In another setback for Democrats, a recently unseated congressman has announced he will not attempt to reclaim his former seat—widely regarded as one of the most competitive House districts in the country.
Matt Cartwright, who served Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District from 2013 to 2019 and then the 8th District from 2019 to 2025 following redistricting, has confirmed he will not seek re-election. Despite President Trump’s repeated electoral success in the district, it still has more registered Democrats than Republicans, keeping it firmly in the spotlight as one of the top battleground districts heading into the 2026 midterms.
Cartwright lost his seat in November to U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) in a closely contested race decided by just over 6,000 votes. The victory was one of several key wins that helped Republicans secure control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
His decision not to run again is expected to make the Democratic path to reclaiming the district significantly more difficult, given its Republican tilt. Cartwright was one of the few Democrats to hold a seat in a district that voted for Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020.
The district, which includes parts of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Pittston, backed Trump by three points in 2020. In the most recent election, Trump expanded his margin to nine points.
Cartwright’s decision was first reported by D.C.-based outlet Punchbowl News, while sources close to the former congressman told WVIA that he will formally announce his plans on Thursday.
Potential Democratic contenders to replace Cartwright include Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo, state Representative Bridget Kosierowski, who represents a portion of Lackawanna County, and state Senator Marty Flynn, whose district covers parts of both Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.
“Over the past several weeks, as Congressman Cartwright was weighing his decision, he also had several conversations with me, as did several other interested parties,” Lombardo told WVIA. “At this point, I am evaluating my situation with consideration to the following: my family, and obviously myself, and where I am at this point in life, the future of the city, which I would hope no one doubts is extremely important to me and also the team that I have put in place in the city.”
