During an crucial change Cook’s political report on Friday morning, he moved the 10th Congressional District race in Pennsylvania from Lean Republican to Toss-Up.
CPR’s analysis highlighted the Democratic challenger’s fundraising skills Janelle Stelson who earned a total of $2.85 million while the incumbent Republican received just $900,000 Scott Perry.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the fundraising gap is taking a serious toll on the congressman,” the analyst wrote Erin Covey. “Even though (former President Donald) Trump is on track to win again in Pennsylvania’s 10th District — he carried a four-point lead in 2020 — public and private polls show Perry is underperforming Trump. The congressional race now looks neck-and-neck, and while the political environment should continue to favor Perry, his unique weaknesses combined with Democrats’ spending advantage make this race from Lean Republican to Toss Up.
This story shows that Stelson, a former broadcast journalist for WGAL-TV based in the PA-10 market, has spent $3.8 million on television, digital and radio advertising to date. Many of these ads went directly to camera, using her power as a former news anchor to speak directly to voters.
Perry spent just under $1 million on the airwaves, using points he didn’t send to Congress to “friend” him. The six-term congressman has repeatedly emphasized that his opponent does not live in the district – Stelson lives in neighboring Lancaster County – and called out House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to support his struggling campaign.
Stelson avoided highlighting Perry’s actions after the 2020 election and focused more on his history, including co-sponsoring the Life at Conception Act, supporting cuts to Social Security and voting against a bipartisan bill providing protective equipment for firefighters.
A recent Susquehanna Polling & Research poll showed Stelson with a nine-point lead over Perry in the district, 48-39%. According to CPR, “Republicans remain optimistic that Perry will cross the finish line, but Stelson’s spending spree has pushed this race into the Toss Up column.”
