ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Republican Rep. Scott Perry has defeated Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District — one of the year’s tightest House races.
Perry, 62, leads with 50.8% of the vote to Stelson’s 49.2% as 98% of votes have been counted, the Associated Press reports.
Perry enlisted help from national Republicans to fend off a tough challenge from Stelson, 63. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) all stumped for him in October.
Stelson campaigned against Perry’s hard-right reputation by tying him to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and accusing him of promoting various conspiracy theories.
The challenger also ran an ad touting her support for extending the 2017 Trump tax cuts in late October — despite opposing an extension previously.
Perry campaigned on his conservative credentials while denouncing attacks on his support for Social Security and Medicare benefits.
The southcentral Pennsylvania district was rated a toss-up by Cook Political Report and covers parts of three counties: Cumberland, Dauphin and York. It includes the state capital, Harrisburg.
