Janelle Stelson
Won the May 19 Democratic primary, defeating Justin Douglas
Janelle Stelson is a former WGAL-TV news anchor and reporter who covered central Pennsylvania for 26 years. She narrowly lost to incumbent Scott Perry in 2024 (50.5%-49.3%) and is running again in 2026, campaigning on lowering the cost of living, health care, and congressional ethics reform.[1][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Positions on the issues
- OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goods
Opposes broad tariffs, saying she would repeal what she calls Perry's "tariff taxes" that are increasing costs.[3]
“I will repeal these tariff taxes that are increasing costs and vote to end the war in Iran.”
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Supports tax breaks for the "hard-working middle class, not billionaires," and opposes continuing tax breaks for the wealthy and a proposed new national sales tax.[3]
“I support tax breaks for the hard-working middle class, not billionaires.”
- SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing
Supports cutting red tape to make it faster and cheaper to build homes, expanding small-dollar home loans, and rewarding towns that build more housing.[3]
“Cut Red Tape to Make it Faster and Easier to Build Homes; Make Homes Cheaper to Build; Expand Small-dollar Home Loans; Reward Towns that Actually Build More Homes.”
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Supports allowing the government to negotiate prescription-drug prices, banning surprise medical billing, and removing medical debt from credit reports.[3]
“I support lowering the price of prescription drugs by allowing the government to negotiate prices... I believe medical debt should be taken off credit reports.”
In their words — priorities
- Says Central Pennsylvanians are being squeezed by rising costs while Perry "supports the chaotic policy of ever-changing tariff-taxes that raise prices and kill jobs" and was "the deciding vote on a budget that slashes food assistance, raises utility bills and adds $3.4 trillion dollars in new debt."[3]
- Proposes a congressional ethics plan including 12-year term limits for herself, a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks, a lifetime lobbying ban for former members, and a stronger, independent Congressional Ethics Agency.[3]
- Says she supports high-quality, affordable health care with better access to urgent and primary care, and opposes surprise medical billing.[3]
Background
- Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and grew up in the Seattle area of Washington; earned a B.A. in politics and government from the University of Puget Sound.[4]
- Worked for 26 years as a news anchor, reporter, and weather anchor at WGAL-TV in central Pennsylvania. Her first job was writing speeches for the Egyptian embassy in Washington, D.C.[4]
Campaign money
Raised $6.4M · spent $1.9M · $4.5M cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗