Pennsylvania 8th District
Rob Bresnahan (R) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Rob Bresnahan
Republican · holds this seat today
ALiberty Score AOn the liberty side in 43 of 44 votes and bills.
Raised $6,519,139 since January 2025: 38% from people, 35% transfers and other income, 25% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Paige Cognetti
Democrat · Scranton mayor, former Treasury adviser
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Cognetti, and what Cognetti has said and done settles only 3 of my principles. I went through it on October 23. A grade needs 4.
Raised $7,502,359 since January 2025: 84% from people, 9% from PACs and other committees, 7% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in Pennsylvania: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Paige Cognetti, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Cognetti, so the grade above comes from this list: what Cognetti has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Told Jewish Insider in January 2026 that she vehemently supports Israel's right to defend itself.
“I vehemently support Israel's right to defend itself”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Israel's right to defend itself is with liberty on free nations.
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Said she would take seriously Congress' role in making sure Israel has the military aid it needs.
“would take extremely seriously Congress' role in ensuring they have the military aid that they need to defend themselves”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing military aid for Israel is with liberty on free nations.
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Said a Scranton-area plant makes shells shipped to allies including Ukraine and Israel, and that the region is proud of it.
“the shells that we use for our own defense, but also that we ship to our allies, like Ukraine and Israel”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
She names Ukraine among the allies the region is proud to supply, which is with liberty on free nations.
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Her campaign materials say she opposes broad tariffs on allies that raise prices, while allowing targeted tariffs.
“opposes broad tariffs on our allies that needlessly cause increased prices”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is the opposite of against liberty on free markets.
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Says on her campaign website that big companies and billionaire executives do not need more money in their pockets, without naming a tax.
“the last people who need more money in their pockets are big companies and their billionaire executives”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
No tax is named, so by the site rule a general line about taxes does not settle a side.
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Said in a January 2026 interview that a secure border is very important.
“The secure border is a very, very important thing”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a secure border is with liberty on borders.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Pennsylvania 8th District
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