Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District covers the northeastern corner of the state, anchored by Scranton and Wilkes-Barre and reaching into the Pocono Mountains. It is one of 17 U.S. House districts in Pennsylvania, and it has been represented since January 3, 2025 by Republican Rob Bresnahan Jr.1Congress.gov. Members – Robert P. Bresnahan The seat is already one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 cycle.
Where the District Is
PA-08 fully encompasses three counties: Lackawanna, Pike, and Wayne. It also takes in large portions of Luzerne County and Monroe County.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Redistricting US Congress The result is an unusually varied district that runs from post-industrial cities to resort towns to rural farmland near the New York state line.
Scranton, in Lackawanna County, is the population center and a regional hub for healthcare, education, and government. The Luzerne County portion includes Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Nanticoke, and Pittston, plus surrounding boroughs and townships like Plains, Kingston, Exeter, and Plymouth. In Monroe County, the district covers much of the Poconos, including East Stroudsburg, Stroudsburg, Mount Pocono, and resort-area townships such as Tobyhanna and Coolbaugh.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Redistricting US Congress Pike and Wayne counties fill out the district with smaller rural communities.
These lines were set through the 2022 redistricting process using 2020 Census data and will hold through the 2030 Census cycle.
Who Represents PA-08
Rob Bresnahan Jr. won the 2024 general election with roughly 50.8% of the vote, defeating four-term Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright by about 6,200 votes. That result flipped a seat Democrats had held since 2013.
Bresnahan, a businessman from the region, sits on three House committees: Agriculture, Small Business, and Transportation and Infrastructure.3U.S. House of Representatives. Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr. Those assignments track the district’s economy. Agriculture reaches the rural development programs relevant to Pike and Wayne counties. Small Business touches the independent businesses along Main Streets in Scranton, Hazleton, and the Poconos. Transportation and Infrastructure covers highway funding and emergency management, both constant concerns in a district with aging roads and flood-prone river valleys.
How the District Votes
PA-08 carries a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R+4, meaning it leans about four points more Republican than the national average in presidential elections.4Cook Political Report. Pennsylvania PA-08 House 2026 The lean does not tell the whole story. The district has a long history of splitting tickets, backing Republican presidential candidates while sending Democrats to Congress. Cartwright won the seat four times before Bresnahan unseated him.
The geographic divide is stark. Urban and suburban areas around Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton lean Democratic, driven by union legacy and higher density. Pike and Wayne counties, and the rural stretches of Monroe and Luzerne, are reliably Republican. That pull makes PA-08 one of the few districts nationally where either party has a realistic shot in any given cycle.
The Cook Political Report currently rates the 2026 race as “Lean Republican,” noting that Bresnahan “should have been favored to win in 2026 and beyond” but that “a series of stumbles has left Bresnahan more vulnerable than either party expected at the beginning of the cycle.”4Cook Political Report. Pennsylvania PA-08 House 2026
The 2026 Race
Pennsylvania’s 2026 primary is set for May 19, and the general election falls on November 3.5Ballotpedia. Pennsylvania Elections Bresnahan is expected to run for re-election. Two Democrats have entered the primary so far: Paige Cognetti, the former mayor of Scranton, and Eric Stone. Given the 2024 margin and the Cook rating, the race is expected to draw significant national spending on both sides.
How to Vote in PA-08
Pennsylvania requires voters to register at least 15 days before any election.6Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Voter Registration For the May 19, 2026 primary, that deadline is May 4. For the November 3 general election, it is October 19.7Pennsylvania Department of State. 2026 Pennsylvania Elections Important Dates to Remember Pennsylvania holds closed primaries: only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary and only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary.
Voters who want to vote by mail must apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot by May 12 for the primary and October 27 for the general.7Pennsylvania Department of State. 2026 Pennsylvania Elections Important Dates to Remember Completed ballots must be received by the county election office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. A postmark by that time is not enough.8Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ballot Return Locations
Returning in-person voters generally do not need to show identification. First-time voters at a polling place must present either a photo ID or a non-photo ID showing their name and address, such as a voter registration card, utility bill, or bank statement.9Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Voter Identification Requirements for In-Person Voting Registration status, polling places, and mail-ballot applications are all available through the Pennsylvania Department of State.