‘Paige Against the Machine’: How a Democrat Who Bucked Her Party Is Now Targeting a Swing House District
Democrats are pouring millions into the race as the Cook Political Report rates it a toss-up.
- Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti will face Rep Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District in a rematch viewed as one of the state's most competitive contests.
- Electrical contractor Bresnahan flipped the region in 2024, unseating a six-term incumbent Democrat and shifting the state's delegation 10-7 Republican, prompting Democrats to target the seat for reclamation.
- As of April 30, Bresnahan's campaign held $2.27 million on hand, while Cognetti's campaign carried $2.25 million; since the beginning of 2026, Bresnahan spent $685,000 versus Cognetti's just over $510,000.
- Cognetti frames the race using the slogan "Paige Against the Machine," while strategist J.J. Abbott noted voters "were just really tired of the good old boys' network, and the way things have always been done."
- The Cook Political Report deems the race a "toss up" as Democrats prioritize flipping the seat to reclaim the district, connecting Washington corruption concerns with affordability issues impacting voters.
12 Articles
12 Articles
‘Paige against the machine’: How a Democrat who bucked her party is now targeting a swing House district
In 2019, Paige Cognetti launched her campaign for mayor of Scranton, where the incumbent had resigned from office before pleading guilty to federal corruption charges .
Paige Cognetti to face Rob Bresnahan in PA’s 8th District general election
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, a former independent who later joined the Democratic Party, will face freshman Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) in November’s race for Pennsylvania‘s 8th Congressional District. Cognetti, whose campaign has focused heavily on anti-corruption measures and economic growth, cruised through Tuesday’s Democratic primary without opposition. Bresnahan also advanced uncontested on the Republican side, setting up a high-stakes gen…
Scranton mayor set to challenge Rep Bob Bresnahan in PA congressional race
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti will officially face off against Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan in November for Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district. Bresnahan, an electrical contractor, flipped the region – which covers five counties along the borders of New York and New Jersey – in 2024, unseating a six-term incumbent Democrat and shifting the state’s...
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