The mayor of Scranton made history on Tuesday night as Paige Cognetti defeated Republican Rob Bresnahan to win the 8th Congressional District seat.
Decision Desk HQ made the first call at 9 p.m. and NBC News joined in on the call at 9:43 p.m.
Cognetti has a 17-percentage point advantage over Bresnahan as of 9:52 p.m.
“Tonight, Northeastern Pennsylvania sent an unmistakable message. We’re tired of big corporations and wealthy donors calling the shots and rigging the system against the rest of us. And we’re tired of being told that this is just how Washington works. We are ready to take on Washington corruption and build a government that works as hard as the people it’s supposed to serve,” said Cognetti.
“I want to thank every single person who made this night possible. To our incredible volunteers who knocked on doors, made phone calls, put up signs, and showed up day after day. You believed in what we were fighting for. And tonight, all of your hard work has paid off.
“To everyone who voted for me, thank you for putting your trust in me. And to the people who didn’t vote for me, I’m going to work just as hard for you. Because whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or an Independent, whether you live in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, the Back Mountain, the Poconos, Hawley or Dingman’s Ferry, you deserve a representative who listens to you, respects you, and fights for you. That’s the kind of congresswoman I intend to be. This is a victory for everyone who believes our government should belong to the people.”
No mayor of the Electric City has moved onto a higher national political position since the early 1900s. And now Cognetti will head to D.C. to represent NEPA in Congress.
updated to include Cognetti quotes
