Democrat Janelle Stelson, left, will challenge incumbent GOP Rep. Scott Perry, right, in the race for the the Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District in 2026.
Headshots courtesy Stelson and Perry campaigns
Janelle Stelson renews campaign to oust Scott Perry from Congress
The Democratic challenger lost to Rep. Perry by 1 point in 2024 in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District.
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Jordan Wilkie/WITF
Headshots courtesy Stelson and Perry campaigns
Democrat Janelle Stelson, left, will challenge incumbent GOP Rep. Scott Perry, right, in the race for the the Pennsylvania 10th Congressional District in 2026.
Former WGAL newscaster Janelle Stelson on Monday announced she will again challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th congressional district, which covers Dauphin County and parts of York and Cumberland counties.
Stelson, a former Lancaster resident, lost to Perry by one percentage point in November, the narrowest margin he’s faced since being elected to Congress in 2012.
Stelson outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris in the district, in part by running to the right of the Democratic Party’s platform on immigration. On Monday, she reiterated her position on limiting border crossings by undocumented migrants.
“ Unlike some Democrats in Washington, I have always opposed open borders,” Stelson said. “I’ve always said that we need tougher border security, and I’ve always said we should legally and speedily get violent criminals who are here illegally out of the country.”
She criticized efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to deport people without due process, calling it a violation of the rule of law.
Perry is a staunch supporter of restrictive immigration policy and has made comments referencing the “great replacement theory,” which experts describe as antisemitic and xenophobic because it posits Democrats want undocumented immigrants and their families to replace the White American majority in the country.
Perry did not respond to a request for an interview for this story.
Stelson attacked Perry’s voting history, including his recent vote in favor of Trump’s tax overhaul and spending package.
“It’s going to add $3.3 trillion in new debt to America’s budget, which is basically mortgaging our children’s future,” Stelson said. “So he calls himself a fiscal conservative, but that is not fiscally responsible in any way whatsoever.”
The debt estimate Stelson cited is backed by several independent reviews of the legislation and by the Congressional Budget Office. Stelson also said the spending package will kick 20,000 people off federally assisted health care programs in the 10th district alone, will cut Social Security and will reduce food assistance benefits.
The Democratic establishment has cleared the way for Stelson, who worked as a television anchor in the region for close to 30 years. Gov. Josh Shapiro plans to appear at an event with Stelson sometime this week. She also has the support of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
In her first campaign, Stelson lived just outside the 10th District. She now lives within district lines in Cumberland County, she said.
The National Republican Congressional Committee issued a statement calling Stelson a “certified loser” and said she “doesn’t stand a chance against Scott Perry.”
“Pennsylvanians have rejected her before, and they’ll gladly do so again in 2026,” per the statement from spokesperson Maureen O’Toole.
Pennsylvania’s mid-term primary election is scheduled for May 2026, with the general election to be held in November of next year.
Stelson is the first Democrat to file paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to challenge Perry next year.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
