SCRANTON, PA – Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti today launched her campaign for Congress, immediately drawing a sharp response from the campaign of incumbent Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan. The announcement creates a unique political situation, as Cognetti is currently in the middle of a re-election campaign for mayor in this November's municipal election.
In her announcement, Cognetti targeted Bresnahan's record directly. "Congressman Rob Bresnahan lied when he promised he would ban congressional stock trading, and he lied when he said he would protect access to health care," she said in a statement. "What’s even worse is that Bresnahan is profiting off our pain, playing the stock market while voting to screw us over in Washington. We won’t sit back as Bresnahan day trades away our future. So I’m running against the machine again to stand up for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania and make Congress work as hard as they do.”
The Bresnahan campaign quickly fired back, criticizing the timing and nature of her run. A campaign spokesperson released a statement saying, “Paige Cognetti launching a vanity campaign for Congress while still running for a new term as Scranton Mayor tells you everything you need to know about her priorities. We look forward to putting a spotlight on her extreme and dangerous positions, which are completely out of step with Northeastern Pennsylvania, where the previous President won by nearly 10 points.”
The race for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District is expected to be a key battleground in the 2026 midterms, with national Democrats identifying the seat as a top target in their effort to regain control of the U.S. House. Cognetti's entry sets up a high-profile contest between a rising Democratic star and a Republican freshman in a district known for its swing voter base.