A political battle in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District has intensified, drawing attention to contrasting campaign tactics and personal imagery. The race features Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan and Democratic challenger Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, with both sides engaging in increasingly pointed attacks.
GOP Congressman’s Charity Event Footage Surfaces
Footage from 2023 showing Republican Congressman Rob Bresnahan participating in a charity event has recently resurfaced. The video captures Bresnahan trying on a pair of hot pink stiletto heels in preparation for the “Paint Pittston Pink Gentlemen’s Dash.” This event, held in Pittston, Pennsylvania, involves men racing in high heels to raise funds for cancer research. In the clip, Bresnahan is seen selecting the shoes and testing them on a treadmill, indicating his intention to wear them for the event.
Democratic Campaign Criticizes GOP Ad Featuring Drag Performer
In parallel, Bresnahan’s campaign, supported by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), has released a campaign commercial targeting Mayor Paige Cognetti. The advertisement features Cognetti alongside a drag performer known as Lady Lydia, whose legal name is Frank Carey. The ad’s narration asserts that Cognetti supports policies that would allegedly “force grown men in girls’ bathrooms and women’s sports.” The photograph used in the commercial was taken at a 2025 Pride flag-raising ceremony at Scranton City Hall, where Cognetti appeared with Lady Lydia.
The advertisement has drawn a strong reaction. Lady Lydia has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for potential legal action aimed at having the advertisement removed. The fundraiser, titled “NOT a Political Prop: Stand with Lady Lydia,” argues that the ad unfairly targets and misrepresents Carey’s activism and likeness. As of Friday afternoon, the campaign had reportedly raised nearly $3,000.
Lady Lydia also addressed the controversy on social media, stating, “This was certainly never a situation I expected to find myself in, and asking for help isn’t always easy. But sometimes you have to stand up and say enough is enough.” He expressed gratitude for the support received and affirmed a commitment to addressing the situation.
Republican Campaign Defends Attacks
Representatives for the Republican campaign have defended their advertising strategy. Reilly Richardson, a spokesperson for the NRCC, pointed to images posted on social media that depicted children at the Pride event. Richardson also noted that Carey has used other online personas, including the name “Chlamydia Berns.”
Richardson stated, “Paige Cognetti is sending her left-wing buddies out to do her dirty work and try to prevent Republicans from telling the truth about her in Northeast Pennsylvania.” He further contended that Cognetti “owes voters answers for her voluntary association with activist groups who are pushing sex change surgeries for kids and why she chose to appear with someone who refers to themselves as ‘Chlamydia Berns’ at an event with small children present.”
Democratic Campaign Responds to GOP Attacks
In response to the Republican attacks, the Cognetti campaign has utilized the resurfaced footage of Congressman Bresnahan in pink stilettos as a counterpoint. Samantha Bullock, a spokesperson for Bresnahan’s campaign, criticized Mayor Cognetti and the Democrats, describing their priorities as “out of touch” and lacking “standards and morals.” Bullock stated, “It doesn’t get more abhorrent than a slimy politician like Paige Cognetti allowing her allies to try comparing raising money for breast cancer to a grown man dressing in drag in front of children and families for fun.”
There is no public record of Mayor Cognetti explicitly endorsing policies that would allow men in women’s sports or restrooms. However, in 2021, she publicly supported a Scranton event aimed at transgender and nonbinary individuals, emphasizing the importance of schools as places for education free from discrimination. She has also voiced support for transgender youth, stating, “trans youth belong here in PA.”
District Dynamics and Primary Results
The race for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District is considered closely watched. Preliminary results from the May primaries indicate a potential advantage for Cognetti, as Democratic voters showed higher turnout. Cognetti secured 58,726 votes in the Democratic primary, winning 100 percent of the vote within the district. Bresnahan ran unopposed in the Republican primary, receiving 38,075 votes.
Conclusion
The escalating political discourse in the Pennsylvania 8th Congressional District highlights the use of personal imagery and targeted messaging in modern campaigns. As the election approaches, both Bresnahan and Cognetti are employing distinct strategies to appeal to voters, with the campaign’s tone reflecting a broader national conversation on social issues and political conduct.
