(The Center Square) – Paige Cognetti, the Democratic mayor of Scranton, challenging U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, posted her strongest fundraising report since entering the race.
According to campaign finance reports released on Wednesday, Cognetti’s campaign raised $1.5 million from April 30 to the end of June, while Bresnahan’s campaign raised just under $715,000 during that same time period.
Cognetti, who launched her candidacy for the battleground seat in September, has outraised Bresnahan since the beginning of 2026, though the latest report marks the largest fundraising gap between the two this year.
Cognetti’s latest haul is the second highest among candidates running for the U.S. House in Pennsylvania, only trailing fellow Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson, who raised $1.67 million over the last two months in her bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Scott Perry for the state’s 10th Congressional District.
Bresnahan’s totals over May and June place his campaign sixth highest among congressional candidates in the Keystone State, trailing Stelson, Cognetti, Democratic candidate for the 7th Congressional District Bob Brooks, and fellow Republican incumbents Brian Fitzpatrick and Scott Perry.
And, for the first time, Cognetti’s campaign has more cash on hand than Bresnahan.
Cognetti’s campaign began July with $3.4 million in the bank, while Bresnahan’s entered the month with $2.6 million.
Bresnahan, a freshman lawmaker, has raised $5.33 million through the entire election cycle up to the end of June, ranking third among candidates running for Congress in Pennsylvania. Fitzpatrick, who has raised $6.77 million over the last year and a half, and Stelson, who has raised $6.36 million since last July, are the only candidates in the state who have raised more than Bresnahan in the election cycle to date.
Cognetti’s campaign has raised $4.6 million since she launched her candidacy in September, which places her with the fifth highest during the 2026 campaign up until the latest fundraising report.
Although Bresnahan has raised more than Cognetti throughout the cycle, Cognetti has outraised him since she formally entered the race in early September.
Bresnahan spent slightly more than Cognetti over the last two months. From April 30 to the end of June, Bresnahan’s campaign spent $380,000, while Cognetti’s campaign spent $350,000.
The next fundraising quarter closes on Sept. 30, with Oct. 15 as the filing deadline for candidates.
The seat in northeast Pennsylvania has been a target for both parties for the past several cycles.
In 2024, Bresnahan defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Lackawanna, by just over 6,000 votes, or approximately 1.6%.
While Cognetti now holds a cash-on-hand advantage over Bresnahan, the gap was larger at this point in the previous cycle for the Democratic candidate. In July 2024, Cartwright’s campaign had $4.53 million on hand, while Bresnahan’s campaign had $1.22 million.
National ratings outlets expect the 2026 race for the 8th District to be close.
Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the race as “Lean Republican,” while the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections say the matchup is a “toss up.”
