Pennsylvania Dems attack GOP House hopeful for ‘profiting off’ opioid crisis — but his Dem opponent owns same pharma stocks

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A House Democrat in a tight race for re-election owns some of the same pharmaceutical stocks the state party has attacked his GOP opponent for acquiring to “profit off” the Keystone State’s opioid crisis.

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party recently sent out constituent mailers blasting Republican Rob Bresnahan’s investments in three so-called “opioid peddlers” that his opponent, Rep. Matt Cartwright, also maintains stakes in.

Citing Bresnahan’s financial-disclosure report, the mailer says the GOP challenger has invested between $15,000 and $50,000 in both Abbott Laboratories and Cencora, as well as between $2,000 and $30,000 in Johnson & Johnson.

“Rob Bresnahan’s fortune is invested in opioid peddlers,” the mailer reads. “If elected: Rob Bresnahan will sell out our families for another quick buck.”

But according to Cartwright’s own financial-disclosure report from 2023, the six-term Democrat owns stock in all three companies used to attack Bresnahan through a series of exchange-traded funds.

Cartwright’s invested between $1,001 and $15,000 in an ETF containing Cencora, as well as in a second ETF containing both Abbott Laboratories and Johnson & Johnson.

The Bresnahan campaign was quick to pounce on the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s inconsistent messaging.

“Congressman Cartwright and his cronies attacking Rob for holding the same investments as Cartwright reeks of desperation,” said campaign manager Derek Rockey. “It’s the last shallow gasps of air for Cartwright’s dying political career.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee also slammed the Cartwright campaign’s reluctance to accept more than one debate in late October — the rep’s team claimed it needed “more information” to agree to Bresnahan’s request for an additional earlier debate.

“Cowardly Cartwright appears to be looking for ‘more information’ at the bottom of a wine glass in California while schmoozing with liberal donors,” NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella told The Post, pointing to a video of Cartwright in the Golden State the committee tweeted.

“He’s not working for you, he’s working for the far-left out-of-state elites,” Marinella added.

Cartwright’s press secretary, Mary Grace “MG” Darmody, declined to comment about the mailer on the record to The Post.

Cartwright and Bresnahan are locked in a tight race in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, which covers the northeastern part of the state and has shifted narrowly to the right with redistricting in recent years.

The Hill’s House forecast gives Cartwright a 70% chance to hold onto his seat in November.