The political landscape in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District heated up this weekend as Democratic candidate Janelle Stelson kicked off her canvassing campaign in Harrisburg. Joined by Gov. Josh Shapiro, Stelson took aim at incumbent Rep. Scott Perry, criticizing his record and aligning herself with the concerns of Pennsylvanians ahead of the upcoming election. Shapiro's appearance signifies high-profile Democratic support for Stelson, who is challenging Perry's six-term tenure in a district that has garnered national attention.
During the event, Stelson, who previously spent 38 years in television journalism, expressed her motivation to enter politics following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. "I was live on the set when the Supreme Court handed down the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade," said Stelson, according to PoliticsPA. She explained the impact of this ruling on her decision to run for office, citing Perry's celebration of the decision and his support for a nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions as factors that deeply affected her.
Gov. Shapiro endorsed Stelson's campaign, highlighting differences between the candidates, particularly on healthcare and infrastructure. "Think about the clear contrast in this race," Shapiro told the crowd, noting Stelson's support for the Affordable Care Act and criticizing Perry for his opposition to it, as reported by PoliticsPA. The governor also condemned Perry for voting against the infrastructure bill, emphasizing the impact on the I-83 South bridge project crucial for the district.
Stelson's campaign has gathered momentum with a series of recent ads highlighting her stance on abortion rights and economic issues. "[Abortion] is one of those issues where it doesn't matter if you have a 'D,' an 'R,' or an 'I' on your forehead, this matters to all of us," Stelson asserted in an ad, as per her comments to FOX43 News. In response, a spokesperson for the Perry campaign labeled Stelson as the extreme candidate on the abortion issue and defended Perry's pro-life stance, claiming he supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. The spokesperson also highlighted Perry's efforts to address issues such as insider trading in Congress.
As Stelson canvassed alongside her supporters, she reinforced her dedication to tackling the pressing concerns of her would-be constituents. She reflected on her career as a journalist, stating, “I realized I need to move from the public service of telling about our issues and what we care about and shining a bright light on them to actually getting down to Washington, raising my right hand and trying to do something about our issues," Local 21 News reports.
