{"id":641,"date":"2026-08-26T02:36:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T02:36:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/capitolpulsed.com\/?p=641"},"modified":"2026-08-26T02:36:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T02:36:09","slug":"speaker-mike-johnson-stumps-in-pa-07-and-pa-08-for-gop-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capitolpulsed.com\/?p=641","title":{"rendered":"Speaker Mike Johnson Stumps In PA-07 and PA-08 For GOP Candidates"},"content":{"rendered":"
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House Speaker Mike Johnson is spending the August recess traveling across the country as Republicans confront a fight to protect their House majority in November.<\/p>\n

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The Louisiana Republican campaigned with vulnerable GOP incumbents and candidates as economic concerns, high prices, and the continuing conflict with Iran threaten to complicate the party\u2019s midterm message.<\/p>\n

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Johnson traveled to two of Pennsylvania\u2019s most competitive congressional districts Wednesday, rallying alongside Republican Reps. Ryan Mackenzie and Rob Bresnahan as the GOP works to defend its House majority against an aggressive Democratic push.<\/p>\n

Johnson made stops in Allentown and Wilkes-Barre, throwing his support behind two Republican incumbents facing closely watched reelection battles that could help determine which party controls the House.<\/p>\n

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Democrats have placed the seats held by Mackenzie in Pennsylvania\u2019s 7th Congressional District and Bresnahan in the 8th District high on their target list.<\/p>\n

Johnson, arguing that control of the U.S. House may come down to 20 total races across the country, called this a \u201ccode red\u201d moment for Republicans to get out and vote.<\/p>\n

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Two other Pennsylvania seats are also being pursued by Democrats as the party looks for opportunities to flip enough districts to seize control of the chamber and return Johnson to the minority.<\/p>\n

Standing with Mackenzie during his Lehigh Valley swing, Johnson framed the November contest as a fundamental choice between two sharply different political directions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis election is going to be a choice for the people, a contrast election,\u201d said Johnson standing alongside Mackenzie. \u201cI hope that they send this workhorse back because he\u2019s done an extraordinary job for Pennsylvania and the 7th District.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson argued that the ideological divide between Republicans and Democrats has become increasingly pronounced, pointing to tensions between the Democratic establishment and the party\u2019s socialist wing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSocialism and communism is a deadly road. It leads to poverty, destruction, human suffering and sometimes death,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIt\u2019s a contrast between common sense and frankly, crazy, and that\u2019s what the other side represents now.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongressman Ryan Mackenzie has fulfilled his promises, earned a reputation as a truly effective legislator, and delivered for hard-working families across PA-07.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania stop included a visit to the Upper Saucon Volunteer Fire Department, where Mackenzie highlighted his efforts on behalf of firefighters and other emergency personnel.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are fighting for them every single day to make sure they have the resources, so they can recruit, retain and ultimately serve our local community.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Johnson and Mackenzie arrived at the fire department after attending a fundraiser earlier in the day at Saucon Valley Country Club.<\/p>\n

The stakes in the district are high.<\/p>\n

The Cook Political Report currently rates Pennsylvania\u2019s 7th Congressional District as a \u201ctoss-up,\u201d making it one of three races in the state carrying that designation.<\/p>\n

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After campaigning with Mackenzie, Johnson traveled northeast to Wilkes-Barre, where he appeared at the Mary Stegmaier Mansion to bolster Bresnahan\u2019s campaign against Democratic challenger and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti.<\/p>\n

Johnson touted Bresnahan\u2019s record in Washington, particularly on border security, taxes and government spending, while accusing Cognetti of representing Democratic policies he said have failed working-class voters.<\/p>\n

\u201cRob Bresnahan knows exactly who he works for: the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania,\u201d said the Speaker.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Congress, Rob has been a strong partner in securing our border, cutting taxes for working families, and eliminating waste and fraud in Washington. Meanwhile, for two decades Paige Cognetti has embraced the out-of-touch policies championed by the Democrat Party that have left hardworking men and women, like the ones who make up the backbone of this district, behind. We need Rob in Washington to keep fighting for workers and families,\u201d Johnson added.<\/p>\n

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Like the Mackenzie contest, the Bresnahan-Cognetti showdown is expected to be one of the most important House races in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

The Cook Political Report also classifies the 8th Congressional District as a \u201ctoss-up.\u201d<\/p>\n

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