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WVIA Election 2026 Liveblog
Follow along with WVIA News today for the most up-to-date Election Coverage. The News Team is checking in at voting precincts, talking to voters and covering any issues in the region with election updates at wvia.org throughout the day, ending with the most complete results in the top-contested races.
Follow WVIA News as the team brings coverage of key races across the region, including web and radio updates
Stay connected with WVIA News
● Listen for updates during All Things Considered starting at 4 p.m., and a live conversation with our reporters shortly after 6:30 p.m. You can listen on the air or use the feed on our website.
● We'll continue to check with voters and election officials to see how things are progressing at polling stations.
● And check back with us after the polls close, as WVIA News will bring you coverage of key races across the region, including web and radio updates.
Bresnahan votes in Dallas Twp. as he seeks second congressional term for 8th district
It was overcast and cool at the Dallas Twp. Police Department. Poll supervisors said voter traffic had been steady and that about ten people lined up outside before polls opened at 7 a.m.
A steady stream of voters moved through the polling location, seemingly unaware that the congressman would be doing his civic duty shortly after them.
U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan and his wife Chelsea walked hand in hand to cast their ballots around 10:30 this morning. Bresnahan seeks a second term in Congress for Pennsylvania's 8th district against Democratic challenger Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti.
Bresnahan surrendered his mail-in ballot, thanking the poll workers as he went. A voter next to him in line greeted him and shook his hand. The Bresnahans sat behind their dividers to fill out their ballots.
“I gotta go back, I need to get a sticker,” he said as he exited the polling station.
He jokingly said he was not one of the district’s undecided voters.
“There's a moment there that you're like, wow, I can't believe I'm voting for myself… Just like when you walk on to the House floor to cast a vote, there's a surreal moment about it, and it's not lost on me because this is my home. This is where I grew up, and this is where I'll die,” Bresnahan said.
Bresnahan reflected on his first congressional term and his reelection campaign.
“This has been a long road over the last two years. Looking back at the team, the official operation, we didn't leave anything on the field. What should happen will happen. I feel that we have represented Northeastern Pennsylvania in the best possible way,” he said.
The campaign will spend the day traveling around the district to greet voters and poll workers. Regardless of the election results, Bresnahan said he wants today to be about gratitude.
“Today it's about showing appreciation to each and every person that we can, that took the time to come out and cast their ballot, whether it's for me or not for me. To be a part of the democratic process is extremely encouraging,” he said.
Outside the Police Department, supporters of various candidates handed out flyers or just showed off their candidate pins.
Steve Boyanowski came to support Cognetti.
Boyanowski said fighting corruption and the cost of living drove him to vote for Cognetti this Election Day.
He served in Vietnam. His father before him served in World War II, and his son served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Voting is a privilege. Being a veteran and my son a veteran and dad a veteran, we fought for the right to vote. We don't want anybody to take that right away, and/or to infringe upon it,” Boyanowski said.
Election directors report mostly high turnout for midterm election
Election directors across Northeast and Northcentral Pennsylvania reported heavy turnout in several counties, but no trouble at polls.
“No major widespread issues to report. I have heard from some polls that they are busy this morning,” Bradford County elections director Renee Smithkors said.
In Pike County, elections director Nadeen Manzoni said poll officials reported “high turnout.”
“We have just over 8,000 mail ballots returned, so I think turnout this election will be great!” Manzoni said.
Lindsay Phillips, chief registrar for Northumberland County, reported no issues at polls.
“Actually, we’ve had precincts report to us a high voter turnout for in-person (balloting),” Phillips said.
“No major issues at the polls. Reports of high turnout so far!” said Amy Christopher, Wayne County Elections director.
Beth Hopkins, Lackawanna County elections director, saw a “pretty normal morning for a general election” and no issues at polling places.
“The phones were busy early this morning with voters checking their status and where they vote, etc.” Hopkins said. “I have not heard anything about turnout.”
In Wyoming County, a road detour for a bridge project inconvenienced some voters headed to a polling place at 716 Fieldsbrook Road in Nicholas Twp., county elections director Flo Kellett said.
“I just found out on Friday that the bridge was closed and a detour in place,” Kellett said. “Township supervisors said they are placing signs for a quicker way to the polling location.
In Sullivan County, elections and voter registration director Nicole Lutz said poll workers reported only “average” turnout as of mid-morning.
Cognetti votes with family in Scranton, feels energized in bid for 8th Congressional District seat
Brooke and Sloane Cognetti watched their mother vote in Scranton on Tuesday morning.
By the end of the night, voters could elect her as the 8th Congressional District’s next representative.
Paige Cognetti, 46, a Democrat and leader of Lackawanna County’s largest municipality, hopes to deny Rob Bresnahan, 36, a Republican who lives in Dallas Twp., Luzerne County, a second term in Congress.
The hotly contested campaign is one of the most-watched, as Democrats attempt to regain control of the House. The campaign also is one of the costliest, with about $28 million worth of advertising for the race as of mid-October.
Campaign volunteers greeted the mayor outside Isaac Tripp Elementary School.
“We are so excited to be here,” she said. “You go so hard for so long… I'm so excited to have so many incredible volunteers, so much momentum.”
With Scranton schools closed on Election Day, gyms and cafeterias become polling places.
Cognetti, along with her husband, Ryan, and Brooke, 3, and Sloane, 6, sat at a cafeteria table. The parents filled out their ballots, and all four received “I voted” stickers after inserting the ballots into the machine.
The mayor’s proud parents, Lynda and Robert Gebhardt, watched from the school lobby.
Volunteers knocked on 25,000 doors in the district this weekend, and a rally at Stirna’s Restaurant on Monday night further energized supporters, Cognetti said.
“Today is finally here,” she said. “This is a serious job to represent people. When you're a mayor, you understand that… I walk outside my door on Euclid Avenue every day, and whoever's walking their dog might have something that they want to make sure that they talk to me about. That's what public service is, and with Rob Bresnahan, we see somebody who doesn't understand what it means to serve.”
Natalie Nee, 61, went to the polls thinking about the economy, gas prices and data centers. She shook the mayor’s hand and then voted for her.
“She's a woman, and I think men have been running this country for far too long,” Nee said. “I absolutely trust her.”
Another voter expressed displeasure with the mayor, stating that she should finish projects she started in Scranton before seeking office in Washington, D.C.
Wearing her “lucky boots,” Cognetti headed out to start a busy day. After voting in Scranton, she planned to meet with voters in Luzerne County.
Keep following for more updates at wvia.org throughout the day.
Slow start, but voting expected to pick up around lunchtime
People leave the polling place at St. Nicholas/St. Mary Parish in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday morning. Campaign volunteers outside the polling place said turnout had been low so far this morning, but they expected it would pick up around lunchtime.
People leave the polling place at St. Nicholas/St. Mary Parish in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday morning. Campaign volunteers outside the polling place said turnout had been low so far this morning, but they expected it would pick up around lunchtime.
Polls are open for 2026 general election in Northeast and Northcentral Pennsylvania
Polls are open in Pennsylvania for the 2026 general election and will remain open until 8 p.m.
Voters in Northeast Pennsylvania can expect clear and generally pleasant conditions in the region as they head to the polls, the National Weather Service says. The weather should be mostly sunny, with a high near 69 accompanied by light and variable wind. Temperatures will dip as the sun goes down, with a low around 48 and a light south wind. NWS calls for similar conditions in the Williamsport area, but with some patchy fog.
Here are some key things to know as you head out to vote or await returns:
What's up around the region?
Key races and trends to watch:
CONGRESS
Four hotly contested Congressional seats in the eastern half of the state could go a long way toward influencing whether Democrats regain control of the U.S. House, and two of the four are in the northeast.
One is the 8th Congressional District matchup between U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, a Republican, and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, a Democrat. The other is the Lehigh Valley-based 7th Congressional District contest between U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, a Republican, and retired firefighter Bob Brooks, a Democrat.
PA HOUSE
In the state House, 26 seats are on the ballot in Northeast and Northcentral Pennsylvania. Republicans are trying to flip at least two seats to regain control for the first time since 2022.
In this region, Wilkes-Barre Councilperson Jessica McClay, a Democrat, faces Republican information technology company executive Michael Harostock in a contest to succeed retiring Democrat Eddie Day Pashinski in the 121st District.
GOVERNOR, PA SENATE
Gov. Josh Shapiro, far ahead of Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity in polling in the gubernatorial race, wants a second four-year term but is also aggressively pursuing a Democratic trifecta that will give his party control of the state House and Senate for the first time since March 1994. Democrats control the House by a 103-100 margin, but Republicans lead in the Senate by 27-23.
One of the four competitive Senate seats is in the northeast. Sen. Rosemary Brown, a Monroe County Republican, faces Brian Wrightson, a Lackawanna County Democrat. The 40th Senate District includes parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties.
Two other Senate races in the region are also on the ballot. In the 20th Senate District, longtime incumbent Sen. Lisa Baker faces Democrat Jackie Baker. In the 22nd Senate District, Sen. Marty Flynn, a Democrat, faces Republican Sharon Soltis Sparano.
You can read more about those races and other contests around the region here.
Basic information for voters
● The Pennsylvania Department of State provides essential basic information for voters on the voting process, as well as how to contact individual county election offices, election security, how to file an election complaint, and more. You can find that here.
WVIA News host Sydney Allabaugh will bring listeners updates on how voting proceeds during the 2026 Pennsylvania midterm election as part of her 'All Things Considered' broadcasts on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Stay connected with WVIA News throughout the day
● We'll be checking in with voters and election officials during the day to see how things are progressing at polling stations.
● Listen for updates during All Things Considered starting at 4 p.m., and a live conversation with our reporters shortly after 6:30 p.m. You can listen on the air or use the feed on our website.
●And check back with us after the polls close as WVIA News will bring you coverage of key races across the region, including web and radio updates.