Rob Bresnahan
Rob Bresnahan | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 8th district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
Preceded by | Matt Cartwright |
Personal details | |
Born | Robert Paul Bresnahan Jr. April 22, 1990 Kingston, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Education | University of Scranton (BA) |
Website | House website |
Robert Paul Bresnahan Jr. (/ˈbrɛznəhæn/ BREZ-nə-han; born April 22, 1990) is an American businessman and politician who is the United States representative for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party.[1][2]
He defeated incumbent Matt Cartwright in the 2024 election. He took office on January 3, 2025.
Early life and education
[edit]Bresnahan was born on April 22, 1990, in Kingston, Pennsylvania.[3] He grew up in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and attended Wyoming Seminary.[4]
Bresnahan studied business at the University of Scranton and was on the golf team.[5]
Early career
[edit]At the age of 19, Bresnahan became the chief financial officer of his grandfather's highway electrical business, Kuharchik Construction in Exeter, Pennsylvania.[4] After graduating from the University of Scranton, Bresnahan took over as CEO in 2013.
In 2023, Bresnahan partnered Kuharchik Construction with Midwestern Electric near Chicago, Illinois.[6]
Bresnahan is the owner of RPB Ventures, a real estate development company. The bulk of Bresnahan's real estate projects are on and around Main Street in Pittston, Pennsylvania.[7][8][9][10][11]
Bresnahan has served on a number of voluntary boards in Northeastern Pennsylvania including as interim president of the SPCA of Luzerne County board of directors, past president of Wyoming Rotary Club, and treasurer of the TecBRIDGE board and Automated Vehicle Coalition.[4]
He also served on the boards for Junior Achievement of NEPA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of NEPA, Luzerne County Industrial Development Authority, National Electrical Contractors Association and IBEW 163.[4]
Currently, Bresnahan serves on the boards of the SPCA of Luzerne County, Forty Fort Cemetery Association, and Catholic Youth Center.[4]
United States House of Representatives
[edit]Elections
[edit]In October 2023, Bresnahan filed to run for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district.[12] The district includes Lackawanna County, Wayne County, and Pike County along with the majority of Luzerne County and Monroe County in Northeastern Pennsylvania.[13] In the November 2024 general election, Bresnahan defeated incumbent Democrat Matt Cartwright.[14]
Tenure
[edit]Less than two weeks after promising to oppose any bill that reduces benefits programs, Bresnahan broke his pledge and voted to advance a budget resolution that would cut food stamps and Medicaid.[15]
Committee assignments
[edit]- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure[16]
- Committee on Agriculture[16]
- Committee on Small Business[16]
Personal life
[edit]Bresnahan is engaged to Chelsea Strub, a news anchor and reporter at WNEP-TV based in Moosic, Pennsylvania.[17]
Bresnahan has one sibling.
Electoral history
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rob Bresnahan | 42,365 | 100.0 | |
Total votes | 42,365 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rob Bresnahan Jr. | 195,663 | 50.8 | |||
Democratic | Matt Cartwright (incumbent) | 189,411 | 49.2 | |||
Total votes | 385,074 | 100.0 | ||||
Republican gain from Democratic |
References
[edit]- ^ "Bresnahan Wins Pennsylvania House Race, Flipping Seat to GOP". Bloomberg.com. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Rob Bresnahan claims victory in Pennsylvania 8th Congressional race". Abc27. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Bresnahan_Jr[dead link ]
- ^ a b c d e Allabaugh, Denise (October 2, 2021). "CEO leads construction business at a young age". Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Robert Bresnahan - 2011-12 - Men's Golf". University of Scranton. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Herriott, Ashton (July 19, 2023). "CAI Announces First Close of Seventh Fund and First Transaction – Midwestern Electric's Partnership with Kuharchik Construction | CAI Capital Partners". Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Dispatch, Tony Callaio For Sunday (January 15, 2022). "Bresnahan invests in Pittston". The Sunday Dispatch. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Allabaugh, Denise (January 14, 2023). "Pittston sees a surge in new businesses". Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Dispatch, Tony Callaio For Sunday (April 2, 2023). "Landmark, Burns building projects progress". The Sunday Dispatch. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Dispatch, Tony Callaio For Sunday (July 23, 2022). "Work on The Landmark continues". The Sunday Dispatch. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Corner, Tony Callaio My; Corner, Your (January 8, 2022). "My Corner, Your Corner: Bresnahan investing in Pittston". The Sunday Dispatch. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Leader, Times (October 4, 2023). "Bresnahan files to run against Cartwright in 8th District". Times Leader. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Redistricting US Congress | Voting & Election Information | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania". www.pa.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Lillis, Mike (November 6, 2024). "Republican Rob Bresnahan ousts Matt Cartwright in Pennsylvania". The Hill. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ Linfante, Austin (February 26, 2025). "Rob Bresnahan breaks pledge, votes to gut Medicaid and SNAP". Heartland Signal. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
Just eleven days later, Bresnahan and 216 of his Republican colleagues voted for a budget resolution that calls for massive spending cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, the latter of which provides health care to nearly 82 million low-income individuals and Americans with disabilities. Although the GOP is leaning on the fact that the word "Medicaid" is not included in the bill, the resolution calls for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion of spending. That committee only oversees $200 billion of non-Medicaid spending, meaning the Republican-led House of Representatives must slash Medicaid by at least $680 billion if the resolution is passed into law. Despite President Donald Trump's pledge to not cut Medicaid, it would be unavoidable under this budget.
- ^ a b c "Bresnahan to serve on three House committees, including transportation and infrastructure". Scranton Times-Tribune. December 18, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ^ "Bresnahan, Cartwright face off in debate". wnep.com. October 22, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ "Tuesday, November 5, 2024 2024 Presidential Election (Official Returns) Statewide". electionresults.pa.gov. Retrieved February 3, 2025.