SCRANTON — Incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti trounced her three challengers in her bid for reelection in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results.
With all precincts reporting, Cognetti, a Democrat, received 9,701 votes to handily defeat Republican Patricia “Trish” Beynon, who garnered 3,589 votes; independent Eugene “Gene” Barrett, who tallied 3,553 votes, and independent Rik Little, who trailed with 154 votes.
First elected in 2019 as an independent to fill a vacancy, Cognetti campaigned this time on her record of shepherding the city to stability after the corruption scandal that imprisoned former Mayor Bill Courtright.
Scranton mayoral candidates, from left, are Eugene “Gene” Barrett, Patricia “Trish” Beynon, Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and Rik Little. (Submitted)
Cognetti won a full, four year term in 2021 and now has captured her second four-year mayoral term. A former member of the Scranton School Board and former employee of the state auditor general’s office, Cognetti had described her tenure as mayor as one exemplifying good government, restoring and maintaining fiscal solvency and promoting transparency.
The mayoral campaign was marked by Cognetti announcing in early September that she intends to run for Congress next year against incumbent U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Dallas Twp. in the 8th Congressional District.
Cognetti’s announced intention added a new dimension to the campaign, and one that Beynon and Barrett tried to exploit. They criticized Cognetti for having her sights set on Congress. They claimed Cognetti would not be able to govern the city effectively as mayor while also running for higher office, and the city essentially would be shortchanged in leadership.
Cognetti said announcing her run for Congress was an example of transparency in telling voters up front her intentions.
Voters did not hold it against her and resoundingly returned her to office in City Hall, even if her next term ends up being cut short.
In claiming victory after the results came in, Cognetti told a crowd of supporters at Bukatini at Posh restaurant in Scranton, “People like it when Scranton runs well.”
During the campaign, Barrett and Beynon also had each touted their own roots in the city and experience as attributes.
Barrett, who is retired, is an Army veteran and former Scranton councilman and former executive director of the Scranton Sewer Authority, claimed his experience far surpassed the others.
Beynon, an accounting executive at Don Scartelli Construction Services and General Contractors Inc. of West Scranton, cited her work experience as having prepared her to run the city.
During a candidates’ debate, Little often spoke about his plight of being homeless and largely took aim at government in general, and specifically the judicial branch.
Scranton mayoral candidates, from left, independent Eugene “Gene” Barrett, Republican Patricia “Trish” Beynon, incumbent Democratic Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, and independent Rik Little during the Scranton Mayoral Debate in the PNC Auditorium at the University of Scranton’s Loyola Science Center in Scranton Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Eugene “Gene” Barrett of Scranton, candidate photo for Scranton mayoral election in the 2025 Democratic primary. (PHOTO SUBMITTED / COURTESY OF EUGENE BARRETT)
Patricia “Trish” Beynon, Republican candidate for Scranton mayor in 2025 primary and general elections. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICIA BEYNON)
Scranton Mayor-Elect Paige Gebhardt Cognetti at Scranton City Hall in Scranton on Nov. 7, 2019.
Scranton mayoral candidate Rik Little