Paige Cognetti
Democratic
Mayor of Scranton, first elected in 2019
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U.S. House · Nov 3, 2026
U.S. House race in Pennsylvania’s 8th district
Incumbent: Rob Bresnahan, running for re-election.
Republican Rob Bresnahan, first elected in 2024, faces Democrat Paige Cognetti, the mayor of Scranton; both were unopposed in the May 19 primaries.
The 2 candidates
Rob Bresnahan
RepublicanIncumbentU.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 8th district since 2025; former CEO of Kuharchik Construction
Where they stand
What each candidate says they support or would do, on the issues they campaign on. Summaries use the same neutral words for everyone and link to the candidate’s own words.
AI verified
Researched with AI and confirmed by a second, independent AI check. Our editors haven’t reviewed it yet. How we verify
Economy & cost of living
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
Supports breaking up monopolies she says hurt small businesses and raise costs, capping credit card swipe fees, and sending more federal money directly to municipalities and counties.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
Supports stopping what he calls reckless spending, getting inflation under control and cutting taxes, and says he will vote for policies that get Pennsylvania back to work.
Technology
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
Says no data center project she has seen in Northeastern Pennsylvania should move forward; would require developers to build on brownfields away from homes and schools, disclose who they are, forgo tax breaks, supply their own energy and use local union labor.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
Supports his Local Control Protection Act (H.R. 9262), which would require local approval before a data center can be built and shield communities from being sued by developers when they say no.
Ethics
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
Supports banning stock trading by members of Congress and says she won't buy or trade individual stocks; would propose banning corporate PAC donations to federal campaigns; supports permanently banning former members from becoming lobbyists and banning sitting members from serving on corporate boards.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
No published position found.
Budget
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
Supports a comprehensive, mandatory, independent audit of every federal agency, requiring agencies that fail audits to address findings before Congress approves their next budget, and a No Budget, No Pay bill.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
No published position found.
Jobs & labor
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
Supports strengthening unions and making it easier to join and start one, and paid family leave and affordable child care.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
No published position found.
Health care
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
Would prevent health care industry middlemen from denying care and medications prescribed by doctors, and reform insurance so people who pay for coverage are protected, from health care to flooding.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
No published position found.
Trade
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
Opposes broad tariffs, which she says help large companies and hurt families, and supports targeted tariffs to protect domestic manufacturing; supports reshoring manufacturing jobs, including defense manufacturing in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
No published position found.
Immigration
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
No published position found.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
Supports securing the border, building the wall and reversing what he calls the failed policies of the Biden administration to stop the flow of illegal drugs and criminals.
Social Security & Medicare
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
No published position found.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
Says he will protect Social Security and Medicare and will not support raising the retirement age or any benefit cuts.
Crime & justice
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
No published position found.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
Says he will stand with law enforcement and make sure police have the resources to combat the fentanyl crisis.
Taxes
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
No published position found.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
Highlights the overtime tax relief in the 2025 tax law he calls the Working Families Tax Cut Act and supports rebuilding the manufacturing workforce through technical schools, apprenticeships and union training programs.
Environment
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
No published position found.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
Supported rescinding Executive Order 13508, the federal mandate behind stormwater fees he calls the "Rain Tax"; says the region has been paying for a Chesapeake Bay cleanup more than 200 miles away that hasn't worked.
Agriculture
DemocraticPaige Cognetti
No published position found.
RepublicanRob Bresnahan
Supports his Local Farmers Feeding our Communities Act, included in this year's Farm Bill (H.R. 7567), which connects local farmers directly with community food programs.
Who’s on the ballot: sources
- ListPennsylvania Department of State: Election Information: 2026 General Election candidates(opens in a new tab)
- ListWashington Examiner: Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti to face Rep. Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania's 8th District general election(opens in a new tab)
- ListWikipedia: 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania(opens in a new tab)