HARRISBURG, Pa. — The battle for the 10th Congressional District seat between Republican Congressman Scott Perry and Democrat and former news anchor Janelle Stelson has become one of the closest-watched races in the country.
FOX43 sat down with both candidates to tell you where they stand on the issues that matter most to the people of the district.
Last year, Perry co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, which, if passed, would “implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person,” giving unborn fetuses equal protection under the law pursuant to the 14th Amendment.
Perry tells FOX43 that he believes that abortion should be left to the states and that his position on the issue has not changed, despite the belief by some that the Act would have constituted an abortion ban.
"My position has never changed," Perry said. "I defend the sanctity of life when it comes to abortion. I do not agree with taxpayer-funded abortions. I make exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. Our country should stand for life, but understand our system works where the states are in charge of determining where the cutoffs are."
When asked whether he would support the Life at Conception Act again, Perry did not answer in the affirmative or negative but re-emphasized his commitment to the life of all citizens.
"I think it's important that a country stands up for its vulnerable citizens, whether they're young and innocent or whether they're old and infirm," Perry said in response to the question. "And I don't think it's a good sign for a country that's deciding your life is not a value, your life is not quality.'"
Perry said he does not believe the Act would have led to a national abortion ban.
"When you say that, then you just disregard the state's rights to enforce their own laws, and that bill does not stop the states from doing that," Perry said.
Stelson attacked Perry on his stance on abortion, saying that women should have the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.
"It's a very fundamental right to have a person be in charge of their own body and not have Scott Perry or somebody from the government telling you what to do with it," Stelson said.
When asked whether she would support any restrictions to abortion, including in the third trimester, Stelson said she would defer to medical experts.
"I'm not a health care expert, I'm not a doctor. I leave that to the healthcare profession," Stelson said. "My opponent thinks he knows what's best for a woman's body. I think women know best."
Stelson has had to answer questions in the campaign about her place of residence. She currently lives in Manheim township in Lancaster County, which rests outside the 10th Congressional District, after she initially said she would move to the district after the primary in April.
"I've been here since 1986," Stelson said. "My first apartment was 122 South Street, right around the corner from the Capitol. I lived in Susquehanna Township, lived in Camp Hill. I lived in Cumberland, and just as importantly, I've been all over the district all the time for nearly 40 years, covering our stories, listening to people and caring about what they’re caring about."
When asked, Stelson said nothing changed on her end from the primary to the general election when it comes to moving.
"She doesn't live here," Perry said about Stelson's residency. "She doesn't shop here. She's talked about raising their taxes while not living here. I have lived here. I have served with these people. They know who I am."
Perry himself has faced questions over his actions following the last presidential election. He voted against certifying Pennsylvania’s electoral votes and had his cell phone seized by the FBI in the aftermath of January 6, though he himself was not under investigation.
Perry has acknowledged that he introduced former President Donald Trump to former Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark, who has been described by DOJ leaders at the time as being one of the architects of a plan to overturn the election results for Trump.
"Before this ever happened, the President walked into the room and asked, 'Does anybody know Jeffrey Clark,'" Perry said of the interaction. "Well, I know Jeffrey Clark. I've worked with him, so I raised my hand. He said, 'Scott, I want you to make an introduction.' I said, 'Okay, Mr. President, I'll make the introduction.' I did. They had conversations about things that the Department of Justice was doing and was not doing. That's the purview of the President and Jeffrey Clark, it's not mine, and that's essentially the extent of it."
Stelson says Perry's actions and vote against the certification of the election are concerning for Pennsylvania voters.
"America is known around the world for our peaceful transfer of power," Stelson said. "It's one of the most important things about our democracy and one of the things that the rest of the world looks at us with great envy. So the fact that he would help overthrow that try to turn over an election, that's a real problem for people in this area."
With the election just days away, both Perry and Stelson have a message for those still deciding who to send to Washington.
"I've been the trusted non-partisan voice in their living rooms for 38 years, and that's not going to change," Stelson said. "I used to shine a bright light on their issues and concerns. Now I'd like to take their voices to the halls of Congress and see if we can accomplish their needs and their wants."
"You know my record," Perry said. "You know I'll stand up for you. You know that I'm respectful of you. You know I'll listen to you. You don't have to believe all the lies that are put out there with millions of dollars behind them from people that don't live here and don't care about anything but trying to win this seat."