburban areas of Philadelphia and sparsely populated rural areas was possibly designed to capture Republican voters, but changes in voting patterns in southeastern Pennsylvania has made the district much more competitive.
Prior to redistricting, the 6th congressional district existed since 2002. Its unusual shape prompted Democrats to accuse it of gerrymandering, claiming that it resembled a dragon descending on Philadelphia from the west, dividing towns and communities across Montgomery and Berks Counties. The combination of affluent suburban areas in Philadelphia and sparsely populated rural areas was possibly intended to secure Republican votes, but shifting voting patterns in southeastern Pennsylvania have made the district more competitive.