This is the first in our series highlighting the key U.S. House of Representatives races in the Commonwealth.

The 8th Congressional District comprises Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties. Democrat Matt Cartwright is the incumbent and faces Republican challenger Rob Bresnahan.

8th Congressional District

Matt Cartwright* (D)
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Age: 63 | Served in Congress since 2013
BA: Hamilton ’83; J.D. University of Pennsylvania | Resides: Moosic

Positions

• Stand up to companies that enrich themselves on the backs of consumers
• Fight against corporate greed and advocate against junk fees
• Supports cutting taxes for working people and raise the minimum wage
• Advocate for expanded access to family planning and IVF, so women can make their own reproductive choices
• Fight to lower healthcare costs
• Strengthen Social Security
• Create fair, orderly immigration pathways for those seeking better life in U.S.
• Supports robust funding for armed forces and believes that U.S. must stand by commitments to allies, including NATO and Israel

Rob Bresnahan Jr. (R)
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Age: 34 | CEO, Kuharchik Construction
BS: University of Scranton ’12 | Resides: Dallas Township

Positions

• Secure the border, build the wall and stop flow of illegal drugs and criminals into communities
• Stop reckless spending and cut taxes
• Fight to protect Social Security and Medicare. Does not support raising retirement age or any benefit cuts to programs
• Create good, family-sustaining jobs and vote for policies that unleash the American economy

Voter Registration:

• Overall (510,792): D+5.4 (44.6 – 39.2)
  • Lackawanna (147,311): D+19 (53.1 – 34.1)
  • Luzerne (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)

2022 Congressional Results: Cartwright d. Jim Bognet, 51.2-48.8%

2020 Presidential Results: Trump +4.4

Current Ratings (as of 9/26)

• Cook Political Report | Toss-Up
• DDHQ / The Hill | Lean D
• Inside Elections | Tilt D
• Sabato’s Crystal Ball | Toss-Up

Fundraising Q2

Cartwright

• Raised: $1,161,279.30
• Spent: $1,156,058.95
• Cash on Hand: $4,538,773.70
• Debts: $242,800

Bresnahan

• Raised: $523,323.68
• Spent: $551,417.43
• Cash On Hand: $1,225,264.07
• Debts: $400,000

The 8th Congressional District

LACKAWANNA, LUZERNE, MONROE, PIKE and WAYNE Counties.
Total population: 764,866

All of LACKAWANNA County; Part of LUZERNE County consisting of the CITIES of Hazleton, Nanticoke, Pittston and Wilkes-Barre and the TOWNSHIPS of Bear Creek, Buck, Butler (PART, Districts 01, 02, 03, 04 and 05 (only 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 the BOROUGHS of Ashley, Avoca, Bear Creek Village, Courtdale, Dupont, Duryea, Edwardsville, Exeter, Forty Fort, Freeland, Harveys Lake, Hughestown, Jeddo, Kingston, Laflin, Larksville, Laurel Run, Luzerne, Nuangola, Penn Lake Park, Plymouth, Pringle, Sugar Notch, Swoyersville, Warrior Run, West Hazleton, West Pittston, West Wyoming, White Haven, Wyoming and Yatesville; Part of MONROE County consisting of the TOWNSHIPS of Barrett, Chestnuthill, Coolbaugh, Hamilton, Jackson, Middle Smithfield, Paradise, Pocono, Price, Ross (only 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, 1029, 1030, 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2021, 3001, 3003, 3004, 3005, 4000, 4001, 4002, 4003, 4004, 4005, 4006, 4007, 4009, 4010 and 4011 of tract 301203), Smithfield, Stroud, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock and the BOROUGHS of Delaware Water Gap, East Stroudsburg, Mount Pocono and Stroudsburg; All of PIKE County and All of WAYNE County.