Janelle Stelson

Janelle Stelson
Stelson in 2026
Personal details
Born1960 (age 65–66)
Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.
Party
EducationUniversity of Puget Sound (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Janelle Stelson (born 1960)[1][2] is an American former television news anchor and politician. She worked as a television journalist in Pennsylvania for more than three decades, including 26 years as an anchor at WGAL-TV in Lancaster. Stelson was the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district in 2024, narrowly losing to incumbent Republican Scott Perry, and is the party's nominee again in the 2026 election.

Early life and education

Stelson was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in Seattle with three younger sisters.[3][3] Her father was a state trooper and teacher, while her mother worked as a receptionist at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.[3]

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and government from the University of Puget Sound.[4] She also studied international politics and German at the Austro-American Institute in Vienna, Austria.[5]

Broadcast journalism career

After graduating from the University of Puget Sound, Stelson worked as a speechwriter at the Embassy of Egypt in Washington, D.C.[5] She later joined WHTM-TV, the local ABC affiliate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she worked as a general assignment reporter and weather anchor for three years.[6] In 1985, she joined WPLG-TV, the ABC affiliate in Miami, Florida,[4] where she covered hurricanes, Haitian unrest, and one of the largest drug busts in U.S. history.[5]

She later returned to Pennsylvania to join WHP-TV, the CBS affiliate in Harrisburg, where she anchored the 6 pm and 11 pm newscasts.[7] She also worked with WITF-FM radio, hosted a statewide public television program, and anchored "Computer Chronicles" on PBS.[8]

In 1997, Stelson joined WGAL-TV, the NBC affiliate in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,[9] where she co-anchored the station's 4, 5:30, 10, and 11 pm evening newscasts.[10] During her time there, she reported from Kosovo while embedded with the Pennsylvania National Guard and covered the aftermath of the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City.[11] She won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award in 2016[12] and 2023, including the latter for co-anchoring for a smaller market evening newscast.[13][14]

On September 14, 2023, Stelson announced near the end of "News 8 at 5:30" that she would be leaving WGAL after nearly 40 years as a journalist, including 26 years at the station. Her final newscast aired the following day.[1]

U.S. House of Representatives campaigns

2024 election

In 2024, Stelson ran for Congress as a Democrat in Pennsylvania's 10th district on a centrist platform and defeated five other candidates in the Democratic primary.[15] Ahead of the campaign, she changed her voter registration from Republican to Democratic in February 2023. She said the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade contributed to her decision, explaining that she had originally registered with the party of her parents. She also said that her career in broadcast journalism, which required political neutrality, had given her little reason to reconsider her party affiliation earlier.[3]

During the campaign, Stelson faced questions about her previous Republican registration and her residence outside the district. She said during a March primary debate that she would move into the district if she won the primary, but later said she would move after winning the general election.[15] She was also scrutinized for comments made on-air about a business in Belgium where patrons could dine and drink in the company of cats. After her co-anchor noted that the idea was popularized in Asian countries, she replied: "Of course, because they're making tacos out of them."[16] She later apologized for the comment, saying it was inappropriate and had occurred during a career spanning thousands of hours of live television.[17]

Stelson faced Republican incumbent Scott Perry in the general election and lost by about 5,000 votes.[18][19]

2026 election

In July 2025, Stelson announced her candidacy for Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district in the 2026 election.[20][21] The following month, she established residency and registered to vote at a rented home in Cumberland County within the district;[22] she also continued to own her former home in Lancaster County.[23] During the Democratic primary, her opponent, Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas, criticized her for declining to participate in a candidate debate, which marked the first Democratic primary for the district since 2016 not to have a debate.[24] Stelson defeated Douglas in the Democratic primary with 67.5% of the vote, and advanced to a rematch against incumbent Republican Scott Perry in the general election.[25][26]

Political positions

Stelson supports updating immigration laws and has said that ICE should be held accountable for the deaths of U.S. citizens. She is opposed to the 2026 Iran War, believing tax dollars would be better spent on domestic issues to help the middle class. She is also against tariffs enacted by President Trump, which Perry has supported.[27]

Personal life

Stelson lives in East Pennsboro Township in Cumberland County.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 Thompson, Charles (September 14, 2023). "Janelle Stelson leaving WGAL News 8 anchor desk". PennLive.
  2. ↑ "Getting to know you: Janelle Stelson". Gettysburg Times. May 21, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2026. Hobbies: "I'm a Gemini. I tend to get interested in something and then get interested in something else."
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lyons, Kim (October 6, 2023). "Former WGAL anchor Janelle Stelson jumps into race for Congress". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Janelle Stelson joins WPLG as general assignment reporter". The Miami Herald. July 15, 1989. p. 73. Retrieved October 10, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "Janelle Stelson". WGAL-TV (Channel 8; NBC affiliate). Hearst Television. November 22, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  6. ↑ "WHTM's Janelle Stelson does reporting and weather". The Patriot-News. September 27, 1987. p. 80 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Stelson new WHP anchor". York Daily Record. December 28, 1993. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Fox, Barry (October 13, 1995). "Janelle Stelson is back – sort of". The Evening News. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Fox, Barry (September 5, 1997). "Janelle Stelson hired as anchor at WGAL". The Patriot-News. p. 47. Retrieved September 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Janelle Stelson recalls the tragic shooting in an Amish school". WGAL. March 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ White, Jaxon (September 14, 2023). "WGAL anchor Janelle Stelson leaving station, said to be considering run for Congress". Lancaster Online. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ "2016 Emmy Recipients". National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mid-Atlantic Chapter. September 24, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  13. ↑ "2023 Emmy Recipients". National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mid-Atlantic Chapter. October 14, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  14. ↑ "2023 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy® Award Winners Announced". WCAU. October 17, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  15. 1 2 Thompson, Charles (June 13, 2024). "Janelle Stelson wants Pa. voters to commit before she moves. They might". pennlive. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ Argento, Mike. "Congressional hopeful and former WGAL anchor Janelle Stelson slammed for on-air Asian joke". York Daily Record. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ Thompson, Charles (April 9, 2024). "Old racial 'joke' prompts criticism of central Pa. Democrat running for Congress". pennlive. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  18. ↑ Walters, Mark. "Janelle Stelson moves into 10th Congressional District, changing voter registration". York Dispatch. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  19. ↑ Southard, Alexa (November 8, 2024). "Janelle Stelson concedes in race for 10th Congressional against incumbent Scott Perry". WHP. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ Levy, Marc (July 14, 2025). "The challenger who narrowly lost to Rep. Scott Perry wants another chance to beat him in 2026". WTAE. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  21. ↑ "FEC Form 2 for Report FEC-1900468". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  22. ↑ Walters, Mark (August 20, 2025). "Janelle Stelson moves into 10th Congressional District, changing voter registration". York Daily Record. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  23. 1 2 Thompson, Charles (August 14, 2025). "Janelle Stelson can now vote for herself for Congress. Here's why". PennLive. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  24. ↑ Thompson, Charles (May 6, 2026). "Stelson frustrates opponent by skipping debates in primary for Pa.'s 10th House District". pennlive. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Pennsylvania Primary Election Results 2026". NPR. May 25, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  26. ↑ Levy, Marc (May 19, 2026). "Shapiro-backed Democrats win House primaries in Pennsylvania swing districts the party hopes to flip". AP News. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  27. ↑ Argento, Mike (April 24, 2026). "Janelle Stelson faces progressive challenger in 10th District primary". York Daily Record. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
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