Democrats hope a rematch can dislodge Trump loyalist Perry in Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (AP) — Among Republican members of Congress representing competitive districts, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania might be the most closely associated with President Donald Trump. Perry backed Trump's tax-cutting legislation and vigorously defended Trump's policies, including his war with Iran and efforts to overturn Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.

Despite his close ties to Trump, Perry insists he is independent and has disagreed with the president on various issues. Democrats view Perry as vulnerable due to his hard-right stances, which are becoming increasingly out of step with the moderating trends in Pennsylvania's suburbs. His re-election in 2024 came down to a razor-thin margin, with Trump winning the district by 5 percentage points over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

The Trump administration has shown interest in supporting Perry, though a federal investigation into Trump's alleged attempts to prevent Biden from taking office implicated Perry, making him the only member of Congress to have his personal cellphone seized by federal authorities. Perry's stance on Trump has not gone unnoticed, with some voters distancing themselves from him due to his role in the 2021 Capitol riot and his skepticism of election results.