Democratic mayor targets corruption in Pennsylvania’s pivotal 8th District House race

Mayor Paige Cognetti of Scranton entered the 2026 race for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, positioning herself as an anti-corruption reformer against Republican freshman Rob Bresnahan Jr. She likened the district’s mood to the 2016 “drain the swamp” sentiment, arguing that the promise has faded. The seat is one of four swing districts that could determine whether Democrats achieve the three-seat gain needed for a House majority.

Party leaders Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries have both campaigned in the state, and Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to boost Democratic turnout. Analysts note that Trump’s low approval and heightened Democratic enthusiasm may hurt the incumbents, while Bresnahan defends his record, highlighting union support and a vote to restore federal collective-bargaining rights. Cognetti proposes term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court, bans on former members becoming lobbyists, and an end to corporate PAC donations and congressional stock trading. The race has attracted more than $10 million in outside spending, with the Congressional Leadership Fund and House Majority PAC among the major contributors.