The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced that it has selected 12 candidates, including: Paige Cognetti AND Janelle Stelson for this the highly competitive Red to Blue program..
“House Democrats are on the attack and ready to regain the majority, thanks in large part to the strength of our candidates,” said DCCC Chairwoman Suzan DelBene. “The candidates selected for the first round of our Red to Blue program are united in their desire to fight for the hard-working families in their districts — not the billionaires who finance the corrupt and divisive Republican machine. They are focused on lowering costs, saving health care, and putting people first, unlike their Republican opponents who have abandoned ordinary Americans so they can hand out handouts to the privileged and elite.
The DCCC program provides so-called top candidates with organizational and fundraising support to facilitate them continue to build winning campaigns. Additionally, DCCC provides strategic guidance, staffing resources, candidate training, fundraising support and more.
Cognetti, the mayor of Scranton, is challenging a newcomer to Congress Rob Bresnahan in the 8th Congressional District, while Stelson, a former television journalist, wants to vacate his seat Scott Perry in the 10th Congressional District.
“Paige Cognetti fights political corruption wherever she sees it because she believes our government should work for the people. She will be an independent voice in Congress that lowers costs for working people and puts NEPA first,” DelBene said.
Now in her third term as mayor of “The Electric City,” Cognetti nearly matched Bresnahan in fourth-quarter fundraising dollars, bringing in nearly $650,000 to the incumbent president’s $675,000.
“Central Pennsylvanians trust Janelle Stelson and know she will fight for them in Washington. Scott Perry has repeatedly put his extreme policies ahead of his own voters, and Janelle will finally give a Congressional vote to a community that actually puts them first,” DelBene said.
Stelson, who left her post at WGAL-TV two years ago to run for the PA-10 spot, is back to once again try to unseat Perry after falling low by about 5,000 votes. She outraised the incumbent by almost $950,000 compared to the $780,000 Perry received in the fourth quarter.
