Democrat Paige Cognetti has defeated Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press, which called the race at 10:41 p.m. Tuesday.
The district, located in the northeast corner of the state, covers Lackawanna, Pike, and Wayne Counties, along with parts of Luzerne and Monroe. Bresnahan, a native of Dallas Township, was sworn in to Congress in 2025 after defeating Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright in the 2024 election. He serves on the House Agriculture, Small Business, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.
Cognetti is the mayor of Scranton. She ran for the position as an independent in 2019 after the city's leader resigned, and ran for reelection as a Democrat two years later.
During the campaign, the candidates sparred over data center development. The district includes the borough of Archbald, which has a high rate of data center proposals. Cognetti called for eliminating the sales and use tax exemption afforded to data center developers, while Bresnahan introduced the Local Control Protection Act, which he says will help protect local communities that do not want such development.
The candidates also differed on tariffs and the ongoing war in Iran, which the source says contributed to increases in gas and grocery prices. However, both support tax breaks, healthcare reform, and reining in rising utility prices. They agreed most on employment issues, backing apprenticeships, technical training, and pro-union policies.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The 8th District, considered a purple district, flipped back to Democratic control after being held by a Republican for a single term.
- The race focused on economic issues such as data center development and cost of living, which resonate in many similar districts.
- The outcome could influence federal policy on data center tax exemptions and local control over development.
Background
Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District covers the northeast corner of the state, including Lackawanna, Pike, and Wayne Counties and parts of Luzerne and Monroe. Incumbent Rob Bresnahan, a Republican, was first elected in 2024, defeating Democrat Matt Cartwright. He served on the Agriculture, Small Business, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. Challenger Paige Cognetti is the mayor of Scranton, having first been elected as an independent in 2019 and later as a Democrat.
Key Perspectives
Paige Cognetti (Democrat): Called for eliminating the sales and use tax exemption for data center developers, a key issue in the district where many data center proposals have been made.
Rob Bresnahan (Republican): Introduced the Local Control Protection Act, which he says protects local communities that do not want data center development.
Both candidates: Agreed on supporting tax breaks, healthcare reform, addressing rising utility prices, and promoting apprenticeships, technical training, and pro-union policies.
What to Watch
- How Cognetti’s position on data center tax exemptions will affect future development in Archbald and the surrounding area.
- Whether the Local Control Protection Act, introduced by the defeated incumbent, gains any traction in the next Congress.
- How the tariff and foreign policy disagreements between the two parties play out in future campaigns, given their role in local cost-of-living concerns.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedDemocrat Paige Cognetti defeated Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.Spotlight PA: “Democrat Paige Cognetti has defeated Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.”
- SupportedCognetti, Scranton’s mayor, won the purple district.Spotlight PA: “Located in the northeast corner of the commonwealth, the purple district covers Lackawanna, Pike, and Wayne Counties, along with parts of Luzerne and Monroe Counties. [...] Cognetti is the mayor of Scranton.”
- SupportedThe Associated Press called the race at 10:41 p.m. Tuesday.Spotlight PA: “The AP called the race at 10:41 p.m. Tuesday.”
- SupportedThe district is in Pennsylvania’s northeast corner and covers Lackawanna, Pike and Wayne counties, plus parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties.Spotlight PA: “Located in the northeast corner of the commonwealth, the purple district covers Lackawanna, Pike, and Wayne Counties, along with parts of Luzerne and Monroe Counties.”
- SupportedBresnahan was sworn into Congress in 2025 after defeating Matt Cartwright in the 2024 election.Spotlight PA: “Bresnahan was sworn in to Congress in 2025 after defeating Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright in the 2024 election.”
- SupportedBresnahan serves on the House Agriculture, Small Business, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.Spotlight PA: “He’s a member of the House Agriculture, Small Business, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.”
- SupportedCognetti ran for Scranton mayor as an independent in 2019 after the city’s leader resigned.Spotlight PA: “After the city's then-leader resigned in 2019, Cognetti successfully ran for the position as an independent.”
- SupportedCognetti ran for reelection as a Democrat two years later.Spotlight PA: “Two years later, she ran for reelection as a Democrat.”
- SupportedThe district includes Archbald, which has a high rate of data center proposals.Spotlight PA: “The district includes the borough of Archbald, which has a high rate of data center proposals .”
- SupportedCognetti called for eliminating the sales and use tax exemption for data center developers.Spotlight PA: “Cognetti has called for eliminating the sales and use tax exemption afforded to data center developers.”
- SupportedBresnahan introduced the Local Control Protection Act and says it will help protect communities that do not want development.Spotlight PA: “Bresnahan introduced the “Local Control Protection Act,” which he says will help protect local communities that don’t want development.”
- SupportedThe candidates differed on tariffs and the war in Iran, which contributed to increases in gas and grocery prices.Spotlight PA: “While Bresnahan and Cognettii differ on tariffs and the ongoing war in Iran, which have contributed to increases in gas and grocery prices”