Democrat Janelle Stelson has officially launched her campaign to challenge Republican Representative Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District for the 2026 elections. Stelson’s previous bid in 2024 was narrowly defeated, with Perry winning by less than one percentage point. Her campaign is expected to be one of the most competitive races in the upcoming election cycle.
Stelson, a former news anchor, gained traction in the 2024 race by outperforming the district’s R+3 lean. She intends to focus on Perry’s support for the controversial One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which maintains former President Donald Trump’s tax cuts while making cuts to critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP. The public’s perception of this legislation will play a significant role in determining the Republican Party’s control of the House of Representatives after the 2026 midterm elections.
“The story about Scott Perry just keeps getting worse,” Stelson stated in an interview with the Associated Press. She criticized Perry for being the “deciding vote” on the bill and raised concerns regarding its potentially adverse effects on local hospitals and essential health services. “This has disastrous, possibly deadly consequences, and Scott Perry did that,” she added.
In response, Perry has defended the bill, arguing that it will eliminate what he refers to as the damaging “Green New Scam” subsidies. He claims it will secure necessary spending cuts and ensure that Medicaid benefits are prioritized for “vulnerable Americans and not illegal aliens.” His campaign finance report, submitted to the Federal Election Commission, indicated that Perry had approximately $550,000 in cash on hand as of the end of March. His team asserts that his fundraising efforts have been the most robust since he entered Congress and that the issues he championed in 2024 continue to resonate with voters.
The previous race between Perry and Stelson was one of the most expensive in the nation, with over $24 million spent in total. The Democratic Party is keenly focused on flipping the Pennsylvania seat in 2026 as part of its broader strategy to regain control of the House. Governor Josh Shapiro is set to hold a fundraiser for Stelson to help her solidify her position in the Democratic primary.
A recent poll commissioned by the Democratic House Majority PAC shows Stelson leading Perry with a support rate of 46% to 43%. Additionally, Perry is facing a 49% disapproval rating, contrasted with a 36% approval rating.
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump secured Perry’s district with 51.82% of the vote compared to Kamala Harris‘s 46.62%. The Cook Political Report has classified Perry’s district as a “Republican toss-up” for the upcoming 2026 elections, indicating the competitive nature of the race ahead.
As the political landscape shifts, both candidates will be under considerable scrutiny as they prepare for what promises to be a pivotal election.
