Mayor Cognetti has entered the race in a pivotal swing district for the Commonwealth.

On Tuesday, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti launched her bid for the congressional seat for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. 

Cognetti, a Democrat, will face off against incumbent Representative Rob Bresnahan. 

Cognetti announced her campaign in a video that bashed Bresnahan for his stock trading and his support of the One Big Beautiful Bill.  

“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. What’s even worse is that Bresnahan is profiting off our pain, playing the stock market while voting to screw us over in Washington,” she said in a statement. 

The Democratic House Majority PAC conducted a poll following Cognetti’s announcement that showed her leading Bresnahan 45 percent to 43 percent. 

In the swing district in 2024, Representative Bresnahan ousted former Representative Matt Cartwright, a Democrat, to represent Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District in Congress. 

Also in 2024, President Trump won the district by nine points and Senator Dave McCormick won it by four points to oust former Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat. 

“By jumping into a congressional race before even wrapping up her re-election bid for mayor, Paige Cognetti is showing voters exactly where her true priorities lie. From defunding police and banning fracking to government-run health care, open borders, and raising taxes, she won’t stand a chance against Rep. Rob Bresnahan, who continues to deliver results for Northeast Pennsylvania,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Reilly Richardson. 

Democrats are targeting Representative Bresnahan ahead of the midterm elections. Representative Scott Perry, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Ryan Mackenzie are also being targeted in Democrats’ efforts to win back the House of Representatives. 

Democrats need only three seats to take back control of the House in 2026. Pennsylvania holds four of the 35 seats nationwide being targeted by Democrats in their efforts. 

Cognetti formerly worked in the U.S. Treasury Department and with the Scranton school board. She was favored by Democrats to succeed former Representative Cartwright.