Democratic candidates appear to be gaining significant ground in two critical Pennsylvania congressional districts that previously leaned Republican, according to the latest data from a Franklin and Marshall College poll. In the 10th District, former WGAL TV anchor Janelle Stelson now holds a lead over incumbent Representative Scott Perry, sitting at 52 percent to 48 percent. Meanwhile, in the 7th District, retired firefighter and union leader Bob Brooks leads Republican Representative Ryan Mackenzie by four percentage points. These shifts mirror wider trends across the state and nation where voters seem to be drifting away from the GOP.
Much of this movement appears to be driven by deep financial anxiety among constituents. Roughly half of the surveyed voters reported feeling worse off financially than they did a year ago and believe the state is heading in the wrong direction. This economic frustration has translated into low approval ratings for Donald Trump, with only about one in four voters in these districts viewing his performance as good or excellent. Interestingly, Governor Josh Shapiro maintains stronger standing among these same voters, suggesting a preference for Democratic leadership at various levels of government within the region.
Berwood Yost, director of the Center for Opinion Research at F&M, notes that while these districts vary demographically, both are showing a similar swing toward Democrats since 2024. He attributes much of this change to waning support for Trump among white, working class voters who feel underserved by current policies. According to Yost, tying Republican candidates too closely to Trump through endorsements or visits could potentially backfire, as many polled residents explicitly stated that his policies have hurt rather than helped them.
Despite these promising numbers for Democrats, political analysts warn that neither race is a certainty yet. A notable portion of the electorate remains undecided—roughly nine percent in the 10th District and sixteen percent in the 7th—meaning there is still plenty of room for late campaign surges or aggressive advertising to tilt the scales. As Democrats eye several Pennsylvania seats in hopes of flipping control of the U.S House of Representatives, these two contests remain pivotal battlegrounds heading into November.
