Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) and Democrat Paige Cognetti faced off Thursday night on a WVIA News-hosted debate as they compete for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, a race the Cook Political Report rates as a toss-up.
One of the most prominent topics ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms was the war in Iran, which has added to voter frustration amid rising gas prices and broader economic worries.
Cognetti, Scranton's mayor since 2020, charged that the Trump administration and Congress have lacked transparency about the military action, stating, "we need real diplomacy, and we need to make sure that we are treating our American service members with respect." She added, "Congressman Bresnahan has voted for it six times, as recently as last September...The American people deserve answers."
Bresnahan, who has broken with President Trump, said the conflict has lasted "far too long" and that the mission is "accomplished." He opposed ground troops and argued the war "absolutely needs to end," noting it should not dictate domestic issues.
He linked the conflict to energy policy, asserting, "It's a perfect reason why we need to domestically produce and refine natural gas and energy right here in the United States...there's no reason we should be depending on Middle East oil."
When questioned about data center development, Cognetti criticized Bresnahan, saying, "There are so many data center proposals...Congressman Bresnahan invited them...We need to make sure that if data centers do go through...the end-user tech company, the developer, local union labor-they all need to be at the table."
Bresnahan responded that a Scranton City Council data-center ordinance has sat idle for over eight months. He highlighted his authorship of the Local Control Protection Act, emphasizing local decision-making for community projects.
Near the debate's close, Bresnahan noted his willingness to oppose his party and Trump, citing his vote for a Democratic-backed discharge petition to force a floor vote on extending expired Affordable Care Act subsidies.
He summed up his record, saying, "Every single time I put my voting card into that machine, it's for northeastern Pennsylvania."
The Hill's Decision Desk HQ predicts Cognetti holds a narrow edge to capture the Keystone State's House seat.
