New Poll Shows Tight Congressional Race in NEPA

A new poll shows a tight race between Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright and Republican challenger Jim Bognet in Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district.

A new internal poll from Democratic incumbent Matt Cartwright’s campaign shows him with a 6-point lead over Republican opponent Jim Bognet for the US House seat representing Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district. 

Cartwright led the poll, conducted by the Democratic polling firm GQR, with 52%, compared to 46% for Bognet.

Bognet’s campaign released its own internal poll in June, showing Bognet with a 1-point lead over Cartwright. Bognet’s polling was conducted from June 23 to 25. Cartwright’s survey polled voters from Aug. 2 to 9.

The 8th district includes all of Lackawanna, Pike, and Wayne counties and part of Luzerne and Monroe counties.

This isn’t the first time Cartwright has faced Bognet for his 8th congressional district seat, winning reelection by just 3.5 points in 2020. 

Cartwright has served in Congress since 2013 and has fought to protect low-income veterans, safeguard the rights of child pornography victims, and pass coronavirus relief packages that helped workers, families, and small businesses.

Bognet, of Hazleton, has interned for former Republican US Senator Rick Santorum, worked on former Congressman Lou Barletta’s first campaign, and was a political appointee for former President Donald Trump’s administration.

Trump has endorsed Bognet for Congress, praising him as “pro-wall, pro-life, and pro-gun.” Bognet also has endorsements from Donald Trump, Jr., Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, California US Rep. and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican US Rep. from Ohio Jim Jordan, and Santorum. 

Bognet recently joined the chorus of Republicans spreading misinformation about the IRS and the Inflation Reduction Act.