Scranton Democrat McHale won't run for Congress

His decision not to run clears a path for Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti in the Democratic primary.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Scranton Democrat Francis McHale recently decided not to run for Congress after announcing in August plans to enter the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District seat. His change of heart means one less potential hurdle for Democratic Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti to clear in the May primary in her pursuit of a November midterm election matchup with incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan.

Why it matters

McHale's decision not to run removes a potential challenger for Cognetti, who was already the clear favorite for the Democratic nomination. This could help Cognetti focus her campaign efforts on the general election against the Republican incumbent.

The details

McHale, a retired state administrative officer and self-described 'pro-life Democrat' opposed to the Trump administration's sweeping immigration crackdowns, said the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's support for Cognetti and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's endorsement of her were factors in his decision not to run. He believes he could beat Bresnahan but doesn't think he'd make it through a Democratic primary against Cognetti.

  • McHale announced plans to enter the Democratic primary in August 2025.
  • McHale recently decided not to run for Congress.
  • The primary election is scheduled for May 19, 2026.

The players

Francis McHale

A Scranton Democrat and retired state administrative officer who previously ran for Congress in 2000 and 2018.

Paige Gebhardt Cognetti

The Democratic mayor of Scranton who announced her Congressional bid in September 2025 and secured the endorsement of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Rob Bresnahan

The incumbent Republican U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, who won the seat in 2024.

Matt Cartwright

The six-term Democratic incumbent U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, who was defeated by Bresnahan in 2024.

Eric Bryan Stone

A third Democrat who filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission in October 2025, though his potential campaign plans remain unclear.

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What they’re saying

“I could spend $100,000 of my own money and not even come close, and so I thought to myself: 'Why?' She's got a very tough road ahead of her and … I don't want to be viewed as a disrupter. I'm a Democrat. I'm a pro-life Democrat, but I'm a Democrat. I hope she can pull it off and that's basically it.”

— Francis McHale, Retired state administrative officer (The Times-Tribune)

What’s next

The deadline for prospective candidates seeking spots on the primary election ballots to file their nomination petitions is March 10, 2026. Other challengers could emerge by that date.

The takeaway

McHale's decision not to run removes a potential obstacle for Cognetti in the Democratic primary, allowing her to focus her campaign efforts on the general election against the Republican incumbent. However, other challengers could still emerge before the filing deadline, making the primary race more competitive.