Janelle Stelson

Janelle Stelson (born 1960) 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. Her father was a state trooper and teacher, while her mother worked as a receptionist at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. She also studied international politics and German at the Austro-American Institute in Vienna, Austria.

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. In 1985, she joined WPLG-TV, the ABC affiliate in Miami, Florida, She also worked with WITF-FM radio, hosted a statewide public television program, and anchored "Computer Chronicles" on PBS.

In 1997, Stelson joined WGAL-TV, the NBC affiliate in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she co-anchored the station's 4, 5:30, 10, and 11 pm evening newscasts. 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. She won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award in 2016 and 2023, including the latter for co-anchoring for a smaller market evening newscast.

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.

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. 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." She later apologized for the comment, saying it was inappropriate and had occurred during a career spanning thousands of hours of live television.

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

2026 election

In July 2025, Stelson announced her candidacy for Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district in the 2026 election. The following month, she established residency and registered to vote at a rented home in Cumberland County within the district; she also continued to own her former home in Lancaster County. 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. 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.

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.

Personal life Stelson lives in East Pennsboro Township in Cumberland County.