Janelle Stelson defeats Scott Perry in Pennsylvania House race

Janelle Stelson won Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, unseating Republican Rep. Scott Perry in a rematch of their close 2024 race. With 85% of the vote counted, Stelson had 56.5% to Perry’s 43.5%. The race was called for Stelson late on November 3.

Perry had represented the district since 2013 and previously chaired the House Freedom Caucus. Stelson, a former television news anchor, left broadcast journalism to run for Congress. In 2024, Perry beat her by about 5,100 votes.

The district covers Dauphin County in its entirety, along with sections of Cumberland and York counties. Changes to Pennsylvania’s congressional maps made the seat more competitive, and the race was rated as leaning Democratic after initially being considered a toss-up.

Stelson focused her campaign on household costs and health care, criticizing Perry’s support for Medicaid policy changes in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Perry said his vote was intended to remove undocumented immigrants from Medicaid. Stelson also called for lower prescription drug prices and supports restoring abortion safeguards in place before the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling.

Perry campaigned on tax and regulatory cuts, border enforcement and a balanced-budget amendment. He was backed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, while Stelson had the support of Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The results make Stelson the district’s next representative.

Stelson’s win rejects Perry’s Medicaid and affordability agenda

Voters in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District chose Democrat Janelle Stelson over Republican incumbent Scott Perry, turning a narrow 2024 loss into a decisive victory. With 85% of the vote counted, Stelson led 56.5% to 43.5% late on November 3.

The contest put Perry’s support for Medicaid policy changes in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act against Stelson’s warnings that those changes could push Pennsylvanians off health coverage. Perry said his vote was aimed at removing undocumented immigrants from Medicaid. Stelson’s campaign also pressed for lower household costs and prescription drug prices.

Perry had held the seat since 2013 and chaired the House Freedom Caucus. Stelson, a former television news anchor, was backed by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The district, encompassing Dauphin County and portions of Cumberland and York counties, had grown more competitive after changes to the state’s congressional map.

Stelson’s win is a rebuke to a Republican incumbent whose campaign emphasized tax cuts and border enforcement while defending a bill at the center of the health-care dispute. She also supports reviving abortion protections that were in force before the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. The results send her to Congress as the district’s next representative.

Perry loses Pennsylvania seat in closely watched rematch

Rep. Scott Perry, a Republican who had represented Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District since 2013, lost his reelection bid to Democrat Janelle Stelson. With 85% of votes counted late on November 3, Stelson had 56.5% and Perry 43.5%.

Perry, a former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, campaigned on cutting taxes and federal regulations, tightening border enforcement and pursuing a balanced-budget amendment. House Speaker Mike Johnson supported his campaign and campaigned with him in Pennsylvania. Stelson, a former television news anchor, had backing from Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The rematch followed Perry’s roughly 5,100-vote victory over Stelson in 2024. Changes to Pennsylvania’s congressional maps had made the district more competitive. It encompasses all of Dauphin County along with portions of Cumberland and York counties, and the race was rated as leaning Democratic after first being seen as a toss-up.

Health care became a point of conflict. Stelson argued that Perry’s support for Medicaid changes in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act could cost Pennsylvanians coverage. Perry said he voted to remove undocumented immigrants from Medicaid. Stelson also campaigned on affordability and supports reviving abortion protections that were in force before the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. Perry’s loss means the district will have a new representative.