Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti is running for Congress in Pennsylvania's 2026 midterm elections, boosting the Democrats' chances of gaining House seats. Cognetti, a popular and independent-minded mayor, aims to unseat Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan in a district that leans Democratic but has voted for Trump. Democrats need only three seats to control the House, and Pennsylvania is key to their strategy. Her candidacy follows Bob Brooks', a union leader challenging another Republican. Both candidates highlight their working-class roots and hope to attract voters disillusioned with traditional politics.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.