Rep. Scott Perry Faces Former TV Anchor Janelle Stelson in High-Stakes Midterm Rematch

Representative Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, is preparing for a tough re-election challenge in 2026 against Janelle Stelson, a former television news anchor. Stelson, who is running as a Democrat, previously lost to Perry in the 2022 elections by a mere 1.2 percentage points, making this upcoming rematch particularly significant given the narrow margin of their last contest.

In the last election, Stelson was defeated by only 5,133 votes amidst nearly 407,000 ballots cast in Pennsylvania, a state that leans Republican in presidential races. With historical patterns suggesting difficulties for the incumbent party in midterm elections, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is poised to support candidates like Stelson with increased fundraising efforts, giving her campaign additional momentum.

Stelson kicked off her campaign with the backing of Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and plans to host a joint event with Governor Josh Shapiro, both of whom are also Democrats. Her background as a news anchor at WGAL-TV in Lancaster supplements her political aspirations; she has notably held a degree in politics and government from the University of Puget Sound and has experience as a speechwriter for the Embassy of Egypt.

Contrasting Stelson's profile, Perry has deep roots in Pennsylvania, having graduated from Penn State and served as a brigadier general in the Army before transitioning to politics. He has a history of serving in the Pennsylvania State House and was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 2012, including a leadership role in the House Freedom Caucus.

Perry's campaign has already targeted Stelson’s past remarks, which they describe as controversial and problematic. They point to a regrettable joke she made about Asian Americans, which resurfaced during her previous campaign. Responding to the criticism, Stelson acknowledged her earlier comment, expressing regret and emphasizing her long tenure in broadcasting, during which she claims it was the only significant issue raised against her.

Perry’s campaign spokesperson accused Stelson of being detached from local voters and concerned about raising taxes, arguing that Perry remains dedicated to serving the constituents of the 10th Congressional District. The Stelson campaign, however, has not provided comments regarding these criticisms.