GOP Incumbent Scott Perry Faces Tough Challenge In Pennsylvania’s 10th District Election‌

Incumbent Scott Perry (R) and Janelle Stelson (D) are running in the general election for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District on November 5, 2024.

In 2022, Perry defeated Shamaine Daniels (D) 53.8% to 46.2%. On the same ballot, Josh Shapiro (D) defeated Doug Mastriano (R) in the district by 12 percentage points in the state’s gubernatorial election.

The Washington Post’s Colby Itkowitz wrote, “While most Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 results represent safe red districts, Perry’s district is more of a bellwether… Democrats say they can beat Perry this time with a stronger candidate and a more targeted message tying the congressman to extremism and Jan. 6, as Shapiro successfully did against Mastriano. Perry’s campaign said it sees that as a fantasy.”

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Perry’s campaign has tried to tie Stelson to the Biden-Harris administration’s policies and criticized her for living outside the district.

Perry was first elected to the House in 2013. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2007 to 2012 and chairman of the Carroll Township Planning Commission. According to his campaign website, Perry enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1980 and retired as a brigadier general in 2019.

Perry is running on his record, military career, and personal story. His campaign website says, “Scott Perry brings a unique background of hard work, small business, military leadership, and community involvement to the U.S. House of Representatives…He’s the grandson of Colombian immigrants and the son of a single mom who fled two abusive situations and worked several jobs to survive and support her children.” Perry’s website said he supports policies to lower taxes and regulations for businesses, replace the Affordable Care Act, and reduce government spending.

Stelson is a former anchor at WGAL-TV, reporter, and weather anchor. Before her broadcast career, Stelson’s first job was writing speeches for the Egyptian embassy in Washington, D.C.

Stelson is running on her experience reporting on the district. Her campaign website says, “For nearly 40 years, I’ve been listening to and advocating for our communities as a TV news anchor and reporter. You have trusted me to shine a light on our issues, big and small. With our basic rights and democracy under attack, I’m joining the fight. You deserve a Representative in Congress who will fight for your freedoms and work hard to make life more affordable for middle-class families.” Stelson’s website says she wants to restore Roe v. Wade abortion protections, lower costs, and ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks, serving more than six terms and becoming lobbyists after they retire.

Based on second-quarter finance reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission, Perry raised $2.7 million and spent $2.1 million, and Stelson raised $1.9 million and spent $800,895.

As of August 13, 2024, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball all rated the election as Lean Republican. Decision Desk HQ and The Hill rated the race as Likely Republican.

Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District is one of 34 congressional districts with a Republican incumbent or an open seat the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is targeting in 2024. To read about DCCC targeting initiatives, click here. For a complete list of DCCC-targeted districts, click here.

All 435 U.S. House seats are up for election in 2024. Republicans have a 220 to 211 majority with four vacancies. As of June 2024, 45 members of the U.S. House had announced they were not running for re-election. To read more about the U.S. House elections this year, click here.

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