Carlisle Republican announces primary challenge to U.S. Rep. Scott Perry

Disenchanted with U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s actions after the 2020 election, a Carlisle Republican is launching a primary bid to unseat the 10th Congressional District incumbent.

John Henry Newman, 68, described himself to PennLive as an “Eisenhower Republican” who hopes to attract the support of other GOP voters dissatisfied with Perry’s brand of arch-conservatism and support of former President Donald Trump.

On Monday, Newman plans an official announcement for 10 a.m. on the state Capitol’s front steps, but his campaign website has already gone live.

“I’m not just looking for votes, I’m looking for volunteers,” Newman said of his “grassroots effort” taking on Perry, who has not officially announced a re-election bid.

Newman said that Perry has become “radicalized,” demonstrated by his support to overturn Pennsylvania’s 2020 presidential election results. The GOP has also shifted too far right, leaving traditional Republicans in its wake, he said.

“I know there are a great many Republicans in the area that are uncomfortable and feel that the leadership of the party in the area has left them,” Newman said.

“We were Republicans for a long time,” he said, “and over the years the party has moved away from us, and we think it’s time to reclaim the party.”

Perry was re-elected in 2022 with 54% of the vote against Democrat Shamaine Daniels, but Gov. Josh Shapiro beat far-right Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano 55% to 43% in the district.

Those results spurred the creation of Republicans Against Perry (RAP), a group formed by WelcomePAC. Newman said RAP gave him some “early advice” when he started considering a bid last fall.

Perry has been in an ongoing battle with special prosecutor Jack Smith over access to Perry’s cell phone related to the probe on efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Also, Perry is the subject of a lawsuit filed by Democratic activist Gene Stilp to remove Perry from the ballot.

Perry’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on Newman’s candidacy.

Newman’s resume is as long as it is varied, including stints as a psychology professor, administrator, scientist, science advisor on film and TV projects, and a national fencing competitor who was a volunteer fencing coach at Penn State.

Currently a trustee for the Delaware-based Marshall-Reynolds Foundation, Newman was last a health scientist administrator for the National Institutes of Health until 2021.

Newman earned a bachelor’s from Allegheny College and a master’s and doctorate from Penn State.