What you need to know about the Democrats challenging Rep. Scott Perry

(Undated) — In Congress, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry has carved out a conservative record, received national attention for combative cable news appearances, and cruised to re-election in 2014 and 2016.

But in 2018, the York County Republican will face re-election in a more competitive district.

Four Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination to challenge Perry in the newly drawn 10th Congressional District.

The new district, created by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after it ruled that that the old map was unconstitutionally gerrymandered, includes much of northern York County, all of Dauphin County and part of Cumberland County.

The four Democrats running to replace Perry have offered similar policy positions, although they disagree about whether impeaching President Donald Trump is a good idea. An April 26 debate in York featured no character attacks or fireworks.

Overall, they have focused on their bios, positions and ability to beat Perry this fall.

Here’s what you need to know:

Who’s running

â–ºShavonnia Corbin-Johnson: She spent part of her childhood raised by a foster family until moving in with her paternal grandparents.

She worked for U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and then worked in President Barack Obama’s administration as adviser and assistant to the director of the Office of Management and Budget. 

Corbin-Johnson, 26, lives in York County.

â–ºEric Ding: His family emigrated from China to the United States, and he grew up in Cumberland County, the son of a teacher and factory worker.

He is a public health scientist. He founded TOXIN ALERT to warn people of harmful drinking water in cities and communities. Ding, 35, lives in Cumberland County.

Howe, 55, lives in Cumberland County.

â–ºGeorge Scott: After his father retired from the military, his family operated a beef cattle farm near Littlestown, Adams County. He served 20 years in the U.S. Army.

His service included tours of duty in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Enduring Freedom, according to his campaign. After retiring, he became a Lutheran minister.

Scott, 56, lives in York County.

At an April debate in York, there were no big conflicts among the candidates. In interviews, none of the candidates pointed to any major policy differences either.

Each has talked about the importance of addressing climate change. Each wants to expand healthcare coverage. They’ve praised the role of immigration in the country, and they all support a path to citizenship for “Dreamers” — people who were brought to the country as children and are in the country illegally.

They all support increased firearm restrictions, including banning bump stocks and expanding background checks. They want increased funding for gun violence research through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Impeaching Trump

On this issue, they disagree. 

• Howe is focusing on the issue during the campaign. He has called President Donald Trump a national security threat who is putting Russian interests ahead of the United States’ interests. He said impeaching Trump would be his first order of business in Congress.
• Corbin-Johnson said she would co-sponsor a bill to impeach Trump. But she said it’s not the focus of her campaign. Instead, she said she’s focusing on policy issues that will affect people in the district.
• Ding said impeachment seems like a possibility for Trump. But Ding said, as a scientist, he doesn’t want to prejudge the facts.
• Scott said it is premature to talk about impeachment and that Congress needs to let Special Counsel Robert Mueller III complete his work. Scott also made the argument that many people are searching for some civility in politics and for a less dysfunctional Congress.

Why them

With so many similarities, what distinguishes the candidates? Here’s what they think:

â–ºDing: He has frequently pointed to two parts of his biography. He said his family struggled financially when his father was laid off from a factory job. And he has pointed to his background as a scientist.

He said his family had to rely on discarded food from a pizzeria. 

“That kind of experience — it’s hard to replicate,” Ding said in a debate. “It’s hard for people to understand and empathize with working class people without having lived some of those situations.”

And he has said the country needs “more scientists to combat this anti-fact and anti-science agenda” from Republicans.

“I will stand up for you just like I have spent my career fighting for public health. When big pharmaceutical companies were pushing dangerous prescription drugs like Vioxx, I used facts to hold them accountable for putting profit over people,” Ding said in a candidate questionnaire.

â–ºScott: “I have the most experience of any candidate in this race in making tough decisions that require courage, compassion, thoughtfulness, and experience,” Scott said in a questionnaire.

He pointed to the 20 years he served in the U.S. Army and the nine years he has spent as a Lutheran minister. He said he’s lived in southcentral Pennsylvania longer than any other Democratic candidate, so he is best prepared to fight for the needs of Dauphin, York and Cumberland counties. He said 90 percent of his campaign contributions come from Pennsylvania.

“That means I am focused on our communities, not outsiders, and will live up to my promise to put PA 10 first every day,” Scott said.

And he has said he is best positioned to beat Perry, because of his military background, his role as a minister and his ties to the area.

â–ºHowe: He pointed to his 24-year career in the Air Force, his focus on impeaching Trump, and other life experiences.

“I am a serial instigator and eternal optimist,” Howe said in a candidate questionnaire. “When I see things that need to be fixed or improved, I fix or improve them.”

He said he and his wife organized free bus trips from Florida to Alabama to tour Civil Rights memorial sites.

He said he successfully advocated for changes to immigration law that discriminated against military families. He lectured at American University about the Iraq War, and he drafted a stabilization plan for Iraq. He said he also helped promote and pass a human relations ordinance in Carlisle.

â–ºCorbin-Johnson: She described herself as the most progressive candidate in the race, and to back up that statement, she pointed to endorsements from Keystone Progress, the Stonewall Democrats and the York County Young Democrats.

She has said she’s the only candidate with experience working on Capitol Hill and in the White House.

“I know the inner-workings of the government and how to beat their bureaucracy,” she said at a debate in York. “…I can actually hit the ground running from day one.”

In a questionnaire, she said, “And I’m the best candidate to defeat Scott Perry by engaging new voters and proudly fighting for the kinds of policies that will help and attract Pennsylvanians from across the political spectrum.”

Fundraising

Ding and Corbin-Johnson have led the Democrats in fundraising.

• Corbin-Johnson: She raised more than $182,000 from October 2017 through March 2018.
• Ding: He got in the race later than his opponents. But he raised money quickly. From February through April 25, 2018, he raised more than $179,000. Plus, he loaned $56,200 to his committee.
• Scott: From April 2017 through April 25, 2018, Scott raised more than $90,000, including $1,225 he gave to his own campaign. He also loaned $26,000 to his campaign.
• Howe: He raised more than $30,000 from April 2017 through April 25, 2018. That included $9,731 he gave to his own campaign.

Scott and Howe have said a large share of their donations come from Pennsylvania donors, setting up a contrast with Ding and Corbin-Johnson.

Corbin-Johnson and Ding defended their approach to fundraising. Ding said he has support from scientists across the country.

Corbin-Johnson said she doesn’t take corporate political action committee money, and she’s not ashamed to have contributors from out of the district. 

“They’re giving because they believe in the message,” she said.

TV ads

Ding released an ad talking about his work as a public health scientist and how he led a two-year investigation that exposed how a drug company hid risks from the public.

hat was less controversial than an ad by Scott, in which he dismantles a semi-automatic rifle and throws it into a bonfire. The ad calls  for “mandatory background checks” and to “ban assault rifles meant for war.”

Howe criticized the ad, saying in a PennLive op-ed that “George Scott has rallied the gun-owning community to come to the aid of Republican incumbent Scott Perry.”

Education

• Scott: Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, 1984; master’s degree from the National Intelligence University, 1992; master of divinity degree from United Lutheran Seminary in 2013.
• Corbin-Johnson: bachelor’s degree, Georgetown University, 2014; master’s degree, George Washington University, 2017
• Howe: Associate of applied science degree, Community College of the Air Force, 1996; associate of arts degree, Gulf Coast Community College, 2006; bachelor of individualized study degree from George Mason University, 2012
• Ding: bachelor’s degree, John Hopkins University, 2004; dual doctorate degrees, Harvard University, 2007; post-doctoral fellowship in nutrition and epidemiology, Harvard University, 2010

About the 10th Congressional District

The 10th Congressional District includes the following municipalities in York County:

• The city of York
• The townships of Carroll, Conewago, Dover, East Manchester, Fairview, Franklin, Manchester, Monaghan, Newberry, Spring Garden, Springettsbury, Warrington, Washington, West Manchester and York (PART, Wards 01, 03, 04 and 05 [PART, Divisions 01, 02 and 03 (all blocks except 3020, 4030, 4033, 4037, 4048, 4049, 4050, 4051, 4052, 4053, 4054 and 4055 of tract 022910)]) 
• The boroughs of Dillsburg, Dover, Franklintown, Goldsboro, Lewisberry, Manchester, Mount Wolf, North York, Wellsville, West York, Yoe and York Haven

It also includes all of Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland County.

This story comes to us through a partnership between WITF and The York Daily Record.