Janelle Stelson, a Democrat and former journalist, has officially launched her second campaign against Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. This announcement came on Monday.
In the 2024 election, Stelson lost to Perry by a narrow margin of just 1%. As noted in a political analysis, the 10th Congressional District is viewed as highly competitive.
In a notable incident from 2022, FBI agents seized Perry’s mobile phone as part of an investigation linked to former President Trump’s activities. Subsequently, a court granted significant protections covering many of Perry’s communication details with other lawmakers, as sought by special counsel Jack Smith.
The 2020 presidential election and its ensuing scrutiny have also influenced the political landscape ahead of 2024. Perry was reelected while Trump secured Pennsylvania, even though Biden ultimately triumphed in the state during the 2020 election.
A recent poll by Data for Progress, which leans left and was commissioned by the House Majority PAC, indicates that Stelson currently holds a slight lead over Perry, with 46% to 43%.
In her campaign announcement, Stelson criticized Perry for his support of Trump’s legislative initiatives, stating, “Scott Perry has spent over a decade casting votes that hurt us rather than providing real solutions. He made history with the largest Medicaid cuts ever and has consistently backed tax cuts for billionaires.”
Stelson pointed out that many in the community are fed up with politicians they see as untrustworthy, saying, “I’m running to give Central Pennsylvania the chance to cut costs, safeguard Social Security and Medicare, and protect women’s rights.”
In response to Stelson’s entry into the race, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) issued a defiant statement on Monday, calling her a “certified loser” and asserting that she lacks familiarity with the district’s residents.
Stelson is poised to gain more support from Democrats as she heads into the general election. Her campaign claims to have already received endorsements from notable figures such as Lt. Col. Austin Davis, state Senators Patty Kim and Carol Hill Evans, as well as other local Democrats.
