WYOMING — A day after winning Democratic nominations in uncontested primary contests, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Paige Cogentti, the mayor of Scranton and a congressional candidate, hit the stump for an hour Wednesday afternoon at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering.
Shapiro is seeking a second term against Republican Stacy Garrity, the state treasurer. Cognetti is trying to unseat Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr., a freshman congressman from Dallas Twp.
“I wanted to be here with Mayor Cognetti,” Shapiro told a group of roughly 100 supporters, noting she is “a person who I want you to know just gives a damn about this community and cares deeply about Northeastern Pennsylvania and understands the pivotal role this community plays being able to protect our democracy, pushing back on the chaos and the cruelty and the corruption that exists in Washington D.C. right now.”
The election between Congetti and Bresnahan for the 8th Congressional District is viewed as a “toss up” by the Cook Political Report. Bresnahan flipped the seat two years ago by unseating Democrat Matt Cartwight, and Democrats are optimistic they can flip it back because of President Donald Trump’s increasing unpopularity in public opinion polls.
“Washington is working against us here in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Congetti said. “We work so hard here. Everyone here works so hard. It is getting harder every day to make ends meet, especially in this last year. Rob Bresnahan has accelerated our pain in a way that is unfathomable, and we haven’t even seen yet those cuts. That’s a trillion dollars that he cut in Medicaid last year.”
Bresnahan poked fun at Congetti’s slogan “Paige Against the Machine” in posts on X.
“Happy ‘Paige Embraces the Machine’ Day! As she campaigns with Gov. Shapiro today, failed Mayor Paige Cognetti reveals she hasn’t been railing against the Democrat establishment, she’s been auditioning for their Insider Protection Program,” Bresnahan wrote on X.
Shapiro and Congetti responded during a session with reporters.
“You got a congressman that has been self-dealing and putting his own interest ahead of the good people of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. ” … I want someone who’s going to lead with integrity. That’s Paige Cognetti. I’m proud to be here with her today.”
Cognetti said Bresnahan “is representing his own stock portfolio” instead of district constituents.
“We need somebody to go down there and understand what it means to lower costs, what it means to dig into that budget and understand what programs are working, what programs aren’t and what your community needs,” Cognetti said. “As a mayor, I know that I can do that in a non-partisan way. I’m honored to stand next to the governor who gets things done and works with everyone.”
Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district Paige Gebhardt Cognetti greets supporters at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district Paige Gebhardt Cognetti hugs supporter Todd Stephens, of Demascus, at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district Paige Gebhardt Cognetti reacts before giving a speech to supporters at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Governor Josh Shapiro and Democratic nominee for the state’s 8th congressional district Paige Gebhardt Cognetti talk to supporters at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Governor Josh Shapiro speaks to supports with Democratic nominee for the state’s 8th congressional district Paige Gebhardt Cognetti at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Governor Josh Shapiro greets supporters at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
State Rep. Jim Haddock is introduced by Gov. Josh Shapiro at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Governor Josh Shapiro greets supporters at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Governor Josh Shapiro talks with Clarks Summit Borough Council President Germaine “Gerrie” Carey at the Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Protesters gather outside of The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming before a visit from Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and Gov. Josh Shapiro Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district Paige Gebhardt Cognetti greets supporters at The Avenue Restaurant & Catering in Wyoming Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)