We continue our examination of PA's 4 hot congressional races with Erin Covey of the Cook Political Report - this episode focuses on another of our 3 toss-up races: the PA-10 rematch in southcentral PA between GOP Cong. Scott Perry and Democrat Janelle Stelson. Perry won by 5,133 votes in their 2024 battle.

Here is an AI-assisted summary of our interview about the highly competitive rematch for Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District between Perry and Stelson.

Race Rating: Initially rated "likely Republican," the race has shifted to a "toss-up" due to Perry's vulnerability and the exceptionally narrow margin of the 2024 race between the two candidates (Perry + 5,133 votes).

Candidate Strengths & Vulnerabilities: Stelson, a former TV news anchor with strong non-partisan name recognition, has out-raised Perry. However, her campaign previously faced criticism because she did not reside within the district, though she has since moved to Cumberland County. Meanwhile, Democrats attack Perry's conservative voting record on federal spending bills as a member of the House Freedom Caucus.

Strategic Outlook: Analysts view the upcoming race as a continuation of their '24 "slugfest," though it's unclear how much new information voters will learn about the two this year. As one of three toss-up districts in Pennsylvania, this race could ultimately determine control of the House.

PA 7 can be characterized as a quintessential 50-50 swing seat in the Lehigh Valley, the district features freshman Republican Representative Ryan Mackenzie defending his seat against Democratic nominee Bob Brooks. That's why we sat down with Erin Covey, who leads coverage of the U.S. House for the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter to chat about this race.

Here's the take-away from our 12-minute talk:

A Contentious Primary: Brooks, head of the PA Professional Fire Fighters Association, secured an easier-than-expected primary victory. He unified the progressive and centrist wings of his party despite late Republican meddling but benefited from unusual, coordinated financial backing from the DCCC in a primary.

General Election Vulnerabilities: Mackenzie remains a seasoned local legislator who keeps a low profile and Brooks faces potential scrutiny over past personal controversies and shifting policy stances.

The Big Picture: Located in the expensive Philadelphia media market, this "toss-up" race is viewed as a crucial bellwether. Because it sits on the East Coast, early results here on election night could signal which party will ultimately control the House.

Enjoy.

The latest podcast from PA Political Digest, hosted by GOP political consultant Christopher Nicholas, features a chat with Erin Covey of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter about one of PA's 4 hot congressional races - this one, PA-8, up in NEPA.

The seat features a tight matchup between freshman Republican incumbent Rob Bresnahan and Democratic challenger, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti. While the Northeast Pennsylvania district has historically trended Republican on paper, Covey notes that a favorable national political environment for Democrats, driven locally by Governor Josh Shapiro's popularity, has made the race intensely competitive. Additionally, Bresnahan faces heavy Democratic criticism over his frequent stock trading. Nicholas wonders what the prevailing anti-Scranton sentiment in the region will mean for Mayor Cognetti. Ultimately, both candidates are expected to remain equally well-resourced.

Join the latest PPD pod where we chat with Muhlenberg College Prof. and pollster, Chris Borick, about his new poll on healthcare in Pennsylvania.

• While more people still favor legalizing recreational marijuana in PA, its support has dropped considerable in the past 5 years, from 58% in favor to just 47% now according to a new poll via Muhlenberg College's Institute for Public Opinion…and the number of folks who are ambivalent about it has also jumped considerably.

As pollster Chris Borick, who conducted the poll, remarked:

"If I was a Republican legislator and I'm looking at this [legalizing recreational marijuana], I'm certainly not diving in headfirst. It's not the slam dunk that some folks would tell you, that's for certain."

PA residents do not like the direction of healthcare here in the state but yet hold their own Primary Care Physician (PCP) in very high regard. And a majority don't trust either HHS Secretary RFK, Jr. or chatbots.

We also chat about the big-time Democratic primary in PA's 7th Cong. District in the Lehigh Valley.

Thanks to TruthonWeed.com for sponsoring this podcast. Enjoy...

PA's changing demographic kaleidoscope

Welcome to our latest PPD pod, with Univ. of Pittsburgh's Chris Briem, part of their Center for Social and Urban Research, and an expert on the state's demographics.

Can we still say that the Central PA - Lehigh Valley - Philly 'burbs region is the state's only true growth area, while the rest is either flat lining - or worse?

Is it just easier to posit that East Coast PA is growing while mid-west PA is not?

As Briem recounts, during the de-industrialization of western PA in the early 80's, tens of thousands of people left the region, taking with them their kids and their future grandchildren. It's never quite recovered.

Did you know that Beaver County's unemployment rate topped 28% then, higher than it was in the Depression?

What's up with the region outside Pittsburgh, what Nicholas refers to as Greater Non-Urban SW PA (GnuSWPA!

That's coming, even though both Philly and Pgh's populations have rebounded somewhat…and did the state's 3 western TV markets - Erie, Johnstown-Altoona and Pittsburgh - all lose voters in the past 3 years?

Will the state be forced to move a state senate seat from western PA to the eastern part of the state in 2030's state reapportionment?

Can we redefine success without job growth?

Did you know that the Steel City is now home to more jobs than ever before?

Listen as Nicholas quizzes Briem on the state's top municipalities - Briem does pretty good but, like everyone else, cannot figure out the state's #6 largest town.

Enjoy our pod and learn more about PA's politics and demographics - that's always the goal of PA Political Digest!

Briem's new book, Beyond Steel: Pittsburgh and the Economics of Transformation, debuted earlier this year and is available wherever you buy your reading material.

PA Political Digest sits down with Betsy Fischer Martin as Women's History Month comes to a close

• The Commonwealth of PA has the dubious distinction of being one of the Big 4 states that's never elected a woman as Governor or as a U.S. Senator.

Here in PA did you know that while there are more Democratic women in the State House there are more Republican women in the State Senate. Overall the number of women in the state legislature has greatly increased during my time working in politics here.

What will you learn listening to our pod?

-What the other 3 states are in the Big 4 besides PA...

-You'll also learn why I wear the same "uniform" each week on This Week in PA, and what the 'time' deficit is that women have to deal with.

-Speaking of uniforms, will GOP gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity's extensive military background help her bridge the toughness gap in the gov race that women must often deal with?

-And how many women are there now in the U.S. House, U.S. Senate and serving as Governors.

Background: PA Dems, in the modern era, have never nominated a woman as their gubernatorial candidate, while the PA GOP has never nominated a woman as their U.S. Senate standard-bearer.

This year the PA GOP has nominated State Treasurer Garrity as their candidate for Governor, the second time they have set on a female candidate for that office...way back in 1990 was the first time.

That sets up a contest between her and Josh Shapiro...what are the special challenges for each as they battle a candidate of the opposite gender?

As Women's History Month comes to a close today (3-31-26), it seemed like the perfect time to do a deep dive on this, and that's why I talked late last week with Betsy Fischer Martin, the head of American University's Women & Politics Institute. She was also the long-time Exec. Producer of Meet the Press with Tim Russert.

Thanks again to Betsy...and enjoy!

Confused about all the economic stats you hear about during campaign season?

What does GDP really mean? Does lessening inflation mean prices at the grocery store are going down, or just increasing more slowly? Are we entering an era where there's lots of money for algorithms and machines, but not as much for people? What's the vibecession and the K-Shaped economy?

PA Political Digest sat with Heather Long, Rhodes Scholar, former Wash Post/CNN economics correspondent and now Chief Economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, to find out. Our goal: demystify some of the economic jargon politicians throw at us during campaign season.

Join PA Political Digest publisher, GOP political consultant Christopher Nicholas, as he talks about PA's 4 hottest 2026 congressional races with Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball.

The pod takes a deep dive into PA-1,7,8 and 10, all Republican re-election races (Congs. Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, Bresnahan and Perry).

Sabato's Crystal Ball is one of the better-known non-partisan, campaign analysis/rating publications.

Pa-7 begins at 01:30 (the 1-minute 30-second mark) - how will the Dems' wide open primary affect the general election?

PA-8 begins at 08:35 - might the Dems have a brewing primary here...will Dem St. Sen. Marty Flynn of Scranton get into the congressional primary against Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti?

PA-10 begins at 19:00 - as of now both parties appear to have primaries here

PA-1 begins at 34:00 - will GOP Cong. Brian Fitzpatrick, the only Republican who voted against the OBBB, get his usual MAGA-style primary opponent in 2026?

This is Episode 2 of our 2026 Look Ahead series, which dropped 12/30/25...Episode 1, a 2026 Look Ahead that examines PA's gubernatorial and state legislative races, is also available and dropped 12/5/25. Thanks for listening.