During an exclusive interview with 48 Hours in Electric City on Oct. 25, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti spoke about why Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris would be best for Scranton.
Cognetti, Scranton’s first female mayor in the city’s 168-year history, emphasized Harris’s experience in local politics, highlighting her 8-year tenure as district attorney, as critical to her fitness for presidency.
“Kamala Harris understands and respects local government,” the mayor said, adding that Harris can relate to challenges that communities like Scranton face.
During the interview, Cognetti commended the Biden administration’s proactive and communicative approach to supporting the city of Scranton. “Not only can we call, but they proactively call us,” the mayor said. “Mayors need that. Communities need that.”
Cognetti expressed confidence that a Harris administration would uphold a specific worldview in which local politics matter. “We know that a Harris administration would continue the work of the Biden administration,” the mayor said.
The mayor specifically referenced the nearly $25 million grant the city received from the Biden administration for stormwater infrastructure projects through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in response to flooding the city experienced in 2023. “That’s really huge for individuals that don’t have to worry about their basements flooding,” Cognetti said, “but also for big picture economic growth.”
Cognetti reflected on the stark contrast in federal support during the Trump and Biden administrations. “There was no help from the federal government during COVID in 2020; the information was confusing,” the mayor said, recalling the early days of the pandemic. “We had, thankfully, the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Fauci, and credible sources from the federal government, but certainly not from the White House.”
At a Harris campaign rally at the Scranton Cultural Center later that day, Cognetti and other local community leaders introduced her running mate, Governor Tim Walz. During her remarks to the hundreds of supporters in attendance, Cognetti warned of the implications of a second Trump presidency. “You know what it’s like under the Trump administration,” she said. “There is no one picking up that phone.”
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
As attention on swing states like Pennsylvania reaches a fever pitch ahead of the 2024 election, the mayor’s support underscores the broader implications of a possible Harris presidency for Scranton.
“I really want to continue to have Harris in the White House so that we can continue that communication, continue that help, and continue to grow the programs that are helping us here in Scranton,” Cognetti said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have the federal funding from the Biden Harris administration that unlocks the possibility to redo so many parks, so many pools, and City Hall,” she continued, referencing the ongoing first renovation of Scranton’s City Hall since 1888.
Thanks to the Biden administration, the stained glass windows of Scranton’s City Hall are going to be cleaned for the very first time.
“It’s going to be gorgeous,” the mayor said.
