Janelle Stelson defeats Scott Perry, flips Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District

Democrat Janelle Stelson defeated Republican Rep. Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District on Tuesday, flipping a Republican-held seat in a closely watched rematch.

The Associated Press called the race for Stelson at 10:41 p.m. EST. As of 11:30 p.m. EST, Stelson led over Perry by a count of 55% to 45%.

Stelson, a former television news anchor, challenged Perry for a second time after losing to him by just over one percentage point in 2024. The race drew national attention because of Perry’s role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his close relationship with President Donald Trump.

Heartland Signal’s reporting examined the candidates’ contrasting positions on health care, energy costs and data center development. Perry supported major Medicaid cuts and federal policies that would limit local governments’ ability to regulate data centers. Stelson called for stronger local control and argued developers should pay their own way rather than shift electricity costs onto residents.

In a separate Heartland Signal investigation, reporting found that average residential electricity bills in the district increased 61% between September 2024 and September 2026. Perry faced criticism over his energy policy, while Stelson made affordability and local authority central to her campaign.

Stelson’s victory gives Democrats another pickup in Pennsylvania as they fight to reclaim the House majority. It also ends Perry’s lengthy tenure representing the central Pennsylvania district.