In a move to bolster support for U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan’s re-election campaign, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson made a notable stop in Moosic. The visit on Friday afternoon was part of a fundraising effort hosted at the residence of local entrepreneur William Rosado, known for his ventures in the automobile and restaurant industries.
Borys Krawczeniuk
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WVIA News
The event, which was not open to media, saw Johnson arriving at 2:30 p.m. and departing around 4 p.m., with numerous vehicles parked along the nearby streets of Amato and Glenmaura.
Attendance and Support
Prominent figures at the fundraiser included former U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood, Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak, and Wyoming County District Attorney Joseph Peters. Other attendees were Lance Stange, ex-chairman of the Lackawanna County Republican Party, and Vince Galko, a Republican consultant. State Rep. Robert Leadbeter, R-Columbia, television talk show host Chuck Volpe, and David Demas of a federal prison guard union local also participated. A visible sign reading “Union Members for Rob Bresnahan” was displayed on the property.
The 35-year-old Bresnahan, a Republican serving his first term, is challenged by Scranton’s Democratic Mayor, Paige Cognetti, 45, for the 8th Congressional District seat.
Opposition’s Viewpoint
Cognetti, although unavailable for direct comment, expressed criticism through a campaign statement: “Rob Bresnahan and Mike Johnson are part of a broken and corrupt Washington that allows politicians to get richer while NEPA families get sold out,” she said. “It’s laughable they’re touting their work together in D.C., which includes devastating cuts to our healthcare system and higher prices at the pump. We deserve so much better.”
Critical Contest Ahead
With the 8th district emerging as a focal point for both parties, the upcoming election is anticipated to be fiercely competitive. The district is among four in Pennsylvania that Democrats have marked for a potential win. Johnson’s Moosic visit was one of several stops aimed at supporting Republicans in these key races. Prior to this event, he had attended a fundraiser for Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in Allentown.
The district’s seat has consistently drawn significant attention, with Bresnahan previously defeating Matt Cartwright by a narrow margin of 1.6 percentage points in 2024, an election marked by substantial financial investments from both sides.
Johnson’s previous fundraising efforts for Bresnahan include an event on May 20, 2024, in Dallas Twp., while House Majority Leader Steve Scalise campaigned for him in Kingston and West Pittston in 2024.
Encompassing Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike counties, as well as parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties, the 8th district remains a battleground for both parties.
