Just one week from the Nov. 3 midterm election, Hazleton Latino residents report little familiarity with the candidates and more familiarity with their own tightened budgets.
“It’s terrible, it’s pathetic; the whole nation feels like it’s upside down sometimes. Everything is more expensive now, and prices only ever go up. I’m 62 right now, and I’m worried that it’s not going to change before I reach retirement age,” said Kent Catolino, a resident of Hazleton. “I don’t know who is running in the race this year, but I just hope they can make things a bit better here in town.”
Cost of living, affordability, and jobs are among the top concerns for Hazleton Latinos heading into the general election, where Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan faces a challenge from Scranton Mayor and Democrat Paige Cognetti for the 8th Congressional District, which includes the City of Hazleton.
An anti-Rob Bresnahan sign on state Route 93 near Kiwanis Blvd. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.(John Haeger / Staff Photographer)
Since the start of the Iran War in February, gas prices in Luzerne County have risen 32% from $3.016 for unleaded on Feb. 26 to $4.36 today, according to the AAA fuel price tracker. Diesel prices have risen even more over the same period, from $4.19 to $6.66 today.
Moreover, over the last year, prices for all items excluding fuel and food rose 2.6%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, while food rose 2.5%.
Shelter costs, which cover rent and mortgage expenses, rose 3.2%, while home fuel oil prices, used to heat 12% of homes in Luzerne County, spiked 74%.
“I have kids at home, and I work full time, which makes it very difficult to follow what people are talking about. All I want is to take care of my family, and to make sure my kids are happy and safe,” said Hazleton resident Christopher Almanzar. “I didn’t register to vote this year, even though I am eligible. I don’t really see the point in voting when I’m so busy at home.”
In 2024, Bresnahan defeated Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright, winning 50.7% of the vote to 49.1%, a two-point rightward shift from 2022.
The Americas Society/Coalition of Americas reports that this coincided with a 15-point rightward shift among the entire PA Latino population during the presidential election.
In Hazleton specifically, Bresnahan won with 53.77% of the vote to Cartwright’s 46.07%.
Amilcar Arroyo at his Hazleton office on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.(John Haeger / Staff Photographer)
“What you find here in Hazleton is that most of the Latinos don’t know what’s happening in this country; they don’t follow the national news. They know more about what’s happening in their home countries than where they live now,” explained Amilcar Arroyo, the publisher of El Mensajero and voting rights advocate. “The sad fact is that a lot of Latinos in Hazleton work 12-hour shifts in the warehouses, and when they get home, exhausted, they don’t watch the local news; they don’t read the local newspaper.”
When asked about her campaign’s reaction to this information, Cognetti spoke about her time visiting Hazleton and the value of having a Hazleton native on her campaign team.
“Throughout our campaign, I’ve been grateful to spend time in Hazleton visiting small businesses, meeting with local leaders, and discussing the issues on the minds of the Latino community. What I hear in Hazleton is what I hear from folks in every corner of our district – that people are struggling with high costs and frustrated with a broken Washington that has failed to look out for hardworking families. It matters to us to make sure Hazleton’s voices are heard,” Cognetti said.
Similarly, the Bresnahan campaign stressed its extensive door-to-door efforts and its desire to provide Latino communities the same quality of life it seeks for every community.
“Latino voters care about the same things as every family in NEPA: a lower cost of living, safe communities, and a better future for their kids. The Bresnahan campaign has knocked on thousands of doors in Latino communities to have those conversations directly, and the response has been encouraging as Rep. Bresnahan builds on the base of support in his first term,” said Bresnahan Campaign Manager Peter Brath.
But despite both candidates’ visits to Hazleton in the lead-up to November, Arroyo expresses doubts about their effectiveness.
“I’ve seen candidates walking up and down the streets of Hazleton; I’ve listened to their speeches, but most of the Latinos remain unaware they were ever here. We’ve been trying to improve their participation in elections for 15 years, but the trouble is that they just can’t find the time to follow elections,” said Arroyo