Latest news with #JanelleStelson
Axios
31 minutes ago
- Politics
- Axios
Exclusive: Democratic challenger to GOP Rep. Scott Perry raises $500k in 2 days
Janelle Stelson, a Pennsylvania Democrat who narrowly lost to Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) in 2024, raised more than $500,000 in the first 48 hours since announcing for 2026, Axios has learned. Why it matters: For a candidate essentially asking donors for a second chance, those are encouraging numbers. Bombshell fundraising announcements can also make other potential Democratic hopefuls think twice about jumping into the primary. "We are building the coalition needed to win this seat and it's clear that momentum is on our side," Stelson said in a statement to Axios. What we're watching: Stelson, like other 2024 retreads, still needs to get through a 2026 primary process, which could get messy. The Democratic party is still processing Zohran Mamdani's shock win in New York City, with even established incumbents wondering if they'll be victims of a progressive insurgency. Zoom in: Repeat candidates bring certain advantages to a rematch, including name ID and a donor list that can be resuscitated. But they also enter the race having been rejected the previous cycle. Still, Democratic party strategists are convinced that the midterm electorate will be more forgiving to their candidates with President Trump off the ballot. They are betting that tough losses in a presidential year can turn into tight wins in the off-year. Zoom out: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tends to encourage repeat candidates more than their GOP counterparts, with 10 Democratic challengers running for a second time in competitive seats in 2024. Two of them – Rep. Adam Gray (D-Calif.) and Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) – ended up prevailing in their rematches. Rep. Tom Souzi, who left his seat to run for governor in 2022, recaptured it in a special election in 2024 and then won a full term in November. Republicans mocked the tactic, likening it to microwaving "crusty lasagna". Between the lines: This year, both parties already have a handful of retread candidates looking for redemption. Former Iowa state Rep. Christina Bohannan is challenging Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) for a third time after losing by 799 votes in 2024. In Wisconsin, Rebecca Cooke wants to take another shot at Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.). In California, Joe Kerr, a retired firefighter, plans to run against Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) again. Former Rep. Yadiro Caraveo is laying the groundwork to take back her Colorado seat from Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.). And former state Rep. Amish Shah and Marlene Galán-Woods are both running in the Democratic primary to face Rep. David Schweikert in Arizona. Shah lost in 2024 in the general election. The other side: In Ohio, Kevin Coughlin is looking for a rematch against Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio). And Derek Merrin is making a second run at Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio). Former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln wants to again challenge Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) in the Central Valley. Two Nevada Republicans — Marty O'Donnell and David Flippo — who didn't advance past the primary last cycle are also running again in NV-03 and NV-04. The bottom line: Second-time candidates — and even third-time candidates — know how to dial for dollars, but they'll still face well-financed incumbents in November.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Scott Perry reports nearly $900,000 raised in Q2 after Stelson jumps into race
(WHTM) – Congressman Scott Perry (R-Pa.) reported Tuesday that his campaign raised $885,000 during the second quarter of 2025. Perry's campaign says they have more than $1.2 million on hand ahead of what's expected to be another contentious 2026 campaign. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'Today's report is yet another clear indication that the People of the 10th congressional district want Congressman Perry to continue fighting for them in Washington,' said Matt Beynon, Patriots for Perry spokesman. During the first quarter of 2025, Perry's campaign reported more than $565,000 in contributions, as well as more than $242,000 transferred from other committees. He received more than $130,000 from 'Grow The Majority,' a Political Action Committee (PAC) announced by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in 2023. Front plates in Pennsylvania? State Senator's bill would require them The House Speaker visited Cumberland County last year to campaign with Perry. The Perry campaign's announcement comes a day after Democrat Janelle Stelson announced her candidacy in Pennsylvania's 10th District. Perry narrowly defeated Stelson in 2024 by about 5,100 votes, the closest a Democrat has come to unseating Perry. The 10th District covers all of Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland and York counties. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP Rep. Scott Perry to be challenged by Democrat he defeated in 2024
Democrat and former broadcast journalist Janelle Stelson launched her second challenge against Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District on Monday. Stelson lost to Perry by just more than 1 percent in 2024. The highly competitive 10th District has been rated as a toss-up by the nonpartisan elections analyst Cook Political Report. FBI agents seized Perry's cellphone in 2022 in connection with investigations into President Trump. A court later issued a ruling shielding much of Perry's communications with other lawmakers from special counsel Jack Smith. Controversies hanging over the 2020 presidential election and the investigation hung over the 2024 race, when Perry won reelection and Trump won Pennsylvania after losing the state in 2020 to former President Biden. A poll conducted earlier this month by the left-leaning Data For Progress on behalf of the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC shows Stelson leading Perry 46 percent to 43 percent. In a statement announcing her campaign, Stelson blasted Perry for voting for Trump's legislative agenda. 'Scott Perry has spent more than a decade in DC taking votes that hurt us instead of delivering results – and he just sold us out again by casting the deciding vote for the largest Medicaid cuts in history, all to fund more tax cuts for billionaires,' Stelson said in a statement. 'People around here are sick and tired of career politicians like Scott Perry betraying them at every turn. I'm running to give Central Pennsylvanians the voice they deserve and to fight to lower costs, protect Social Security and Medicare, ensure a woman's right to choose and secure the border,' she continued. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) responded to Stelson's entrance with a statement Monday. 'Welcome back to certified loser Janelle Stelson! If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Janelle Stelson, who won't even bother to live in the district she wants to represent, doesn't stand a chance against Scott Perry. Pennsylvanians have rejected her before, and they'll gladly do so again in 2026,' NRCC spokesperson Maureen O'Toole said. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, meanwhile, issued a stament delcaring Perry has 'never been more vulnerable.' 'Nobody likes Scott Perry: He's spent more than a decade in Washington sowing division and selling out his Central Pennsylvania constituents at every turn,' DCCC spokesperson Eli Cousin said. 'After calling Medicaid a 'money laundering' scheme, Perry voted to make the largest cuts to the program in history and add trillions to our national debt all so that he could fund more tax cuts for billionaires – and his only concern was that he wished the Medicaid cuts were even steeper.' Perry won his House seat in 2012 and has secured reelection in each of the six elections since. Stellson is expected to have the support of the Democratic establishment going into the general election. According to her campaign, Stelson has already secured endorsements from Lt. Gov. Austin Davis (D), state Sen. Patty Kim (D) and state Reps. Carol Hill-Evans (D), Dave Madsen (D) and Nate Davidson (D). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Janelle Stelson's Chances of Beating Scott Perry in PA House Race: Poll
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democrat Janelle Stelson holds a slight lead against Representative Scott Perry for a House seat in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District, new polling shows. According to polling from the leading super PAC supporting House Democrats in next year's midterms shared with Politico Playbook, Stelson, a former local TV anchor, is 3 percentage points ahead of Perry in a head-to-head matchup. Newsweek has contacted the House Majority PAC for comment. Why It Matters Perry, former chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has represented the district since 2019. He may be in danger of losing his seat to Stelson, who narrowly lost to him by just over 5,000 votes in November. What To Know The survey from the House Majority PAC, conducted July 10-11, asked: "If the candidates for Congress next time were Democrat Janelle Stelson and Republican Scott Perry, who would you vote for?" The poll found 46 percent of likely voters said they would vote for Stelson, while 43 percent backed Perry. Eleven percent were undecided. The survey also measured voter sentiment toward both candidates. When asked whether they held a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Stelson, 35 percent said they viewed her favorably, while 33 percent had an unfavorable view. Thirty-two percent said they were unsure. Meanwhile, 49 percent of respondents said they disapproved of Perry's job performance, while 36 percent expressed approval and 16 percent were undecided. "Today I'm announcing my Congressional campaign against Scott Perry. He just voted for the biggest Medicaid cuts in history, to pay for billionaire tax breaks. We deserve better than a career politician who keeps selling us out," Stelson said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday. What People Are Saying Janelle Stelson, in a statement announcing her congressional bid: "Scott Perry has spent more than a decade in DC taking votes that hurt us instead of delivering results – and he just sold us out again by casting the deciding vote for the largest Medicaid cuts in history, all to fund more tax cuts for billionaires. "People around here are sick and tired of career politicians like Scott Perry betraying them at every turn. I'm running to give Central Pennsylvanians the voice they deserve and to fight to lower costs, protect Social Security and Medicare, ensure a woman's right to choose and secure the border." National Republican Congressional Committee's (NRCC) spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole, in a statement on Monday: "Welcome back to certified loser Janelle Stelson! If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Janelle Stelson, who won't even bother to live in the district she wants to represent, doesn't stand a chance against Scott Perry. Pennsylvanians have rejected her before, and they'll gladly do so again in 2026."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Janelle Stelson launches Congressional campaign
(WHTM)– Democrat Janelle Stelson announced Monday that she's launching another congressional campaign to try to unseat Republican Scott Perry in the 10th Congressional District. Stelson narrowly lost to the seven-term Congressman in 2024 by just over 1%. Additionally, her campaign says she significantly outperformed former Vice President Harris in the 10th Congressional District. However, Stleson was plagued by criticism throughout her campaign due to her not living in the district. She said during the abc27 debate in 2024 that she lived in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, 'a few miles over the arbitrarily drawn line.' Stelson says she has already garnered bipartisan support for a second run. Governor Josh Shapiro is expected to join her as a special guest for an event later this week. 'Scott Perry has spent more than a decade in DC taking votes that hurt us instead of delivering results — and he just sold the US out again by casting the deciding vote for the largest Medicaid cuts in history, all to fund more tax cuts for billionaires,' Stelson said. 'I'm running to give central Pennsylvanians the voice they deserve, and to fight to lower costs, protect social security and Medicare, ensure a woman's right to choose, and secure the border.' The National Republican Congressional Committee responded to Janelle Stelson's announcement, once again taking a jab at her for not living within the district she seeks to represent. 'Welcome back to certified loser Janelle Stelson! If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Janelle Stelson, who won't even bother to live in the district she wants to represent, doesn't stand a chance against Scott Perry. Pennsylvanians have rejected her before, and they'll gladly do so again in 2026.' NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas announced he was considering a campaign for the 10th Congressional District last week. The 10th District covers all of Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland and York counties. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
