Voters turned out at a rapid pace in Scranton on Tuesday as Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan faced Democratic Mayor Paige Cognetti in a close congressional contest. Across Pennsylvania and neighboring New Jersey, President Donald Trump was central to many voters’ decisions, even though his name was absent from the ballot.
The election carried stakes for control of the U.S. House and Pennsylvania Senate, alongside Pennsylvania’s race for governor. Lauren Cristella, executive director of the nonpartisan Committee of Seventy, said statewide turnout was likely to surpass 50%, despite the absence of highly competitive races in the population centers of Philadelphia and Allegheny County. She said voting appeared to proceed smoothly and federal monitors had flagged no problems.
Among the issues voters identified were the economy, ICE, the war with Iran and AI data centers. Their assessments of Trump varied sharply. In Margate, retired Philadelphia police officer Bill Grutzmacher, 73, backed the president because of his support for Israel and law and order. Debra Fitzgerald, 67, voting in Abington Township, described the administration as appalling. Democratic greeter Risa DeSilva-King, 43, credited Trump with motivating the steady traffic she observed at her Drexel Hill polling place.
Several congressional races attracted particular attention. In politically competitive Bucks County, Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick faced Democrat Bob Harvie in a closely watched contest. Democrats also hoped to capture three other Pennsylvania seats, including that of Trump ally Scott Perry, who faced Janelle Stelson. Near Perry’s home, voters filled the parking lot at Monaghan Presbyterian Church in Dillsburg by 7:15 a.m.
In New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, Republican Jeff Van Drew’s contest against Democratic Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock had tightened after Van Drew was initially heavily favored. At the Erma Volunteer Fire Co. in Cape May County, retired driving school owner Mike Lawrence, 81, said he supported an entirely Republican ticket and valued Van Drew’s follow-through. He dismissed suggestions that a Democratic wave would reach deep South Jersey.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s strength at the top of the Democratic ticket encouraged his party’s hopes of winning the state Senate for the first time in decades. Polling had pointed strongly toward his return to office against Republican Stacy Garrity, and the results supported that expectation. His anticipated large victory also prompted discussion of a possible presidential campaign in 2028.
Support for Shapiro sometimes came with qualifications. Millie Grieve, a 19-year-old Democrat casting her first federal election ballot in Swarthmore, supported him despite disagreements over policies including AI data centers. In Northeast Philadelphia, Audrey Lamping offered a more straightforward endorsement of his performance as governor.
In Bucks County, campaign advertising was a recurring source of irritation. Voters complained about frequent texts, mailers and negative commercials. The Inquirer reported in October that Fitzpatrick was on course to spend more on advertising than in his previous three campaigns combined, while Harvie was nearing $1 million in spending. Independent voter Kathy Johnson, 71, criticized the expense and said she would give Harvie a chance. Langhorne pastor Gary Ray Caton, 76, expressed strong dislike for Fitzpatrick but considered retaining congressional control decisive.
