- Scott Perry (R-PA) represents Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District (Harrisburg/York) — an R+13 district he has held since 2013 and serves as a leader in the House Freedom Caucus, one of the most conservative members of the Pennsylvania delegation.
- He was a key figure in the post-2020 election pressure campaign — introducing DOJ official Jeffrey Clark to Trump administration officials in an attempt to use the Justice Department to dispute the 2020 election results, leading to his phone being seized by the FBI.
- Perry served as chairman of the House Freedom Caucus from 2021-2023 — the most powerful position in the hard-right faction that has repeatedly forced leadership concessions and driven internal Republican battles over spending and the speakership.
- He is a retired Army National Guard brigadier general and Black Hawk helicopter pilot — his military background shapes his hawkish foreign policy positions, particularly on Iran, China, and defense spending, despite his general opposition to federal government expansion.
Biography
H. Scott Perry was born on May 27, 1962, in San Jose, California, and grew up in Pennsylvania. He attended the Pennsylvania State University and the Army War College. He served in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot and aviator, eventually reaching the rank of brigadier general in the Army National Guard after decades of military service including deployment in Iraq. His military career is a central element of his political identity.
Perry was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2006 and served until 2012. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, winning Pennsylvania's 4th Congressional District. After redistricting, he has represented the 10th district, which covers Dauphin (Harrisburg), York, and Cumberland counties — a largely suburban and exurban south-central Pennsylvania area with significant manufacturing, agricultural, and government employment. He is a reliable hard-right conservative, a founding and active member of the House Freedom Caucus, and served as its chairman from 2021 to 2023.
Perry became a nationally significant figure primarily through his association with the post-2020 election challenges. He reportedly played a key role in connecting DOJ official Jeffrey Clark with Trump's White House as Trump sought someone at the Justice Department willing to support election challenges. The House January 6 Select Committee issued a subpoena to Perry, which he refused to comply with. The FBI seized his cell phone in August 2022 as part of related investigations. No criminal charges against Perry resulted from these investigations.
Key Positions
Freedom Caucus Leadership
As Freedom Caucus chair from 2021-2023, Perry was one of the most influential members of the House's hard-right bloc during the crucial period when Republicans won the House majority in 2022 and then struggled to govern with a slim margin. The Freedom Caucus under his chairmanship played a pivotal role in the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October 2023, and in the chaotic Speaker succession that led to Mike Johnson's election. Perry's faction has consistently prioritized ideological purity over legislative functionality.
January 6 Investigation
Perry's role in post-2020 election activities made him a central figure in the House January 6 investigation. He reportedly introduced Jeffrey Clark to Trump as a potential replacement for Acting AG Jeff Rosen, who had refused to send letters to states falsely claiming election fraud. Clark was nearly installed as Acting AG in what has been described as a near-constitutional crisis that was only stopped when other DOJ officials threatened mass resignation. Perry has denied wrongdoing throughout and called the investigation a partisan attack.
Fiscal Conservatism
Perry maintains a consistent hard-line fiscal conservative record, opposing government spending increases, deficit expansion, and what he characterizes as government overreach. His Freedom Caucus has repeatedly used debt ceiling and budget fights as leverage to extract spending concessions, strategies that have produced government shutdown threats and significant governance friction. His district has manufacturing and agricultural exposure to tariff and trade policy impacts, creating potential political vulnerability if trade policy produces economic dislocation in south-central Pennsylvania.
Electoral History
2026 Race Outlook
Pennsylvania's 10th district is rated Lean Republican heading into 2026, giving Perry a structural advantage but not safety. The district's south-central Pennsylvania geography — Harrisburg suburbs, York County, and Cumberland County — includes significant manufacturing employment and agricultural operations that could be sensitive to tariff-driven supply chain disruptions and retaliatory trade measures from trading partners. Perry's consistent +8 to +9 point margins suggest a resilient base, but the district is not out of reach for Democrats in a strong environment.
Democrats have recruited and invested in this district in recent cycles. In a national environment where tariff policy produces consumer price increases or job losses in manufacturing-heavy districts, Perry's strong support for Trump's trade agenda could become a liability. His January 6 investigation association and Freedom Caucus identification also give Democrats narrative material. His incumbency advantage and military credentials remain significant assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Scott Perry?
Scott Perry is a Republican U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 10th district (Dauphin, York, Cumberland counties) and a retired Army brigadier general. He served as House Freedom Caucus chairman 2021-2023 and received January 6 subpoenas related to his alleged role in promoting Jeffrey Clark as a potential Acting AG who would support post-2020 election challenges.
Was Scott Perry charged in the January 6 investigation?
No. Despite receiving a House Select Committee subpoena (which he refused to comply with) and having his phone seized by the FBI in August 2022, no criminal charges were brought against Scott Perry in connection with the January 6 investigation or post-2020 election activities. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and called the investigation politically motivated.
Is Scott Perry's district competitive in 2026?
PA-10 is rated Lean Republican, meaning Perry is favored but not safe. His consistent margins of around 9 points reflect a real structural advantage, but the district's manufacturing and agricultural economy creates exposure to tariff-related economic disruptions, and Democrats have invested in the seat in recent cycles. A strong Democratic environment in 2026 could make this a genuine contest.
