Voters in northeastern Pennsylvania selected Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti to represent them in Washington over Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan. Cognetti campaigned on her record as an independent-minded local executive and an anti-corruption reformer. Bresnahan was ultimately unable to convince constituents that he warranted a second term. The Associated Press officially called the race in her favor on Tuesday night.
Key points
Paige Cognetti unseated a Republican incumbent to represent Pennsylvania's 8th Congressio…: Paige Cognetti unseated a Republican incumbent to represent Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House.
The winning campaign emphasized an independent-minded political approach centered on figh…: The winning campaign emphasized an independent-minded political approach centered on fighting government corruption.
Republican efforts to maintain the seat fell short as voters turned away from the incumbe…: Republican efforts to maintain the seat fell short as voters turned away from the incumbent lawmaker.
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By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/democrat-paige-cognetti-wins-election-to-u-s-house-in-pennsylvanias-8th-congressional-district Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Democrat Paige Cognetti wins election to U.S. House in Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District Politics Nov 3, 2026 10:49 PM EST 2026 ELECTION COVERAGE: Watch Live | Poll Closing Times | All Live Results | Live Updates | Live Fact Check Democrat Paige Cognetti won election Tuesday to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, defeating Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan. Cognetti is the mayor of Scranton. She campaigned as an independent-minded Democrat and corruption-fighting city leader. Bresnahan was unable to convince voters that he deserved a second term in Washington. The Associated Press declared Cognetti the winner at 10:41 p.m. EST. Stand with free and independent journalism. Join Press Pass from PBS News A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
2026 ELECTION COVERAGE: Watch Live | Poll Closing Times | All Live Results | Live Updates…
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