Abra was initially represented in 1907 as part of the third assembly district of Ilocos Sur, having been annexed to the latter as a sub-province in 1905.
In the disruption caused by World War II, two delegates represented the province in the National Assembly of the Japanese-sponsored Second Philippine Republic: one was the provincial governor (an ex officio member), while the other was elected through a provincial assembly of KALIBAPI members during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.
The province retained its lone congressional district under the new Constitution[1] which was proclaimed on February 11, 1987, and elected its member to the restored House of Representatives starting that same year.
However, in 1935, all senatorial districts were abolished when a unicameral National Assembly was installed under a new constitution following the passage of the Tydings–McDuffie Act, which established the Commonwealth of the Philippines.
Abra has been represented in the lower house of various Philippine national legislatures since 1898, through its at-large congressional district.