Bognet
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WILKES-BARRE — Former Trump Administration appointee Jim Bognet on Thursday announced his candidacy for the 8th Congressional District seat. He is running as a Republican.
A Hazleton native and a graduate of Penn State University, Bognet said he has spent his life fighting for conservative values across the country. From working for former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, to senior roles on three presidential campaigns and on campaigns across the country, Bognet said he “has fought liberal Democrats every step of the way.”
Bognet, 44 of Hazle Township, holds a law degree and a master’s degree in business administration from UCLA.
His announcement follows Tuesday’s formal announcement by Hazleton Republican Mikel Cammisa, 24, that he also plans to run for the seat.
Other Republicans in the race are Mike Marsicano, 71 of Hazleton; Earl Granville, 36 of Scott Township; Luzerne County Councilman Harry Haas, 44 of Kingston; and Teddy Daniels, 44, of Wyoming.
The primary election is April 28, and the general election is Nov. 3.
Bognet recently resigned his position as a Trump appointee at an executive branch agency dedicated to supporting American job creation, exports, and manufacturing. Bognet said he left this position so he “could devote his full energy to fighting those responsible for the impeachment sham.”
“Northeastern Pennsylvania deserves a congressman who will support our great President Donald J. Trump,” Bognet said. “I couldn’t bear to see what Nancy Pelosi and her lapdog (U.S. Rep.) Matt Cartwright were doing to harm our country and our President. As a member of Nancy Pelosi’s leadership team and under Pelosi’s direction, Cartwright has spent this term in Congress working with Elizabeth Warren, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ilhan Omar to smear President Trump. Patriots in Pennsylvania will not rest until Matt Cartwright loses the power to ever again support the fatally flawed impeachment against President Trump.”
Bognet said he has assembled a strong team of backers to raise the financial resources and build the grassroots campaign necessary to defeat Cartwright. Bognet announced Republican leader and President of Hayden Power Group, George Hayden Jr. of Mountain Top, as chairman of his fundraising committee.
“I’ve known Jim Bognet for over 40 years, and he is a rock solid conservative and tireless defender of President Trump.,” Hayden said. “Starting today, we will work to make sure that Jim raises significant sums necessary to win this seat. Jim is the only serious candidate who has always been a Republican, and who has the political know-how and resources to defeat Matt Cartwright.“
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.