YORK, Pa. (AP) — In the intense race for House control, candidates in the most competitive districts have mostly followed a similar playbook, boosting their moderate credentials while playing to a middle ground of voters. Then there’s the arch-conservative Rep. Scott Perry.
The Pennsylvania Republican chaired the right-wing House Freedom Caucus while it seized control of the GOP’s House majority in 2022, often grinding the chamber to a halt to force Republican leaders to hear out their demands. Perry also played a prominent role in then- President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, to the point that the FBI seized his cell phone as part of an investigation.
Yet Perry is not backing away from his history as a disruptor, even as the Freedom Caucus has been at the center of a chaotic and historically unproductive two years for the House. He is being challenged by Democrat Janelle Stelson, a former TV news anchor who is well-known in a fast-growing district that includes Harrisburg and its surrounding communities.
“Should I just go along with Washington, D.C., as most of my other colleagues did, just to moderate myself?” Perry said. “No, I’m going to do the right thing every single time I have the opportunity.”
That determination has set up an intense race in Pennsylvania that shows how Republicans — from Trump to House Speaker Mike Johnson — are doubling down on their hardline promises in the final days of the campaign, even in a state that could be decisive in both the presidential election and the fight for control of the House.
Perry's district has modestly favored Republicans since it was redrawn in 2018, and Trump won it by 4 percentage points in 2020. But as Perry runs for a seventh term, he faces a vigorous challenge.
Once a registered Republican herself, Stelson is on the hunt for Republicans and right-leaning voters who may be willing to break away from Perry. Like Democrats across the country, she has focused on voters concerned that Republicans could enact federal restrictions on abortion and reproductive care. Perry has in the past sponsored legislation to ban abortions.
“Abortion really crosses all party lines,” she said. “I’ve had elderly Republican women tell me, ‘No government and no Scott Perry is going to tell me what to do with my body.’"
Stelson is also leaning on her background as a local news anchor, casting herself as someone voters can trust.
“Because she was on the news for so many years, she feels like she was a part of your household,” said Vickie Washington, a 71-year-old retiree in York who said she plans to vote for Stelson.
Stelson has raised over $1 million more than Perry, forcing top House Republicans to come to his aid as they try to hold their narrow majority.
Democrats have outspent Republicans on the race so far, according to AdImpact, which tracks campaign ad spending. They’ve spent more than $7 million as of Tuesday, compared to more than $4 million spent by Republicans.
Perry has leaned more heavily on political action committees throughout the campaign, the data shows, though both sides have gotten considerable support from outside groups. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super political action committee aligned with the House speaker, is on track to spend $2.3 million in the race.
“This is an individual who comes to work every day, rolls up his sleeves and gets the job done,” Johnson said of Perry during a visit to the district in early October, adding that he had named Perry to a coveted spot on the House Intelligence Committee.
But that move drew grumbling among some House Republicans. Perry was chosen over several other mainstream Republicans for the committee, which handles sensitive classified information and oversees U.S. spy agencies. The choice of a close Trump ally like Perry, who was ordered by a federal judge last year to turn over more than 1,600 texts and emails to FBI agents investigating efforts to keep Trump in office, was widely criticized.
Perry has not been charged with any crime and has said he is not under investigation. He also said last week he would vote to certify this year’s election results “as long as everything seems like it’s done fairly and correctly and in a trustworthy fashion.”
However, Perry has signed onto a lawsuit from Pennsylvania Republicans that requests a court to set aside ballots from overseas voters, including members of the military, to confirm their identities before being counted. Perry previously voted from overseas himself while serving abroad with the National Guard, the York Dispatch reported.
Perry has also gone on the attack against Stelson, pointing out that she currently lives outside the district's boundaries. She has said she will move if she wins the election.
As the candidates exchange barbs in the race's final days, Stelson is not focusing her attacks solely on the attempt by Trump and Perry to overturn the presidential election results four years ago, which culminated in a mob of Trump's supporters storming the Capitol. Though Stelson argues that Perry’s actions should be “disqualifying,” she is casting them as part of a wider pattern that shows Perry is more focused on internal struggles in Washington than the needs of Pennsylvania constituents.
Her supporters say that’s a smart move at a time when things like living costs are on top of voters’ minds.
“Whatever they feel about (Jan. 6th), they’re kind of tired hearing about it,” said Craig Snyder, who is organizing a group called Republicans Against Perry, which is funded by Welcome PAC, a political action committee that boosts moderate Democrats.
As Stelson last week spoke to a room of supporters at a winery in a rural part of the district dominated by Trump signs, she highlighted how Perry has voted against legislation that she said would benefit military veterans, Capitol police officers and firefighters.
“At every turn, here’s a guy who voted against you rather than for you,” she said.
Still, Perry insists that his mission in Washington is to reduce government spending, which would in turn drive down inflation.
“I represent you. I’m looking at your cost of living. I’m paying the same thing,” Perry told the audience at a recent campaign event.
That message resonates in one of the state’s fastest-growing regions with housing prices on the rise.
Russaline Nolden, who runs a bakery and smoothie shop in York, said she feels the pinch of high prices on her business. She has usually supported Democrats but is leaning towards Trump and other Republicans.
“The system is unjust,” she said, complaining that government assistance is misused. “Put the money where it’s going to be appreciated.”
Associated Press writer Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.
FILE - Janelle Stelson, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District, speaks during a debate, April 9, 2024, in York, Pa. (AP Photo/Joe Lamberti, File)
FILE - Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., Feb. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
BOSTON (AP) — After the Boston Celtics received their diamond-, emerald- and parquet-encrusted championship rings and before the franchise's 18th banner was raised to the rafters, Jayson Tatum grabbed a microphone to say a few words to the geeked-up crowd.
“Enjoy this moment together,” he told the fans who filled the TD Garden for the first meaningful Celtics game since their Game 5 victory over Dallas in the NBA Finals clinched an unprecedented 18th title. “Let’s do it again.”
"I planned something to say, but I got caught up in the moment,” Tatum said after the Celtics beat the New York Knicks 132-109. “I was overwhelmed, and the emotions got the best of me. I know we’re not supposed to talk about repeating. But the fans were just so excited, I said ‘(expletive) it. Let’s do it again.’”
The Celtics then gathered where so many of their predecessors had and raised the “2024 World Champions” banner to the crowded rafters. Minutes later, they took the floor for the season opener against the New York Knicks and left no doubts whether they were still motivated to become the first Celtics team to repeat since Bill Russell and John Havlicek won the franchise’s 11th title in 13 years in 1969.
Tatum hit a 3-pointer in the first seconds, and Boston tied an NBA record with 29 3's while opening a 35-point lead against the team that was supposed to be their top competition in the Eastern Conference.
“It was impressive to go from that, to that,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I was proud of the way they responded, from the ring ceremony to the game. The biggest thing I’m proud of was the mindset of the guys: They weren’t stuck in the past.”
The pregame ceremony nodded to the history of the league's most-decorated franchise, with 96-year-old Bob Cousy, a six-time NBA champion, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell coming out to applause before Paul Pierce — accompanied by fellow 2008 champions Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen — brought out the 2024 trophy. It was placed on a table surrounded by the championship rings.
“It’s like a full-circle moment for them to come back, and share that moment with us, and pass the torch,” Tatum said. "I’m still a fan of those guys. I remember they’re part of my childhood. That was an incredible moment, dapping it up with them.
“KG was screaming in my ear, and it was like, ‘Man, I’m really talking to Kevin Garnett right now,'” he said. “I'll never take those moments for granted. I think that is still cool, to be part of moments like that.”
Owner Wyc Grousbeck handed out the oversized rings, with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver congratulating the players as they walked out between the numbers of a giant, golden “18.” Mazzulla dropped to his knees to give the parquet floor a kiss before receiving his bauble.
“The parquet is blood, sweat and tears of the greats,” Mazzulla said. ”I don’t get to go out there and dive on the floor for loose balls like I’d love to. Doing that was just a way to express the passion and gratitude that I have for our team, for the people who have come before and just what it means to be a Celtic."
The centerpiece of the ring is a shamrock and “Celtics” against a field of emeralds. The top can be removed to reveal a piece of the famous floor, painted green and white with the 106-88 score of the June 17 clincher against the Mavericks. Also unveiled is an image of the championship banner, surrounded by the engraved numbers of each player on the roster.
The exterior of the ring is encircled with the years of the franchise’s 18 NBA titles. On one side is a depiction of the Larry O’Brien Trophy; on the other is the player's name, number and the slogan “Whatever It Takes” on a background of the parquet pattern etched into the gold.
The outer bezel has 18 larger diamonds for the team's 18 titles – one more than the archrival Lakers have won in Los Angeles and Minneapolis.
“When I got the ring, (I thought), ‘This thing is too big, I don’t know why it’s so big, and I’m never going to wear it. But it’s cool to have,” Mazzulla told reporters.
“I was more fascinated by the banner,” he said. “I come in here every afternoon and take a look at those. And they represent so much. And so the banner was a high note for me. The rafters have a life of their own in this building. So that moment was the coolest.”
The sold-out crowd arrived early to see the Celtics take the court in special warm-up jackets trimmed in gold, with 18 championship trophies embroidered on the sleeve. Some of the players paused their shooting to watch the video tracing their title journey, from the drafting of Jaylen Brown and Tatum through the acquisition of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Another video featured highlights of Havlicek and Russell winning titles in the 1950s and ’60s through the pandemonium of the team's victory parade last spring.
"When we won, at first I was in shock. But today our emotions kind of settled in like, ‘Nah, we did it. We did something spectacular,'” Brown said. “My name -- alongside my teammates' -- is going to be etched down in Celtics history, which is one of the biggest franchises in not just basketball, in sports.
“You can never take that from anybody that was on that team last year.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, center, admires his ring as the 2024 World Championship banner is raised prior to an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Boston. With Tatum are team owners Wyc Grousbeck, left, and Steve Pagliuca. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, celebrates with team owner Steve Pagliuca during a ceremony where the 2024 NBA Championship banner was raised prior to an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The Boston Celtics 2024 World Championship banner is raised prior to an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens, left, looks on as the 2024 World Championship banner is raised prior to an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown admires his ring as the 2024 World Championship banner is raised prior to an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
The Boston Celtics 2024 World Championship banner is raised prior to an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
FILE - Boston Celtics basketball banners are seen in the rafters at TD Garden, Wednesday, March. 27, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
FILE - Boston Celtics fans react following the Celtics victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals in Boston on Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, File)
FILE - Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, center, holds up the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy as he celebrates with the team after they won the NBA basketball championship with a Game 5 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Monday, June 17, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, FIle)
Celtics celebrate their 18th NBA title with banner-raising and ring ceremony
Celtics celebrate their 18th NBA title with banner-raising and ring ceremony
