Karen Dalton Announces Candidacy Against Scott Perry

Carlisle, Pennsylvania, October 26, 2025

News Summary

Karen Dalton, a Republican from Carlisle, has declared her intention to run against U.S. Representative Scott Perry in the 2026 primary for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. With over 25 years as a staff attorney and a focus on public health legislation, Dalton aims to strengthen social safety net programs. She criticizes Perry’s lack of opposition and his handling of current issues, and proposes fresh initiatives to support families and constituents. Dalton’s campaign positions her as a moderate contender in an increasingly competitive race.

Carlisle, Pennsylvania – Karen Dalton, a Republican from Carlisle, has officially announced her candidacy to challenge U.S. Representative Scott Perry in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. Perry, who has served since 2012, has not faced a primary opponent during his tenure.

Dalton brings over 25 years of experience as a staff attorney, having previously worked for the Pennsylvania GOP caucus in the state House. Her background includes significant contributions to legislation aimed at public health and children’s advocacy. Notably, she contributed to laws requiring HIV testing for individuals convicted of rape, which she cites as influencing her leadership principles. Dalton believes that government actions should not inflict further pain on victims, indicating her disagreement with the approaches taken by Perry and former President Trump.

To officially become a primary challenger, Dalton will need to gather enough signatures. In her campaign, she is focusing on enhancing support for social safety net programs like Social Security. She proposes a borrowing program that would allow individuals to access up to two years’ worth of benefits for educational and economic purposes, asserting that such initiatives could bolster the Social Security Trust Fund while stimulating economic activity for families in the district.

Dalton has also criticized the actions of President Trump, branding many of his executive orders as unconstitutional and harmful, particularly regarding issues related to the 14th Amendment and the Posse Comitatus Act, which governs the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement. She holds both Trump and Perry accountable for what she perceives as neglect of their responsibilities to voters, pointing out Perry’s involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his lack of in-person town hall meetings since 2019.

In the last election cycle, Perry won against Democrat Janelle Stelson by approximately 6,000 votes—the narrowest margin in his electoral history. While Perry has hosted three tele-town hall meetings in 2024, he has faced criticism for his comments regarding Democrats and the military.

Dalton expresses frustration with the current direction of the national Republican Party, stating she does not recognize it anymore. Positioning herself as a moderate, her campaign strategy includes an independent approach free from political action committee funding. She has introduced a “Voters’ Bill of Rights,” pledging to limit her service to three terms and commit to regular in-person meetings with constituents.

Dalton will be entering a competitive field, as several Democratic candidates are also vying for their party’s nomination, including Janelle Stelson, Justin Douglas, and William Lillich, along with independent candidate Isabelle Harman. The landscape of Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District, which comprises northern York County, all of Dauphin County, and parts of Cumberland County, has become more competitive since redistricting in 2018, capturing considerable attention and funding from outside donors.

Key Points

• Karen Dalton challenges incumbent Scott Perry in the GOP primary for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District.
• Dalton has previously worked with the Pennsylvania GOP caucus and has a background in public health legislation.
• She advocates for strengthening social safety net programs and improving Lives economically.
• Perry has not faced a primary opponent since 2012.
• Several Democratic candidates are also running, making it a competitive race.

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Additional Resources

• York Dispatch
• PoliticsPA
• Fox43
• ABC27
• PennLive
• Wikipedia: Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District
• Google Search: Karen Dalton Congress
• Google Scholar: Karen Dalton politics
• Encyclopedia Britannica: United States Congress
• Google News: Scott Perry elections

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