Exclusive: Democratic challenger to GOP Rep. Scott Perry raises $500K in 2 days
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Janelle Stelson, Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District, campaigns in 2024. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Janelle Stelson, a Pennsylvania Democrat who narrowly lost to Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) in 2024, raised more than $500,000 in the first 48 hours since announcing for 2026, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: For a candidate essentially asking donors for a second chance, those are encouraging numbers.
- Bombshell fundraising announcements can also make other potential Democratic hopefuls think twice about jumping into the primary.
- "We are building the coalition needed to win this seat and it's clear that momentum is on our side," Stelson said in a statement to Axios.
What we're watching: Stelson, like other 2024 retreads, still needs to get through a 2026 primary process, which could get messy.
- The Democratic party is still processing Zohran Mamdani's shock win in New York City, with established incumbents wondering if they'll be victims of a progressive insurgency.
Zoom in: Repeat candidates bring certain advantages to a rematch, including name ID and a donor list that can be resuscitated.
- But they also enter the race having been rejected in the previous cycle.
- Still, Democratic party strategists are convinced that the midterm electorate will be more forgiving to their candidates with President Trump off the ballot.
- They are betting that tough losses in a presidential year can turn into tight wins in the off-year.
Zoom out: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tends to encourage repeat candidates more than its GOP counterparts, with 10 Democratic challengers who ran for a second time in competitive seats in 2024.
- Three of them — Reps. Laura Gillen (D-N.Y), Adam Gray (D-Calif.) and Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) — ended up prevailing in their rematches.
- Rep. Tom Souzi (D-N.Y.), who left his seat to run for governor in 2022, recaptured it in a special election in 2024 and then won a full term in November.
- Republicans mocked the tactic, likening it to microwaving "crusty lasagna".
Between the lines: This year, both parties already have a handful of retread candidates looking for redemption.
- Former Iowa state Rep. Christina Bohannan is challenging Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) for a third time after losing by 799 votes in 2024.
- In Wisconsin, Rebecca Cooke wants to take another shot at Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.).
- In California, Joe Kerr, a retired firefighter, plans to run against Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) again.
- Former Rep. Yadira Caraveo is laying the groundwork to take back her Colorado seat from Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.).
- And former state Rep. Amish Shah and Marlene Galán-Woods are both running in the Democratic primary to face Rep. David Schweikert in Arizona. Shah lost in 2024 in the general election.
The other side: In Ohio, Kevin Coughlin is looking for a rematch against Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio).
- And Derek Merrin is making a second run at Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio).
- Former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln wants to again challenge Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) in the Central Valley.
- Two Nevada Republicans — Marty O'Donnell and David Flippo — who didn't advance past the primary last cycle, are also running again.
The bottom line: Second-time candidates — and even third-time candidates — know how to dial for dollars, but they'll still face well-financed incumbents in November.
- Perry raised $885,000 in the second quarter of 2025, with $282,000 coming from direct transfers for leadership accounts, leaving him with $1.2 million cash on hand.
