Incumbent Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. (R) and Paige Cognetti (D) are running in the general election for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District on Nov. 3, 2026.

Subsidiaries of the Democratic and Republican Parties identified this as a competitive election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) identified it as a target district and named Cognetti to its Red to Blue program, which provides support to candidates in Republican-held or open districts. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) named Bresnahan to its Patriot program, which provides support to Republican incumbents in competitive districts.

In 2024, Bresnahan defeated then-incumbent Rep. Matt Cartwright (D) in the general election 50.7% to 49.1%. In the 2024 presidential election, President Donald Trump(R) defeated Kamala Harris (D) in the district 53.8% to 45.4%.

According to The Cook Political Report's Erin Covey, Democrats are trying to center the election on Bresnahan's history of stock trading in the U.S. House of Representatives after he said he supported a ban on members doing so. Between January 2025 and February 2026, Bresnahan executed 650 trades.

Covey also wrote that Republicans are focusing on Cognetti's record as mayor of Scranton, specifically a Politico report that Cognetti "helped secure a state grant for a new Fidelity Bank headquarters, where her husband's uncle sits on the board."

Before serving in the U.S. House, Bresnahan worked as the chief financial officer and chief executive officer of Kuharchik Construction, a commercial electrical contractor. He was also the owner of RPB Ventures, a real estate development company.

Bresnahan is running on his experience in the U.S. House, including service on the chamber's Transportation and Infrastructure, Small Business, and Agriculture Committees. According to his campaign website, during Bresnahan's tenure, he "focused on cutting red tape, defending working families, and delivering results for his hometown region."

The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters endorsed Bresnahan.

Cognetti was first elected mayor of Scranton in a 2019 special election. She previously served on the Scranton School District Board of Directors from 2017 to 2018. Cognetti's professional experience included working as a special assistant to the Pennsylvania Auditor General.

Cognetti is running on an anti-corruption agenda. Cognetti said, "We are tired of Washington politicians enriching themselves while selling us out. Members of Congress have created a system where the rules apply to the rest of us, but not to them. We all know that's wrong and I'm running to change it."

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, and the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO endorsed Cognetti.

As of Aug. 4, 2026, The Cook Political Report, DDHQ/The Hill, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball rated the general election as a Toss-up.