7 takeaways from the PA-10 debate between Scott Perry and Janelle Stelson

Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry and Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson met for their first and only debate of the 2024 election cycle, where they each outlined their positions on the economy, abortion rights, border security and a range of other issues. 

Multiple election prognosticators have rated the 10th Congressional District race in favor of Republicans, with The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball both rating the race as “Lean Republican,” while Inside Elections characterized the campaign as “Tilt Republican.”

Below, City & State breaks down some of the top moments from the hourlong debate, which was hosted by abc27 at their studios in Harrisburg. 

Outlining positions on the economy

Perry said the cost of living is too high and is an issue he has frequently heard about from constituents. “The cost of living – it's plaguing every single person across this district, and I hear about it at the gas station, at the grocery store. People are buying their food with credit cards. They can't afford their electricity bills,” he said, touting his support for a 2017 tax cut bill backed by former President Donald Trump. 

“I voted for the largest tax cut in history, giving people in this district and across the country, in Pennsylvania, more money in their pocket,” Perry said. 

Stelson said more should be done to raise wages, noting that Pennsylvania’s $7.25 minimum wage, which is set in state law, is too low. She also expressed a desire to address price gouging if she is elected to Congress: “Greedflation is real – the inflated prices at grocery stores and at the gas tanks. There’s some price gouging going on when you have some of the biggest corporations involved in groceries and gas making record profits. That’s a real problem,” she said. “But my opponent voted against price gouging (legislation) as well. This is just not the way I’m going to vote in Congress. I’m going to vote to help us, not hurt us.”

Stelson hits Perry over his abortion stance

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn its 1973 Roe. v. Wade ruling that guaranteed a federal right to an abortion has made abortion rights and reproductive health care one of the most talked-about issues of the 2024 election cycle. 

Both candidates sought to clarify their stances on abortion access during Tuesday’s debate. Abc27 moderator Dennis Owens asked Perry about his support for the “Life At Conception Act,” the federal legislation that would implement a ban on abortion at the federal level. 

Perry, despite claiming to support exceptions for abortions performed due to rape, incest and the life of the mother, said his position on the issue hasn’t changed. “I think that we need to be mindful that any woman or girl that has an unplanned pregnancy is in a position she doesn’t want to be in. We also have to be mindful that there are two lives at stake here,” he said. “My position … has never changed. I defend, vehemently, the sanctity of life. On abortion, I oppose taxpayer-funded abortions, but I make exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother,” adding that he also supports access to the use of in vitro fertilization treatments. 

Stelson looked to knock Perry for his position on abortion. “Scott Perry has sponsored a nationwide abortion ban for years, with no exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the woman. This is a real problem. It’s one of the things that crosses all party lines,” Stelson said. “There’s no reason why Scott Perry knows better than they do what to do with their own bodies in their most intimate health care decisions.”

When asked whether she believes life begins at conception, Stelson said: “I’m not a doctor, I’m not a health care professional. I leave those decisions about viability or anything else to health care professionals. Again, if I’m lucky enough to get into Congress, I don’t think that’s my role. I think what you do is codify Roe. It was precedent for 50 years. … It’s one of the first things I’d like to do. Then I think government should get out of the abortion business,” she said.

Caling for stronger border security

One area of agreement among both candidates was that more needs to be done at the federal level to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and curb immigration levels. 

Stelson said she didn’t think President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris “acted fast enough” to secure the border during Biden’s first and only term, and pressed Perry for voting against a bill that would have provided more funding for border agents. She added that both parties have failed to adequately address immigration.

“Again, both parties have been watching it for decades,” she said. “We need more border security agents. We need more judges so that when people come and they’re deemed not to have a legitimate claim to be here, they’re sent back to their home countries expeditiously. We also need to send people who cross illegally or are here illegally – we need to send them home. These are all things that need to be done. It’s paramount. This is an American problem – not a Democratic, not a Republican problem.”

Perry said the border was more secure under former President Donald Trump’s administration. “The border was secure under the last president without (more) border patrol agents. He already had it secured. So that’s not the answer,” he said. The answer is getting a new president who actually wants to follow the law.”

Restarting the conversation about Three Mile Island 

The debate also covered the planned reopening of a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island in Middletown. 

Under a 20-year power purchase agreement between Constellation Energy and Microsoft, Three Mile Island Unit 1 would be restarted to launch the Crane Clean Energy Center. The agreement would see Microsoft purchase energy from the plant to power its data centers without producing carbon emissions.

Both candidates were asked whether they would support a $1.6 billion federal loan for the facility to open. Perry expressed skepticism that federal government funding would be necessary. 

“For goodness’ sake, I don't think Microsoft needs money from the federal government. They seem to be one of the wealthiest companies on the planet, and they should be able to do that themselves – and that’s what I would support,” he said.

Stelson said she would like to learn more about the proposal. “I’d like to see a breakdown of exactly what we need to do. I know that Reactor 1 needs a lot of refurbishing before it can come back online,” she said, adding that the project could create a significant number of jobs in the 10th Congressional District. “But the good news is, that’s a lot of jobs for people around here. It was a real hit when TMI shut down, and I’m glad Constellation is bringing it back to life. That’s going to be a lot of jobs here.”

Addressing residency questions

Stelson, who does not currently live in the 10th Congressional District, was asked about her residency by Owens during the debate, including whether she plans to move into the district if she defeats Perry in the fall. 

“I live in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, a few miles over the arbitrarily drawn line,” Stelson said. “Most importantly, I have lived and worked in this area since 1986.” 

She added that she has had multiple residences in what is now the 10th Congressional District. “First house, if you know Harrisburg well, 122 South Street, right around the corner from the Capitol. Two other residences in Uptown Harrisburg. I also lived in Susquehanna Township, near the world’s longest stone arch bridge down by Fort Hunter. I lived over in New Cumberland, lived in Camp Hill, and I’ve been working in this area since 1986. I know every (nook) and cranny.”

Stelson then confirmed that she would move into the district following the election.

Contesting the 2020 and 2024 election results

Perry was one of several GOP lawmakers to object to the certification of Pennsylvania’s 2020 electoral votes in 2021, and he was asked by Owens whether he is confident this year’s results will be “free and fair.”

Perry said he was representing the voice of his constituents when objecting to the commonwealth’s electoral votes. “After the 2020 election, I got literally thousands of phone calls, emails, texts, people coming up to me about the things they saw, the things they heard about, and they wanted an investigation. It’s your job as a representative to be their voice, even sometimes if you don’t agree with what they’re asking you to be their voice. So I called for an investigation,” he said. 

“Unfortunately, there was not an investigation. There has been no investigation. The American people, people of this district and across Pennsylvania, need to be sure that they can trust the fidelity of our elections,” he added. “And right now, there’s a lot of people that don’t trust them, so I would just tell you, use the system that’s in place. Let’s make sure our voices are heard. Let’s make sure we vote.”

Speaking out on term limits

The candidates were asked about their position on congressional term limits. Stelson said she would support 12-year term limits for members of Congress, while Perry previously signed a pledge supporting term limits. 

“I think they should be 12 years; I would limit myself if I’m lucky enough to get to Washington,” Stelson said.

Perry, who is running for his 7th term in office, blamed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for not calling up a vote on a constitutional amendment to create term limits. “Part of the negotiation for the speaker’s race was to pull up the constitutional amendment for term limits. Now, the speaker said he was going to do it. We agreed. We voted for him, and then he never did it, which means he’s not the speaker anymore,” Perry said.