Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, a Democrat, will face Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Penn.) in November’s race for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. Cognetti, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, will challenge Bresnahan, who also advanced without opposition in the Republican primary. The district, which flipped to Republican control in 2024, is expected to be one of the most competitive and costly House races in the nation.
Background and Context
Cognetti, Scranton’s first female mayor, has emphasized anti-corruption measures and economic growth in her campaign. She previously criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of the southern border, calling it a "huge misstep," though critics argue she did not voice these concerns publicly while Biden was in office. Bresnahan, a freshman congressman, has faced scrutiny over stock trades that appeared to conflict with his campaign pledge to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks. Disclosure filings show Bresnahan reported buying and selling roughly $7.2 million in stock, including transactions involving companies connected to Medicaid ahead of a major vote on Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Bresnahan has denied wrongdoing, stating his trades are managed by financial advisers and his votes are not influenced by them.
The 8th District, which backed Donald Trump over Kamala Harris by a 53.8%-45.4% margin in 2024, remains a key battleground in the fight for House control.