Scott Perry Faces Tight Race as Democrats Outspend GOP in Pennsylvania
Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call via AP file
Former Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry (R-PA) could be at risk of losing his congressional seat next month, according to a report published by Axios on Sunday. Perry, a staunch conservative known for his involvement in Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania, is now facing a well-funded challenge from Democratic candidate Janelle Stelson, a former local news anchor.
Despite Perry’s prominence in conservative circles, the report highlights that he “has gotten little financial help from GOP leadership so far, with the National Republican Congressional Committee and Congressional Leadership Fund spending effectively nothing on ads in his district as of Saturday.” This lack of financial support could be crucial as Perry’s opponent is receiving substantial backing from Democratic sources.
According to the Axios report, Democratic groups, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and House Majority PAC, have already spent or reserved “nearly $3.8 million in ads for” Stelson. This large influx of funds signals that Democrats are aggressively targeting Perry’s seat as a potential flip.
Polling data suggests that the race is closer than some GOP strategists might have anticipated. While Republican insiders don’t appear to believe Perry is in serious danger of losing his seat, Axios notes that one recent survey showed Stelson leading Perry by 9 percentage points, indicating a highly competitive race.
If Perry were to lose, it would mark another significant defeat for the Freedom Caucus, which has seen other prominent members face challenges. In July, another Freedom Caucus chair, Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), lost his state primary to a far-right, Donald Trump-backed candidate. Perry’s potential defeat would be a major blow to the hard-right faction of the Republican Party.
DCCC spokesperson Aidan Johnson expressed confidence in the shifting political tides, saying, “The only thing Perry cares about is advancing his extreme agenda, and his constituents no longer want anything to do with him.”
As the midterm elections approach, all eyes will be on Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, where the combination of Democratic spending, polling data, and Perry’s controversial track record could lead to an upset. The race is shaping up to be a significant test of how much influence the Freedom Caucus and its leaders still hold within the broader Republican Party.
