Pennsylvania 8: Scranton mayor takes on Republican incumbent in key House race

Republican Representative Rob Bresnahan is facing a strong challenge from Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, a race that Democrats see as an opportunity to regain ground in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Bresnahan narrowly defeated Democratic Representative Matt Cartwright in 2024, winning 50.7% of the vote to Cartwright’s 49.1%. Donald Trump carried the district by about 8.5 points in the presidential race.

The district includes Lackawanna, Wayne and Pike counties, along with parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties. It covers Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and several smaller industrial and rural communities.


The 2026 race is now rated a Toss Up by several election analysts. A New York Times–Philadelphia Inquirer–Siena University poll conducted from October 16 to 22 showed Cognetti leading Bresnahan 51% to 46% among likely voters. Another poll by RedBox Research showed Cognetti ahead by 3.2 points, although that result remained within the margin of error.

Bresnahan seeks to defend his seat

Bresnahan, a first-term Republican, entered Congress after running a family electrical contracting business. He is seeking to establish himself as an effective incumbent while maintaining support among voters who backed Trump in 2024.

His campaign has focused on taxes, manufacturing, energy, public safety and economic growth. He has supported the Trump administration’s tariffs but has also acknowledged concerns about their impact on consumers and businesses.

Bresnahan has said that the US needs a clear long-term trade policy. Spotlight PA reported that he believes consumers and industries can adapt to tariffs if businesses know the government’s broader economic goals.

Healthcare and the cost of living are also central issues. Bresnahan has acknowledged that grocery prices remain high and has backed policies aimed at reducing taxes and supporting domestic production.

Cognetti makes local experience central to her campaign

Cognetti, the first woman elected mayor of Scranton, is presenting herself as a local executive with experience managing city government.

Her campaign has focused on healthcare costs, housing, utility bills, jobs and government accountability. She supports restoring Affordable Care Act tax credits and has criticised Bresnahan over his record on healthcare and stock trading.

The candidates have also differed on tariffs. Cognetti opposes broad tariffs on US allies, saying they can raise prices, but supports targeted measures to protect farmers and manufacturers.

Cognetti has made public corruption a central part of her campaign. The Inquirer reported that she has repeatedly criticised Bresnahan over stock transactions he made while in Congress. Bresnahan has said that the trades were handled by a financial adviser and that he supports a congressional ban on stock trading.

Scranton and Wilkes-Barre margins will matter

Cognetti needs strong support in Scranton and other Democratic-leaning areas while limiting Republican margins in smaller towns and rural communities.

Bresnahan’s campaign will rely on turnout among older voters, conservatives and residents concerned about immigration, taxes and public safety. He must also show that his 2024 victory reflected lasting support rather than a one-election shift driven by Trump’s strength.

The latest Siena poll found Cognetti leading on the cost of living, foreign wars, data centres and corruption. Bresnahan held an advantage on immigration. Voters also gave Cognetti an edge on character and on understanding the concerns of ordinary Pennsylvanians.

Why the race matters

Pennsylvania’s 8th District is one of the clearest tests of whether Democrats can recover support among working-class and union voters who have moved toward Republicans.

A Democratic victory would suggest that concerns over prices, healthcare and tariffs are weakening the Republican advantage in northeastern Pennsylvania. A Bresnahan win would indicate that the region’s shift toward Trump-era Republican politics remains strong at the congressional level.

The result could also affect the House majority. The Inquirer reported that both parties have invested heavily in Pennsylvania’s competitive House races, with national groups and party leaders treating the state as central to the fight for control of Congress.