Representative Rob Bresnahan Jr., a Republican from Pennsylvania, has faced increased scrutiny over his stock trading activities amid concerns about potential conflicts of interest. As one of the most active stock traders in Congress, Mr. Bresnahan has made 626 trades since taking office, with some transactions appearing to benefit from his own votes on key issues.
The issue has drawn attention from Democrats, who are seeking to use it as a campaign strategy to oust him in next year’s midterm elections. While Mr. Bresnahan has attempted to address the concerns by introducing a bill to ban congressional stock trading, its prospects are uncertain.
The congressman’s stock trades have been questioned after he sold bonds issued by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Centene, the largest Medicaid plan provider, in anticipation of votes that could harm his constituents. Mr. Bresnahan has claimed that his efforts to establish a blind trust for his assets have been hindered by the House Ethics Committee.
Despite his attempts to downplay the issue, many voters support banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks, and some Republicans are concerned that it could discourage wealthy candidates from entering public service. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has labeled Mr. Bresnahan’s stock trading “political malpractice,” with an outside group planning a six-figure ad campaign against him.
The congressman’s district is seen as competitive, and the issue of his stock trading is likely to be a key factor in next year’s elections.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/16/us/politics/bresnahan-congress-stock-trading.html