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Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District election, 2026 (May 19 Democratic primary)

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← 2024
Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 10, 2026
Primary: May 19, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Pennsylvania

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Tilt Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District
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Pennsylvania elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Democratic Party primary takes place on May 19, 2026, in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
March 10, 2026
May 19, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Pennsylvania utilizes a closed primary process. Voters are required to register with a political party to vote in the primary election.[1]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results


Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 10

Jason Cass (D), Justin Douglas (D), William Lillich (D), Michael Robinson (D), and Janelle Stelson (D) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Pennsylvania District 10 on May 19, 2026.

Candidate
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Jason Cass
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Justin Douglas  Candidate Connection
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William Lillich  Candidate Connection
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Michael Robinson
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Janelle Stelson

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Justin Douglas

Image of Justin Douglas

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I am a parent, a spouse, and a public servant focused on making government work better for everyday people. I grew up in a working-class family and learned early what it means to work hard, make sacrifices, and look out for one another. Those experiences shaped how I see leadership. I believe leadership is about listening, being honest, and solving real problems that affect real people. In 2023, I was elected as Dauphin County Commissioner as part of a historic victory that flipped the county blue for the first time in more than 100 years. That win showed what is possible when people feel heard and when campaigns are built on trust, community, and showing up. I am bringing that same approach to my run for Congress, and I am ready to flip Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District blue as well. I currently serve as Dauphin County Commissioner, where my focus has been on prison reform, improving accountability and transparency, and making sure essential services actually function the way they should. Outside of my role in government, I am a spouse to a public school teacher and a parent to three kids in public schools. That keeps me grounded and reminds me every day that the choices made in government have real consequences. I believe leadership means showing up, doing the work, and building change alongside the people you represent. I am focused on earning trust through accountability, consistency, and a commitment to serving people, not special interests."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Fix the system! The system is not broken by accident. It has been shaped to benefit insiders, corporate PACs, and powerful interests, often leaving everyday people feeling unheard and shut out. I believe government should serve the public, not those with the most money or access. That starts with transparency, accountability, and leaders willing to challenge what is not working. One step toward restoring trust is banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks while in office. It will not fix everything, but it is a meaningful place to start as we work to curb the influence of money in politics and rebuild confidence in government.

Hard work should pay off! I believe hard work should pay off because I grew up seeing it firsthand. I was raised on a farm, where long days, early mornings, and physical labor were part of everyday life. That experience taught me responsibility, perseverance, and the value of showing up. Too many people today are working hard and still falling behind as costs rise and opportunity feels out of reach. Government should not make life harder for people who are doing their part. My focus is on building systems that respect work, support families, and create real opportunity so effort is rewarded.

Courage to build! Our country has moved forward in the past when leaders were willing to build something new for the common good. I believe this moment calls for the same kind of courage and imagination. Caring for our neighbors should be at the center of our politics, because strong communities depend on shared responsibility and dignity. That is why I support a Medicare for All solution to our healthcare crisis. No one should face financial ruin simply because they get sick, yet medical debt remains the leading cause of bankruptcy in America. Building what comes next requires a new generation of leadership that is invested in the future we are shaping and committed to seeing the work through.

William Lillich

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "As someone who's lived on the West Shore the better part of his life, it pains me to see the neglect that's blanketed not only our local communities, but the state and country as a whole. It didn't happen all at once. Harrisburg and York are crumbling from urban blight, and rural towns are darkened by drugs and opioids. Suburbia is expensive and cheaply built or ill-maintained. Droughts in the midwest have left us with record-high beef prices, and our immigration policy initiated a 39% spike in wholesale vegetable prices in July. Jobs don't pay enough to survive let alone succeed. Times are not simply "tough," but unsustainable. These are simply failures in policy and can be corrected if we choose people over corporate interests. I'll never believe that the richest country in the history of the world can't afford schools, hospitals, or roads. I'll never believe the poorest Americans have too much, but the wealthiest are lacking. I'll never believe we can imprison our problems away. The 2026 midterm election may very well be one of the most consequential elections in America's history. You deserve a Democratic candidate who is altruistic, intelligent, fortuitous, and shows up."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Families across Pennsylvania and the nation are struggling with the rising cost of groceries. The price of everyday essentials like bread, vegetables, and especially beef has reached levels that are straining household budgets. These increases are not simply the result of “inflation” — they reflect structural problems in our economy, including corporate concentration, supply chain disruptions, and misguided trade policies.

The complete abolishment of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The federal government is training federal agents to brutalize American citizens under the guise of law enforcement while promising immunity to agents that break the law. There is no reformation to be had.

The district needs a grassroots candidate.  Voters want grassroots candidates.  A savvy social media campaign, a few thousand dollars to feed some constituents, and a candidate with some je ne sais quoi should be more than sufficient to oust a 6-term, unpopular Freedom Caucus extremist.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Pennsylvania

Election information in Pennsylvania: May 19, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: May 4, 2026
  • By mail: Received by May 4, 2026
  • Online: May 4, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: May 12, 2026
  • By mail: Received by May 12, 2026
  • Online: May 12, 2026

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: May 19, 2026
  • By mail: Received by May 19, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

Varies to May 12, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (ET)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Jason Cass Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Justin Douglas Democratic Party $84,901 $70,529 $14,373 As of December 31, 2025
William Lillich Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 As of September 30, 2025
Michael Robinson Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Janelle Stelson Democratic Party $2,195,894 $690,424 $1,520,707 As of December 31, 2025

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

2023_01_03_pa_congressional_district_010.jpg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026
Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+3. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 3 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Pennsylvania's 10th the 206th most Republican district nationally.[2]

2024 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
47.0%52.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Pennsylvania, 2024

Pennsylvania presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 14 Democratic wins
  • 17 Republican wins
  • 1 other win
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party R R R P[3] R R R R R D D D R R R D D D R D R R R D D D D D D R D R
See also: Party control of Pennsylvania state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Pennsylvania
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 1 7 8
Republican 1 10 11
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 17 19

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Pennsylvania's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Pennsylvania, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorDemocratic Party Josh Shapiro
Lieutenant GovernorDemocratic Party Austin Davis
Secretary of StateRepublican Party Al Schmidt
Attorney GeneralRepublican Party Dave Sunday

State legislature

Pennsylvania State Senate

Party As of March 2026
     Democratic Party 23
     Republican Party 27
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 50

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Party As of March 2026
     Democratic Party 101
     Republican Party 98
     Other 0
     Vacancies 4
Total 203

Trifecta control

Pennsylvania Party Control: 1992-2025
One year of a Democratic trifecta  •  Twelve years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D
Senate R D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Pennsylvania in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Pennsylvania, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Pennsylvania U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 1,000 $150.00 3/10/2026 Source
Pennsylvania U.S. House Unaffiliated 2% of votes cast in the district in the last election $150.00 8/3/2026 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ FindLaw, "Pa. Stat. tit. 25, § 299," accessed December 22, 2025
  2. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025
  3. ↑ Progressive Party


Pennsylvania's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
John Fetterman (D)
David McCormick (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
Republican Party (11)
Democratic Party (8)


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