Paige Gebhardt Cognetti
Cognetti told an interviewer she "vehemently support[s] Israel's right to defend itself" and would take seriously "Congress' role in ensuring they have the military aid that they need," and that the United States "has been and will continue to be its most staunch ally" to Israel.
Cognetti is the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 8th District and the mayor of Scranton.
In a January 2026 interview she described the subject as straightforward for her. The outlet reports that she called "the Israel question," as she put it, "very simple." Her words: "I vehemently support Israel's right to defend itself," she said, "and would take extremely seriously Congress' role in ensuring they have the military aid that they need to defend themselves in a really dangerous neighborhood."
On why she frames it that way: "Some people have let themselves kind of get away from that simple answer, which is, Israel is surrounded by people who do not believe they should exist." And: "The United States," she vowed, "has been and will continue to be its most staunch ally."
She tied the position to her district's economy, pointing to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, which produces artillery shells for U.S. forces and for shipment to allies including Israel and Ukraine.
She has no federal voting record.
No statement was located from her on U.S. humanitarian aid to Palestinians, or on conditioning transfers.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2026-01-22] Jewish Insider interview, opened and confirmed word for word: "I vehemently support Israel's right to defend itself," she explained, "and would take extremely seriously Congress' role in ensuring they have the military aid that they need to defend themselves in a really dangerous neighborhood." The outlet's framing sentence, also confirmed: she "said 'the Israel question,' as she called it, is 'very simple' for her."
- [Position, 2026-01-22, reported] In the same interview she pointed to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant to underscore her support for defence manufacturing, noting it produces artillery shells for domestic defence and for shipment to allies including Israel and Ukraine. The opened page confirms the plant reference follows immediately after the quotation above.
- No statement located on conditioning, withholding or restricting transfers.
- She has no federal voting record.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- No statement or documented position located.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2026-01-22] Confirmed verbatim: "Some people have let themselves kind of get away from that simple answer, which is, Israel is surrounded by people who do not believe they should exist." And: "The United States," she vowed, "has been and will continue to be its most staunch ally."
- [After October 7, 2023-10, reported] Spoke publicly in support of Israel after the October 7 attacks while serving as mayor. From the weeks right after October 7; no source supplied.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2026-01-22, reported] In the same interview: "There is some really, really dangerous rhetoric, and we need to call that out."
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Position, 2026-01-22, reported] Raised concerns about rising antisemitism across the political spectrum, calling anti-Jewish hate antithetical to "core American values." Safety context, never an answer about U.S. weapons or funding.
Note on sources
- Seven entries, of which **the same Jewish Insider interview accounts for three**. One is a Facebook login wall rather than a readable post, and one is a newsletter PDF. The remainder are Ballotpedia and Wikipedia. Effectively one substantive source, opened and verified.
Also in this race: Jr. Robert P. Bresnahan (Republican) · All Pennsylvania candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.