Pennsylvania — 8th District

D Democratic Paige Cognetti

Supports ethics reform and stock ban

Cognetti centers her campaign on an anti-corruption agenda aimed at eliminating special interest influence in Washington. She advocates banning congressional stock trading, rejecting corporate PAC money, and conducting scalpel-focused audits of federal government spending.

• Propose a ban on congressional stock trading
• Reject corporate PAC contributions
• Audit the federal government to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse

“We are tired of Washington politicians enriching themselves while selling us out. Members of Congress have created a system where the rules apply to the rest of us, but not to them. We all know that's wrong and I'm running to change it.”

R Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr.

Supports term limits and judicial limits

Bresnahan pledged support for a ban on congressional stock trading and signed the U.S. Term Limits Pledge. However, media reports note he executed hundreds of stock transactions during his first year in office, drawing intense criticism from opponents.

• Signed the U.S. Term Limits Pledge
• Voted for H.R. 4405 (Epstein Files Transparency Act)
• Voted for H.R. 1526 (NORRA of 2025) to limit universal injunctions by federal district courts
• Executed 650 stock trades between January 2025 and February 2026 despite backing a stock trading ban

D Democratic Paige Cognetti

Supports capping fees and anti-monopoly measures

Cognetti advocates for working family relief by capping credit card fees, stopping hidden fees, and promoting competition against big box monopolies. She supports targeted manufacturing tariffs, union strengthening, and expanding paid family leave and affordable childcare.

• Break up big box monopolies to protect small local businesses
• Cap credit card fees and combat junk fees shrinking family budgets
• Implement smart, targeted tariffs to protect local manufacturing while opposing broad tariffs that raise consumer costs
• Strengthen labor unions and enact paid family leave and affordable childcare

“Nobody works harder than the people of NEPA, and they deserve a government that works as hard as they do.”

R Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr.

Supports tax cuts and reduced spending

Bresnahan emphasizes his experience running a union electrical contracting business to promote free-market job growth. He calls for cutting taxes, reining in federal spending, and lowering inflation to assist struggling local families.

• Cut federal spending and lower taxes to combat inflation
• Promote commonsense policies to unleash the business sector and create family-sustaining jobs
• Voted for H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) covering tax policy and budget reconciliation
• Voted for H.Con.Res. 14 establishing the congressional budget framework

“Northeastern PA families are hurting in the Biden/Harris economy. We need to stop the reckless spending, get inflation under control, and cut taxes so you can keep more of the money you earn for your family.”

“As a small business owner, I know what it takes to create good, family-sustaining jobs. I will vote for commonsense policies that unleash the American economy and get Pennsylvania back to work.”

D Democratic Paige Cognetti

Supports municipal safety and law enforcement

Cognetti points to her administrative track record as mayor of Scranton, noting local reductions in violent crime during her term. Her campaign platform highlights investing in safe municipal infrastructure and local community needs.

• Oversee local municipal public safety initiatives as mayor of Scranton
• Highlighted independent local reporting showing violent crime declined in Scranton during her tenure

R Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr.

Supports police funding and anti-fentanyl measures

Bresnahan promises steadfast support for law enforcement and ensuring officers have necessary resources to combat violent crime and the fentanyl crisis. He highlights personal financial contributions to local police departments and endorsements from major police organizations.

• Provide federal resources to law enforcement to combat the fentanyl crisis
• Endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association
• Promote private and public support for local law enforcement agencies

“I will always stand with law enforcement and ensure they have the resources to combat the fentanyl crisis and keep our community safe.”

D Democratic Paige Cognetti

Supports healthcare reform and market access

Cognetti advocates reforming health insurance systems and preventing insurance middlemen from denying doctor-prescribed treatment. She supports expanding access to healthcare marketplaces for small business employees.

• Prevent healthcare industry middlemen from denying care and medications prescribed by doctors
• Expand healthcare marketplace access so small business workers can maintain coverage
• Reform health and flood insurance systems to protect consumers when disasters occur
• Endorsed by the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals

R Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr.

Opposes benefit cuts or retirement age increases

Bresnahan pledges to safeguard Social Security and Medicare as earned benefits, committing to vote against raising the retirement age or cutting program funding.

• Protect Social Security and Medicare for future generations without benefit cuts
• Oppose raising the statutory retirement age for Social Security benefits

“I will always fight to protect Social Security & Medicare for future generations. It’s your money, you paid into the system, and the government needs to keep its promise to every American. I will not support raising the retirement age or any benefit cuts to these programs.”

D Democratic Paige Cognetti

Supports streamlined permitting and regional projects

Cognetti advocates cutting red tape and reforming permitting to expedite regional infrastructure projects. She supports reshoring defense manufacturing and advancing local transit, bridges, and passenger rail.

• Streamline permitting processes to accelerate infrastructure construction
• Expand regional transit including passenger rail, bridges, and safe streets
• Reshore manufacturing jobs and expand defense manufacturing in Northeastern Pennsylvania

“Cut red tape, make permitting make sense, allow more businesses to start, grow and thrive. Move faster on infrastructure projects we need for our economic future, from safe streets to bridges to passenger rail.”

R Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr.

Supports cutting red tape and targeted infrastructure

Bresnahan highlights his committee assignments on Transportation and Infrastructure to argue he is positioned to deliver federal investments to his home district while cutting regulatory red tape.

• Serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (Subcommittees: Highways and Transit, Aviation, Economic Development)
• Promote regulatory reform to deliver hometown infrastructure projects

R Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr.

Supports border wall and strict enforcement

Bresnahan supports constructing a southern border wall and reversing Biden-era border policies to stop illegal immigration and drug trafficking. In Congress, he voted for immigration enforcement measures including mandatory citizenship proof for voter registration and detaining noncitizens charged with theft or DUIs.

• Build the border wall and stop the flow of illegal drugs into local communities
• Voted for S. 5 (Laken Riley Act) to detain noncitizens arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting
• Voted for H.R. 22 (SAVE Act) requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections
• Voted for H.R. 875 making driving while impaired grounds for deportation or inadmissibility

“We must secure the border, build the wall, and reverse the Biden/Harris failed policies to stop the flow of illegal drugs and criminals into our communities.”