Gov. Josh Shapiro is endorsing Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti in her bid to flip Pennsylvania’s 8th District back into the Democrats’ column.
Cognetti is seeking the Democratic nomination to run against U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., the Republican incumbent, in the battleground district.
“Mayor Paige Cognetti has been a fighter for Scranton – taking on corruption, making government faster and more efficient, and bringing people together to get stuff done for hard working families,” Shapiro said in the endorsement announcement. “Paige restored trust in city hall by working hard for the communities she serves – and I know that’s the approach to public service she will bring to Congress. I know Paige will continue to be my partner in getting stuff done for Pennsylvanians – and I’m proud to endorse her in this campaign to win and go to Congress to protect our freedoms and deliver for NEPA families.”
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti speaks at the Electric City Trolley Museum in Scranton on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.
Cognetti ran for mayor as an independent in 2019 before winning two more mayoral elections as a Democrat, including in 2025, two months after announcing her bid for Congress.
“I’m incredibly proud to have the support of Governor Josh Shapiro, who has shown that government can actually get things done when our leaders prioritize the people they serve instead of their own self interest,” Cognetti said. “In Congress, I will take on the corruption in Washington that has led to a cost of living crisis which has put the American dream out of reach for so many in our community. I look forward to partnering with Governor Shapiro to lower costs for families in Northeastern Pennsylvania and give them a government that works as hard as they do.”
Bresnahan, the former CEO of his family’s business, Kuharchik Construction, won by 1.6 percentage points in 2024. He unseated former Congressman Matt Cartwright, a Democrat who served for six terms.
In November 2025, President Donald Trump endorsed Bresnahan for re-election, calling him a “terrific” representative of the district.
U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. speaks at Mount Airy Casino Resort ahead of President Donald Trump’s arrival on Dec. 9, 2025.
“A Highly Successful Businessman, Rob is working hard to Create Jobs, Cut Taxes, Stop Wasteful Spending, and Unleash the American Dream. In his next term, Rob will help us Secure the Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military, Support our Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
More: Bresnahan visits Tobyhanna Army Depot ahead of $68M radar expansion
In her campaign launch video, Cognetti criticized Bresnahan for continuing to trade stocks while in office and said that “people here deserve a lot better than a rich kid disrespecting our hard work and proud legacy.”
“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,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Reilly Richardson said when Cognetti announced her campaign last September.
The district includes all of Lackawanna, Pike and Wayne counties and parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties. The primary election is May 19 and the general is Nov. 3.
Kathryne Rubright is the managing editor of the Pocono Record and the Tri-County Independent. Reach her at krubright@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti gets Shapiro’s endorsement