--- title: "2026 Pennsylvania’s 8th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-pa-08" updated: "2026-10-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Pennsylvania’s 8th District race: Paige Cognetti (D) vs. Rob Bresnahan Jr. (R) Rating: Toss-up · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: October 1, 2026 In Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, Democratic nominee Paige Cognetti, the Mayor of Scranton, challenges freshman Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. in a highly competitive battleground race. The election hinges on ethics and government reform—specifically Bresnahan's extensive stock trading record versus Cognetti's municipal record—alongside regional debates over health care cuts and local data center developments. ## Candidates - **Paige Cognetti** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://paigeforpa.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paige_Cognetti) - **Rob Bresnahan Jr.** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://robforpa.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Bresnahan_Jr.) ## Issues ### Government reform and ethics Salience: high Cognetti advocates for an explicit ban on stock trading and rejects corporate PAC money, attacking Bresnahan for executing 650 trades while in office, whereas Bresnahan contends his portfolio is managed by an outside institution. **Paige Cognetti:** Supports banning congressional stock trading Cognetti centers her campaign on an anti-corruption agenda aimed at fixing a system where politicians enrich themselves. She refuses corporate PAC contributions and pledges to support an outright ban on congressional stock trading and mandate independent audits of federal agencies. - Pledges to reject corporate PAC money. - Proposes a ban on members of Congress trading stocks. - Calls for a comprehensive, mandatory, independent audit of every federal agency. > “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.” > — Paige Cognetti, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paige_Cognetti) > “A Ban on Congressional Stock Trading. No one should be able to use their public office to enrich themselves.” > — Paige Cognetti, via [Campaign site](https://paigeforpa.com/) **Rob Bresnahan Jr.:** Supports stock ban despite trading record Bresnahan has stated support for a ban on congressional stock trading, but has faced scrutiny for executing 650 trades during his term. His campaign maintains that his investments are managed independently by an outside financial institution without his personal involvement. - Executed 650 stock trades between January 2025 and February 2026. - Maintains that an outside financial institution manages his portfolio without personal direction. - Signed the U.S. Term Limits Pledge. > “has never traded his own stocks and an outside financial institution manages his investments.” > — Rob Bresnahan Jr., via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Bresnahan_Jr.) ### Energy and data center development Salience: high Cognetti opposes all current data center projects in NEPA over resource exploitation and transparency concerns, while Bresnahan has supported data center expansion in the district. **Paige Cognetti:** Opposes proposed NEPA data centers Cognetti opposes all currently proposed data center projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania, arguing outside corporate developers threaten local water, power, and quality of life. She demands that any future projects adhere to strict rules, including brownfield construction, full transparency without NDAs, no corporate tax breaks, and local union labor. - States that none of the current data center proposals in NEPA should move forward. - Demands data center construction occur strictly on brownfields away from homes, schools, and state parks. - Requires developers to supply their own energy, eliminate NDAs, refuse corporate tax breaks, and hire local union labor. > “none of the proposed data center projects here should move forward. We won’t let corporate special interests and speculative developers take advantage of our community yet again.” > — Paige Cognetti, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paige_Cognetti) > “In the rooms I’ve been in and in the projects I’ve seen, there is no project anywhere in NEPA that should move forward.” > — Paige Cognetti, via [Campaign site](https://paigeforpa.com/) **Rob Bresnahan Jr.:** Supports regional data center development Bresnahan has taken a welcoming stance toward data center development in Northeastern Pennsylvania as an economic opportunity. However, he faces criticism regarding his personal financial investments in data center companies. - Welcomed data center industry development in Northeastern Pennsylvania. - Held stock investments in companies that stand to benefit from data center growth. > “taken an “overtly friendly stance” toward data centers “while investing in the industry”” > — Rob Bresnahan Jr., via [Campaign site](https://robforpa.com) ### Healthcare Salience: high Cognetti focuses on reversing Medicaid cuts from OBBBA and restoring ACA tax credits, while Bresnahan emphasizes protecting Social Security and Medicare despite voting for OBBBA. **Paige Cognetti:** Supports ACA and Medicaid expansion Cognetti pledges to protect and rebuild the health care system by reversing Medicaid cuts contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). She advocates restoring ACA tax credits to lower health insurance premiums and taking on Big Pharma and health insurance middlemen. - Calls to reverse Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. - Supports restoring ACA tax credits to reduce Pennie health insurance premiums. - Advocates capping credit card fees and stopping healthcare middlemen from denying coverage for doctor-prescribed care. > “We need to reverse the damaging, cruel Medicaid cuts in OBBBA and fight to restore the ACA tax credits to lower Pennie premiums and get coverage back for those who have been priced out.” > — Paige Cognetti, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paige_Cognetti) > “Prevent healthcare industry middlemen from denying care and medications prescribed by doctors.” > — Paige Cognetti, via [Campaign site](https://paigeforpa.com/) **Rob Bresnahan Jr.:** Protects Social Security and Medicare Bresnahan voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). He pledges to protect Social Security and Medicare for future generations, explicitly opposing any benefit cuts or increases to the retirement age. - Voted Yea on the reconciliation bill H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). - Opposes raising the retirement age or making benefit cuts to Social Security and Medicare. > “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.” > — Rob Bresnahan Jr., via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Bresnahan_Jr.) ### Economy and trade Salience: medium Cognetti favors breaking up monopolies and replacing broad tariffs with targeted protections, while Bresnahan emphasizes broad tax cuts, spending reductions, and deregulation. **Paige Cognetti:** Supports reshoring and targeted tariffs Cognetti supports reshoring manufacturing jobs, expanding defense manufacturing in NEPA, and replacing broad tariffs with smart, targeted tariffs. She advocates breaking up big-box monopolies to increase competition and supporting labor unions. - Advocates breaking up monopolies to protect small businesses from big-box dominance. - Supports reshoring manufacturing jobs, including defense manufacturing in NEPA. - Opposes broad tariffs while supporting smart, targeted tariffs to protect local manufacturing. - Supports paid family leave, affordable childcare, and strengthening labor unions. > “Stop broad tariffs that help the big guys and hurt families, create smart targeted tariffs to protect manufacturing here.” > — Paige Cognetti, via [Campaign site](https://paigeforpa.com/) > “Break up the huge monopolies that hurt our small businesses and raise costs.” > — Paige Cognetti, via [Campaign site](https://paigeforpa.com/) **Rob Bresnahan Jr.:** Supports tax cuts and deregulation Bresnahan emphasizes cutting taxes, curbing federal spending, and removing regulatory burdens to fight inflation and boost job growth. Drawing on his experience running an electrical contracting firm, he advocates for business-friendly policies. - Pledges to curb reckless government spending and lower tax burdens on families. - Advocates cutting red tape to unleash local businesses and generate jobs. - Serves on the House Small Business, Agriculture, and Transportation Committees. > “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.” > — Rob Bresnahan Jr., via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Bresnahan_Jr.) > “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.” > — Rob Bresnahan Jr., via [Campaign site](https://robforpa.com) ### Infrastructure and local governance Salience: low Cognetti emphasizes direct federal grants to local municipalities and expansion of passenger rail, whereas Bresnahan highlights his committee position to cut regulatory red tape on regional projects. **Paige Cognetti:** Supports direct local funding and transit Cognetti supports granting local municipalities greater control by directing federal funds straight to local governments. She advocates streamlining permitting processes to expedite infrastructure projects such as safe streets, bridges, and passenger rail. - Advocates sending more federal funding directly to municipal and county governments. - Supports accelerating permitting and construction for passenger rail, bridges, and safe streets. > “Move faster on infrastructure projects we need for our economic future, from safe streets to bridges to passenger rail.” > — Paige Cognetti, via [Campaign site](https://paigeforpa.com/) **Rob Bresnahan Jr.:** Supports cutting infrastructure red tape Bresnahan utilizes his role on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to advocate for streamlining regulations and delivering federal infrastructure investments to Northeastern Pennsylvania. - Serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its Aviation, Highways and Transit subcommittees. - Focuses on cutting permitting red tape to accelerate regional projects. ### Public safety and law enforcement Salience: low Bresnahan explicitly prioritizes increased federal funding for police to combat fentanyl, whereas Cognetti emphasizes local municipal governance and public safety advertisements. **Paige Cognetti:** Supports local safety initiatives Cognetti features local public safety initiatives in her campaign, highlighting her municipal leadership as mayor in improving city finances and infrastructure safety. - Released campaign advertisement focused on safety. - Backed by major local labor and public employee organizations. **Rob Bresnahan Jr.:** Supports law enforcement funding Bresnahan emphasizes unwavering support for law enforcement, pledging to ensure police departments receive full resources to combat the fentanyl crisis. He highlights a history of donating to local police as a private citizen. - Pledges full federal resource backing for law enforcement to address the fentanyl crisis. - Endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association. > “I will always stand with law enforcement and ensure they have the resources to combat the fentanyl crisis and keep our community safe.” > — Rob Bresnahan Jr., via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Bresnahan_Jr.) ### Immigration and border security Salience: medium **Paige Cognetti:** No documented position in our sources **Rob Bresnahan Jr.:** Supports border wall and strict enforcement Bresnahan advocates for constructing a border wall and reversing current executive border policies to stem the flow of illegal drugs and crime. In Congress, he voted for legislation strengthening detention and deportation for non-citizens convicted of theft or driving under the influence. - Supports building the southern border wall and reversing Biden-Harris border policies. - Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) to require detention of non-citizens arrested for burglary or theft. - Voted Yea on H.R. 875 making driving under the influence 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.” > — Rob Bresnahan Jr., via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Bresnahan_Jr.) ### Elections and voting regulations Salience: low **Paige Cognetti:** No documented position in our sources **Rob Bresnahan Jr.:** Supports proof of citizenship voting law Bresnahan voted in favor of requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration. - Voted Yea on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/pa-08-house-election-winner) — PA-08 House Election Winner: Democrats 89.5%, Republicans 10.5% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/HOUSEPA8-26) — PA-08 House winner?: Paige Cognetti 89.0%, Rob Bresnahan 12.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-pa-08)