Democratic mayor launches run to unseat House Republican Bresnahan
paige Cognetti, the mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, has announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives, aiming to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Bresnahan. In her campaign launch,she criticized Bresnahan’s frequent stock trading,highlighting that despite his campaign promise to ban stock trades by members of Congress,he has already made around 600 trades this year. Cognetti accused him of exploiting his position for personal financial gain, citing specific examples such as trading stocks related to tariffs and military contracts. Bresnahan, who took office in January after defeating a Democratic incumbent, maintains that his financial advisers manage his portfolio. Cognetti has received endorsements from several Democratic figures, including former Rep. Matt Cartwright and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Bresnahan’s campaign criticized cognetti for running for Congress while also seeking reelection as mayor. The district is currently rated as “lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report.
Democratic mayor launches run to unseat House Republican Bresnahan
Paige Cognetti, the mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, announced her campaign for the House Tuesday in a bid to unseat Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA).
In her launch video, she questioned Bresnahan’s stock trading and his murky financial record since entering Congress earlier this year.
“Rob ran for Congress on a promise to ban stock trades. This year, he’s already made 600 trades — 600,” Cognetti says in an ad launching her campaign, released Tuesday.
“I’m running for Congress because people here deserve a lot better than a rich kid disrespecting our hard work and proud legacy. We can stand tall against a Washington that takes advantage of working people and make it work for us,” she continued
While Bresnahan introduced legislation in May that would bar members of Congress or their spouses from trading stock while in office, he has continued to trade stocks but claimed his financial advisers manage his financial portfolio. His fellow House Republicans have also privately raised concerns about his trading.
“Sold Chinese stocks the week of a tariff. Buys missile stocks before a war, buys jet stocks before a big contract,” she said in the ad, closing it by saying, “day trading away the public trust is not who we are.”
Bresnahan took office in January after defeating democratic incumbent Rep. Matt Cartwright in the 2024 general election.
So far, Cartwright, Democratic Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, and Rep Chris Deluzio (D-PA) have endorsed Cognetti.
In a statement, Bresnahan’s campaign criticized Cognetti for launching a congressional campaign while running for reelection as mayor in the 2025 election.
CONGRESSIONAL STOCK TRADING BAN FOSTERS RARE BIPARTISANSHIP
“Paige Cognetti launching a vanity campaign for Congress while still running for a new term as Scranton Mayor tells you everything you need to know about her priorities,” said Chris Pack, a spokesman for Bresnahan’s campaign.
Cook Political Report currently has rated the district as “lean Republican.”
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