Janelle Stelson
American television news anchor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Janelle Stelson is an American former Emmy Award winning television news anchor who worked at WGAL. Before that, she worked at WHTM, WPLG, and WHP, and WITF.[1]
Janelle Stelson | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Education | University of Puget Sound (BA) |
| Occupation | Former WGAL news anchor |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Employer(s) | WGAL (Lancaster, PA) |
Broadcast journalism career
After graduating from University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and government, she began her broadcast journalism career at WHTM in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as a general assignment reporter, weather and climate anchor for three years.[2] She then left for Miami, Florida, and joined WPLG in 1989.[3]
Returning to Pennsylvania, she joined WHP in Harrisburg, anchoring the 6 pm and 11 pm newscasts.[4] In addition, she also worked with WITF radio, hosting a statewide public tv broadcast, and anchored "Computer Chronicles" on PBS.[5]
She then joined WGAL in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1997.[6] She worked there as the co-anchor of the "News 8 at 4, 5:30, 10, and 11 pm" newscasts.[7]
On September 14, 2023, Stelson announced near the end of "News 8 at 5:30" that she would be leaving WGAL to pursue other interests after nearly 40 years as a journalist, with 26 of those years at WGAL, and that September 15 would be her last newscast.[8]
Political campaigns
Earlier History
Stelson had conceded being a registered Republican throughout her life prior to changing her party registration in 2023 due to the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision in 2022, stating "I did as many people did way back… I registered in the party that my parents were when I started out."[9] She had additionally expressed in the interview with the Pennsylvania Star-Capital that working in media, a job that required her not to participate in politics, had not given her much to think about the party affiliation she was registered with.[10]
Elections
In 2024, Stelson ran for Congress as a Democrat in Pennsylvania's 10th district on a centrist platform, beating out five other primary challengers. Stelson had fended off questions throughout the campaign about her previous party registration and her permanent residency living outside the district. She attested she would move into the district should she win the primary election in the March primary debate, then shifted her stance to only after winning the general election.[11]
She lost to multi-term incumbent Republican Scott Perry by about 6,000 votes.[12] After the defeat, Stelson had alluded to her residency being one of various factors why voters did not show up to support her, but respected "the will of the people".[13]
In July 2025, Stelson announced her candidacy for the 10th congressional district seat in the 2026 election.[14][15] She is currently seeking the Democratic Party nomination in a primary race with Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas.[16]
It had been reported Stelson has since moved into Cumberland County ahead of announcing a second run for Congress, however property tax records from Lancaster County as of March 2026 reflects she still owns her home in Lancaster.[17][18]
Personal Life
Stelson is a long-time resident of Lancaster County.