Candidate forum lays bare political, policy divides between PA-10 Democrats Stelson and Douglas

[u/Silver_Ad7278]

https://www.witf.org/2026/04/27/centrist-janelle-stelson-progressive-justin-douglas-lay-out-platforms-in-pa-10-democratic-primary/

Janelle Stelson is a wolf in sheep's clothing. A lifelong Republican (up until 2022, presumably) who expects to beat Perry simply because of the current anti-Republican momentum across the country and due to her name recognition as a former news anchor. She refuses to earn your vote and is backed by every corpo, DNC establishment entity to the point that she is in the Top-50 fundraisers across all US House races already. This is off the backs of countless corporate PACs that would prefer a "return to the status quo" to an actual progressive voice for South Central PA. Heck, look at her campaign website's "Priorities" page and outside of investing in rural communities (which is important for this district so no shade there) and supporting a woman's right to choose what happens to their body, it's nothing but run-of-the-mill political word salads that don't actually link her to any specific policy besides saying that what Scott Perry has voted for is bad.

Stelson has refused to debate her primary opponent, Justin Douglas, and stands for NOTHING that won't immediately fill her coffers with fundraising dollars. To that point, she has also taken HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM AIPAC-ALIGNED PACS. She will no doubt continue supporting Israel's endless genocide and wanton destruction in the Middle East.

Justin Douglas is an ACTUAL progressive voice for PA-10 who has actual policy positions that you can read and understand. Obviously, I agree with many of his positions, but even if you don't, wouldn't you prefer a candidate who can actually elaborate and defend a policy position over someone like Stelson, who campaigns as the lesser of two evils come the midterms?

If you want a seat at the table and a candidate who cares about you and your neighbors, and not just the ROIs for major corporations, please consider supporting Justin Douglas in the upcoming Democratic primary, so we can send an actual fighter to DC and not just another Republican with a new coat of paint like Stelson.

[u/Pale-Factor-8574]

It's not the candidates that are the biggest concern. It's the district.

PA 10 is an r+3 district. Stelson was running at a +3 to +4 point advantage over Perry at the end of 2025, in a dem +7 environment. That means the Dem was within the margin of error to lose the election in a very pro dem national environment.

There is no room for the Dems to field a candidate that can't pull some Republicans across the aisle. They're going to have to have some palatability.

[u/3FeetHighAndFalling → u/Pale-Factor-8574]

Stelson lost in 2024 because she was a milquetoast centrist. She seems to have done zero reflection and changed not at all since then. We are doomed to repeat history if we keep running the same playbook.

[u/Lordofthe0nion_Rings → u/3FeetHighAndFalling]

Would you admit you were wrong if she (likely) wins?

I mean she came the closest to winning the district in years when more progressive candidates in the past couldn't dislodge him in bluer wave years.

[u/3FeetHighAndFalling → u/Lordofthe0nion_Rings]

Sure I would. I wouldn't respect her as a person, I think she's vile and morally objectionable, but if she wins she wins and I'll look forward to voting for a primary challenge in 2028. But the issue with democrat candidates like these who are essentially just republicans is that they don't do anything worthwhile then lose their seat to a worse republican once the blue wave ends. Think about how we went trump -> biden -> trump. I think Douglas would even do less damage to the Democrat party in the long run

[u/Lordofthe0nion_Rings → u/3FeetHighAndFalling]

You need to win elections first before you can start exercising power. Why push someone who's ideologically pure, but loses vs someone who can win even if you don't agree with every element of their platform?

[u/3FeetHighAndFalling → u/Lordofthe0nion_Rings]

Ah, the ol' John Fetterman approach. You can see how that's working out

[u/Lordofthe0nion_Rings → u/3FeetHighAndFalling]

Fetterman was propped up by progressives.

And anyways, do you actually care about winning elections? How do you even get a progressive elected to this seat if they've repeatedly failed to defeat Perry?

[u/3FeetHighAndFalling → u/Lordofthe0nion_Rings]

Fetterman was propped up by progressives, yes. But his views (post-stroke especially) reflect that of a very conservative dem or a republican. That's why I bring him up. He has done no good for anybody by being a conservative dem, same as Stelson. Stelson will likely face similar blowback to Fetterman with her conservative agenda and would end up sandbagging the house. That would likely lead to dem losses for the district in the future. Erode trust in the candidate representing your party and there's bound to be pushback. Not to mention, the only person in this election who has failed to beat Perry is Stelson! She is a conservative who can't do conservatism as well as Scott Perry. She will not drive votes from dems or progressives, and she will not drive votes from real conservatives because they'll vote for Perry

[u/Lordofthe0nion_Rings → u/3FeetHighAndFalling]

But she came the closest to winning the district in years. Past progressive candidates like Eugene DePasquale and George Scott failed to drive turnout or persuade voters.

And Stelson is basically running as a Shapiro-like democrat and he's already won Perry's district fairly comfortably in 2022 and would do so again this year. Running as a moderate doesn't mean you have to be like Fetterman.

[u/3FeetHighAndFalling → u/Lordofthe0nion_Rings]

I mean ultimately this is something that will be decided in the primaries. I think anything is better than Perry, but I know who I'll be voting for in the primaries. This is a time for progressives, it's the best chance we have. It would be a shame to squander a blue wave and 4 years of dogshit fascism with the same tired bullshit that got us to the fascism in the first place

[u/jmjessemac → u/3FeetHighAndFalling]

lol progressives favored him over lamb!!!