This is the first in our series highlighting key U.S. House races in the commonwealth.
The 8th Congressional District includes Lackwanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties. Democrat Matt Cartwright is the incumbent president facing a Republican challenger Rob Bresnahan.
8th Congressional District
Matt Cartwright* (D)
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Age: 63 | In Congress since 2013
B.A.: Hamilton ’83; JD University of Pennsylvania | Place of residence: Moosic
- Oppose companies that enrich themselves on the backs of consumers
- Fight corporate greed and advocate for junk fees
- He supports cutting taxes for working people and raising the minimum wage
- Advocates for greater access to family planning and in vitro fertilization so women can make their own reproductive decisions
- Fight to lower health care costs
- Strengthen social security
- Create fair and arranged immigration pathways for people seeking a better life in the US
- Supports solid funding for the armed forces and believes the United States must keep its commitments to allies, including NATO and Israel
Rob Bresnahan Jr. (right)
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Age: 34 | General director of Kuharchik Construction
BS: University of Scranton ’12 | Residence: Dallas Township
- Secure the border, build the wall and stop the flow of illegal drugs and criminals into the community
- Stop spending recklessly and lower your taxes
- Fight to protect Social Security and Medicare. He does not support raising the retirement age or any cuts to program benefits
- Create good, family-sustaining jobs and vote for policies that will free the American economy
Voter registration: :
- Total (510,792): D+5.4 (44.6 – 39.2)
- Lackawanna (147,311): D+19 (53.1 – 34.1)
- Lucerne (173,708): D+5.5 (45.5 – 40.0)
- Monroe (107,396): D+9.7 (44.4 – 34.7)
- Pike (45,891): R+17.8 (48.0 – 30.2)
- Wayne (36,486): R+33.1 (58.3 – 25.2)
Results of the 2022 Congress: Cartwright d. Jim Bognet, 51.2–48.8%
2020 presidential election results: Trump +4.4
Current ratings (as of September 26)
Second quarter fundraising
- Raised: $1,161,279.30
- Spent: $1,156,058.95
- Cash in hand: $4,538,773.70
- Debt: $242,800
- Raised: $523,323.68
- Spent: $551,417.43
- Cash on hand: $1,225,264.07
- Debt: $400,000
8th Congressional District
LACKAWANNA, LUZERNE, MONROE, PIKE and WAYNE COUNTIES.
Total population: 764,866
All of LACKAWANNA COUNTY; The portion of LUZERNE COUNTY consisting of the CITIES of Hazleton, Nanticoke, Pittston and Wilkes-Barre and the CITIES of Bear Creek, Buck, Butler (PART, Precincts 01, 02, 03, 04 and 05 (Blocks 1024, 1025, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2020 of tract 216601 and blocks 1016, 1017, 1024, 1046, 1047, 1049, 1050, 1058, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063 and 1064 of tract 216602), Dallas, Dennison, Exeter, Fairview , Foster, Franklin, Hanover , Hazle, Jackson, Jenkins, Kingston, Newport (PART, Ward 02), Pittston, Plains, Plymouth, Rice, Wilkes-Barre and Wright and BOROUGHS of Ashley, Avoca, Bear Creek Village, Courtdale, Dupont, Duryea, Edwardsville, Exeter , Forty Fort, Freeland, Harveys Lake, Hughestown, Jeddo, Kingston, Laflin, Larksville, Laurel Run, Lucerne, Nuangola, Penn Lake Park, Plymouth, Pringle, Sugar Notch, Swoyersville, Warrior Run, West Hazleton, West Pittston, West Wyoming , White Haven, Wyoming and Yatesville; Portion of MONROE County consisting of the towns of Barrett, Chestnuthill, Coolbaugh, Hamilton, Jackson, Middle Smithfield, Paradise, Pocono, Price, Ross (blocks 1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, 1026, 1027, 1028, 10 29, 1 030, 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034 , 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2021, 3001, 3003, 3004, 3005, 4000, 4001, 4002, 4003, 4004, 4005, 4006, 4007, 4009, 4010 and 40 11 treaty u 301203), Smithfield, Stroud, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock and the DISTRICTS of Delaware Water Gap, East Stroudsburg, Mount Pocono and Stroudsburg; All of PIKE COUNTY and all of WAYNE COUNTY.
