Federal

U.S. Representative, 8th Congressional District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives votes on federal laws, taxes and spending on behalf of the district.

All of Pike, Wayne and Lackawanna counties and most of Luzerne and Monroe counties.

Candidates Compare by issue

Paige Cognetti

Democratic

Mayor of Scranton · Scranton

The gist

Says she owns no individual stocks and, if elected, would not buy or trade them.
Proposes legislation to ban corporate PAC donations to federal campaigns.
Calls for a mandatory independent audit of every federal agency and a 'No Budget, No Pay' rule for Congress.
Opposes broad tariffs, favoring targeted tariffs; calls for reshoring manufacturing, including defense work in NEPA.
Supports making it easier to join and form unions; backs the PRO Act, per Spotlight PA.
Calls for stopping insurance middlemen from denying prescribed care and supports restoring ACA tax credits.
Says no current NEPA data center project should proceed; wants sites limited to brownfields, away from homes and parks.
Calls for simpler permitting and faster infrastructure projects, from safe streets to bridges to passenger rail.

More about Paige

View sources (3)

Says she owns no individual stocks and, if elected, would not buy or trade them.
Anti-Corruption Agenda - Paige Cognetti For Congress
Campaign website · Paige Cognetti For Congress · Aug 6, 2026 · Ban Congressional Stock Trading · paigeforpa.com
“I don’t own any individual stocks, and if elected, I won’t buy or trade them, period.”
Proposes legislation to ban corporate PAC donations to federal campaigns.
Anti-Corruption Agenda - Paige Cognetti For Congress
Campaign website · Paige Cognetti For Congress · Aug 6, 2026 · Ban Corporate PAC Donations · paigeforpa.com
“As a member of Congress, I will propose legislation to ban corporate PAC donations to federal campaigns.”
Calls for a mandatory independent audit of every federal agency and a 'No Budget, No Pay' rule for Congress.
Anti-Corruption Agenda - Paige Cognetti For Congress
Campaign website · Paige Cognetti For Congress · Aug 6, 2026 · Audit the Government … No Budget, No Pay · paigeforpa.com
“I will fight for a comprehensive, mandatory, independent audit of every federal agency. … I will fight to pass a No Budget, No Pay bill to withhold members’ pay until a budget is passed”
Opposes broad tariffs, favoring targeted tariffs; calls for reshoring manufacturing, including defense work in NEPA.
Priorities - Paige Cognetti For Congress
Campaign website · Paige Cognetti For Congress · NEPA Builds, Build it here … NEPA Builds, Build it here · paigeforpa.com
“Stop broad tariffs that help the big guys and hurt families, create smart targeted tariffs to protect manufacturing here. … Reshore manufacturing jobs, including continuing to add more defense manufacturing in Northeastern Pennsylvania.”
Supports making it easier to join and form unions; backs the PRO Act, per Spotlight PA.
Priorities - Paige Cognetti For Congress
Campaign website · Paige Cognetti For Congress · Fight for families so they can get ahead · paigeforpa.com
“Strengthen unions; make it easier to join and start a union.”
Pa. election 2026: Where Bresnahan, Cognetti stand on tax policies, affordability, and jobs
News coverage · Spotlight PA · Sep 23, 2026 · Jobs · spotlightpa.org
“for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act”
Calls for stopping insurance middlemen from denying prescribed care and supports restoring ACA tax credits.
Priorities - Paige Cognetti For Congress
Campaign website · Paige Cognetti For Congress · Fight for families so they can get ahead · paigeforpa.com
“Prevent healthcare industry middlemen from denying care and medications prescribed by doctors.”
Pa. election 2026: Where Bresnahan, Cognetti stand on tax policies, affordability, and jobs
News coverage · Spotlight PA · Sep 23, 2026 · Affordability · spotlightpa.org
“as well as to reduce costs, including restoring ACA tax credits.”
Says no current NEPA data center project should proceed; wants sites limited to brownfields, away from homes and parks.
Priorities - Paige Cognetti For Congress
Campaign website · Paige Cognetti For Congress · Now it’s data centers … Now it’s data centers · paigeforpa.com
“there is no project anywhere in NEPA that should move forward. … Construction must happen on brownfields and sites that can’t be developed for residential use.”
Calls for simpler permitting and faster infrastructure projects, from safe streets to bridges to passenger rail.
Priorities - Paige Cognetti For Congress
Campaign website · Paige Cognetti For Congress · NEPA Builds, Build it here · paigeforpa.com
“Move faster on infrastructure projects we need for our economic future, from safe streets to bridges to passenger rail.”

Rob Bresnahan, Jr.

RepublicanIncumbent

U.S. representative · Luzerne County (Wyoming Valley)

The gist

Calls for cutting spending and taxes; voted for the 2025 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' tax law.
Opposes raising the retirement age or cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Voted for the Secure America Act funding ICE and CBP through September 2029; calls for securing the border.
Voted for and cosponsored the Stop Insider Trading Act, barring members of Congress from buying individual stocks.In office
Voted to extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits; introduced a bill capping insulin costs at $35 a month.In office
Cosponsored the Protect America's Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights for federal workers.In office
Introduced the Local Control Protection Act to shield towns that deny data centers from developer lawsuits.In office
Supported reversing the federal Chesapeake Bay stormwater mandate behind Luzerne County's 'Rain Tax' fees.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Rob

View sources (9)

Calls for cutting spending and taxes; voted for the 2025 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' tax law.
Pa. election 2026: Where Bresnahan, Cognetti stand on tax policies, affordability, and jobs
News coverage · Spotlight PA · Sep 23, 2026 · Tax policies · spotlightpa.org
“Bresnahan voted for President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.””
Rob for PA - New Leadership for Northeastern Pennsylvania
Campaign website · Rob for PA · Issues — Economy · robforpa.com
“stop the reckless spending, get inflation under control, and cut taxes so you can keep more of the money you earn”
Opposes raising the retirement age or cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Rob for PA - New Leadership for Northeastern Pennsylvania
Campaign website · Rob for PA · Issues — Social Security & Medicare · robforpa.com
“I will not support raising the retirement age or any benefit cuts to these programs.”
Voted for the Secure America Act funding ICE and CBP through September 2029; calls for securing the border.
Rob for PA - New Leadership for Northeastern Pennsylvania
Campaign website · Rob for PA · Issues — Border · robforpa.com
“We must secure the border, build the wall”
Bresnahan Votes to Secure Border, Fund CBP and ICE
Public statement · Office of Rep. Rob Bresnahan · Jun 9, 2026 · bresnahan.house.gov
“voted in favor of the Secure America Act … The Secure America Act appropriates funding for ICE and CBP through September 2029”
Voted for and cosponsored the Stop Insider Trading Act, barring members of Congress from buying individual stocks.
Bresnahan Delivers on Longstanding Push to Ban Congressional Stock Trading
Public statement · Office of Rep. Rob Bresnahan · Jul 22, 2026 · bresnahan.house.gov
“Members of Congress should never be allowed to trade their own stocks and profit off the information they are entrusted with”
Voted to extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits; introduced a bill capping insulin costs at $35 a month.
Bresnahan Statement on Extension of ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits
Public statement · Office of Rep. Rob Bresnahan · Jan 8, 2026 · bresnahan.house.gov
“it is the only path forward that keeps discussions alive to protect the 28,000 people in my district from immediate premium spikes.”
Bresnahan Introduces Bill to Cap Insulin Costs for Working Families
Public statement · Office of Rep. Rob Bresnahan · Sep 3, 2026 · bresnahan.house.gov
“bipartisan legislation to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35, or 25% of the list price per month, for all Americans with diabetes.”
Cosponsored the Protect America's Workforce Act to restore collective bargaining rights for federal workers.
Bresnahan Secures Vote on Restoring Union Rights for Federal Workers
Public statement · Office of Rep. Rob Bresnahan · Nov 17, 2025 · bresnahan.house.gov
“I support the right to collectively bargain and proudly stand with union members.”
Introduced the Local Control Protection Act to shield towns that deny data centers from developer lawsuits.
Bresnahan Introduces Bill to Keep Data Center Decisions in Local Hands
Public statement · Office of Rep. Rob Bresnahan · Jun 11, 2026 · bresnahan.house.gov
“My legislation will protect small boroughs and townships who decide against a data center from the legal wrath of billion-dollar corporations.”
Supported reversing the federal Chesapeake Bay stormwater mandate behind Luzerne County's 'Rain Tax' fees.
Bresnahan and President Trump Deliver on Promise to Reverse Obama-Era “Rain Tax” Mandate
Public statement · Office of Rep. Rob Bresnahan · Sep 16, 2026 · bresnahan.house.gov
“Delivering relief on the “Rain Tax” has been a top priority for Rep. Bresnahan since before he was sworn into office.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.