Janelle Stelson Takes on Scott Perry for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District
This story first appeared in The Keystone
Veteran TV anchor and Emmy-award winner Janelle Stelson has taken a bold step into politics, leaving her three-decade-long career to challenge Rep. Scott Perry once more for the seat of Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. Stelson previously came close to unseating Perry in 2024, securing 49.2% of the vote against Perry’s 50.9%.
Stelson’s campaign is heavily focused on economic concerns, as she often meets constituents burdened by increasing costs of living. She attributes these financial pressures to the Trump administration’s tariff policies, which she believes have led to soaring prices for essentials like gas, groceries, and housing.
“People are always like, ‘Janelle, what do you care about?’ Well, what I care about is to show you that I’m 180 degrees from Scott Perry,’” Stelson stated.
Concerns about Perry’s political actions also play a significant role in Stelson’s campaign. Many in the district have expressed dissatisfaction with Perry’s involvement in disputing the 2020 presidential election results, a role highlighted by The New York Times, naming him a “ringleader” in promoting unfounded election fraud claims.
Accessibility is another issue troubling constituents, as Perry has not conducted a town hall meeting since 2019 and locked constituents out of his office earlier this year when they attempted to deliver letters, according to reports.
Stelson aims to present herself as a more approachable and contrasting alternative to Perry, promising to listen to and address the struggles of her potential constituents.
Healthcare Concerns and Legislative Critiques
Stelson criticized Perry for his legislative choices, particularly his support for policies that have affected healthcare affordability. She pointed to his vote for Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” resulting in millions losing Medicaid, including 310,000 Pennsylvanians.
Perry’s vote against extending federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act has also been criticized, leading to rising health insurance premiums. “That’s really a problem and voters tell me every day that they can’t handle a 200% or 300% increase in their health care costs,” Stelson remarked.
Stelson advocates for more government negotiation on prescription drug prices and the removal of age restrictions on negotiated drugs.
Economic and Foreign Policy Stance
Small businesses, described as the “backbone” of the community by Stelson, are struggling under tariff taxes. She shared an example of Angel Fox, owner of Fox’s Laundromat in Harrisburg, who faces challenges in maintaining affordable service due to these economic pressures.
In a broader context, Stelson criticized Perry’s support for various international expenditures, including Trump’s military actions in Iran and proposals like the purchase of Greenland.
Call for Bipartisan Cooperation
Stelson emphasized the need for political collaboration, arguing that Perry’s consistent conservative voting record does not reflect the moderate views of many constituents. She called for an end to partisan “bickering” and urged for cross-party cooperation to address pressing issues like inflation and healthcare costs.
Stelson’s Anti-Corruption Agenda
As Stelson prepares for the Democratic primary against Justin Douglas on May 19, she outlines her plan to combat corruption in Washington, DC:
- Limit Congress members to 12 years in office to prevent career politicians.
- Implement age limits for Congressional service.
- Release the full Epstein files to the public.
- Cut luxury benefits, including first-class flights, for Congress members.
- Restrict the president’s pardoning power.
- Ban Congress members and families from trading stocks to prevent insider profiteering.
- Prohibit government officials from betting in prediction markets.
- Support a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United v. FEC decision.
