BRIEFING ROOM

Each month, we highlight candidates in the toughest races with the most at stake. These candidates will be on JAC’s side in Congress. We need to make sure they get there. DONATE NOW.

Paige Cognetti (PA-8)

Paige is in her third term as mayor of Scranton, PA. She was the first woman ever elected mayor of Scranton and was eight months pregnant when she won. She ran for reelection and won a full term with over 71% of the vote. 

She has built an impressive record of accomplishments for her city, improving public safety, housing, and overall quality of life. She now wants to bring her reform-focused leadership to Washington.

PA-8 is considered a politically moderate and swing seat. The GOP incumbent, Rob Bresnahan Jr., won the seat by a razor-thin margin in 2024. He is among the largest stock traders in Congress. 

Paige will be a strong voice for reproductive freedom in Congress. She has pledged to protect abortion access, contraception, and IVF at the federal level. She is also an advocate for stricter gun violence prevention measures, including universal background checks, and has emphasized reducing gun violence in communities.

"This is about much more than abortion; it's about much more than contraception. It's more about IVF. It's about control. It's about controlling women, it's about controlling an economy for the select few…”

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Cait Conley (NY-17)

Cait, a West Point graduate, served for 16 years as a decorated Army officer, including in special operations leadership, deploying to combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan six times and earning three Bronze Stars. 

As Director of Counterterrorism at the White House and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, she will bring her national security experience to Congress. Election security and the protection of democratic institutions will be among her top priorities.

This is an extremely competitive seat. It is one of the few Republican-held seats that Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024. NY-17 is fiercely competitive because it is a highly diverse swing district with a nearly even partisan split. The Cook Political Report rates the race as a toss-up, and it could be one of the marquee House contests in the country.

Cait supports a strong U.S.–Israel relationship, Israel’s right to exist as a secure, democratic Jewish state, continued support for Israel’s security, and a two-state solution. She has also emphasized that supporting Israel and criticizing Israeli government policies can coexist.

"I can support the Israeli people and the State of Israel, and still criticize Netanyahu and some of the decisions being made by his administration." 

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Marni Von Wilpert (CA-48)

Marni is an attorney, prosecutor, and San Diego City Council member. She flipped one of San Diego’s most conservative council seats, demonstrating she can build the broad coalition needed to win tough races. 

After CA redistricting, CA-48 has become a more competitive, Democratic-leaning district. As an open GOP seat, the Dems have an excellent chance to win and regain the House majority.

Voters in the redrawn district supported Kamala Harris by about 3 points in 2024 but also leaned slightly toward Gov. Newsom’s opponent in the 2022 gubernatorial election, making it a true toss-up for both parties.

Marni authored and helped pass an ordinance, making San Diego the first city in California to ban the sale, possession, and transport of untraceable ghost guns. She also wrote legislation that prevents the city from purchasing firearms or awarding city contracts to gun dealers with histories of unlawful transfers, straw purchases, or failure to conduct background checks.

“We must do everything in our power to prevent the startling rise in gun violence fueled by ‘ghost guns’ in our communities. Allowing the sale of untraceable guns to go unchecked in our (communities) is unacceptable.”

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