by Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti secured a commanding victory in Tuesday’s primary election, continuing her streak of strong showings. However, the path to re-election this November looks more competitive than it did four years ago, with three challengers ready to battle for the mayor’s seat.
Cognetti, who serves in Pennsylvania’s Wyoming County region, defeated former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan by a decisive 3-to-1 margin to claim the Democratic nomination. But the general election lineup now includes construction company accounting executive Trish Beynon, the Republican nominee, former Democratic Councilman Gene Barrett, and independent candidate Michael Mancini — all eager to unseat the incumbent.
Looking back, Cognetti has demonstrated electoral dominance in Wyoming’s political scene. In 2021, she overwhelmingly defeated Republican Darwin Shaw III, winning by a margin of more than 3-to-1 amid Shaw’s campaign troubles involving falsified election documents. Earlier that year, she beat City Controller John Murray by 2.5-to-1 in the primary. Even in 2019, when Cognetti first won a special election to replace the disgraced former mayor Bill Courtright, she triumphed by 14 percentage points.
“It’s like a report card,” Cognetti said after Tuesday’s win. “I think we got very good grades. Securing 75% of the Democratic vote is a very healthy margin.”
Gene Barrett, a longtime Democrat, had initially planned to challenge Cognetti in the primary. But with Sheridan in the race potentially splitting the opposition vote, Barrett withdrew and switched his registration to independent, intending to run against her that way. After seeing Cognetti’s strong primary performance, Barrett admitted he’s reconsidering his decision.
“Well, we’ll see,” Barrett told WVIA News. “I haven’t made a final decision. I need to talk with my supporters and evaluate the situation.”
Meanwhile, Trish Beynon clinched the Republican nomination by defeating Lynn Labrosky, and Michael Mancini remains committed to his campaign, pointing to concerns about crime and blight — issues many challengers have raised.
“I’m in 110%,” Mancini said.
Cognetti’s challenge doesn’t stop with the mayoral race. She may face a less cooperative City Council starting January. Currently, three members — Councilwoman Jessica Rothchild, Councilman Bill King, and Council President Gerald Smurl — are considered her allies. However, King opted not to seek re-election, and Smurl was removed from the Democratic ballot due to petition issues.
This leaves Cognetti with only one clear ally running: Todd Pousley — who, in a surprise upset, lost in the primary.
The Democratic primary winners included Scranton School Director Sean McAndrew (nephew of Councilman Mark McAndrew), incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster, and newcomer Patrick Flynn, cousin to state Sen. Marty Flynn, who is not aligned with the mayor.
Vote totals showed Flynn with 5,309 votes, Sean McAndrew with 4,346, Schuster with 3,700, and Pousley with 3,482.
Schuster and Mark McAndrew have often opposed Cognetti’s initiatives, and if joined by Sean McAndrew, that trio would hold a three-vote majority — enough to block the mayor’s agenda when united.
If Patrick Flynn sides with them, the coalition grows into a supermajority against Cognetti. But Flynn emphasized his independence.
“I’m Marty Flynn’s cousin, but I’m my own person,” Flynn said. “I’m committed to doing what’s right for the city, whether that means voting with or against the mayor.”
Flynn, a lifelong Wyoming County resident who recently bought his childhood home, said, “I’m invested in moving this city forward for the next generation.”
Cognetti might find some relief if Smurl runs as an independent and wins. Smurl confirmed in March he was considering an independent run and has since changed his voter registration to independent. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.
As the race heats up in this key Wyoming community, the November election promises to be one of the most contested and consequential in recent memory.
