Even though elections are a year and a half away, statewide and local races are already heating up across Delaware.
Before U.S. Sen. Tom Carper shared that he won’t be running for re-election in 2024, others had already announced their plans for the 2024 campaign − with some as early as last year.
In recent months, candidates vying for New Castle County executive and Wilmington city mayor have launched their respective campaigns, as well as a play for insurance commissioner. Matt Meyer also made his intentions formal in his governor’s race announcement in early June.
As people launch various state and local campaigns for office in the coming weeks and months, stay up to date with us here at Delaware Online/The News Journal for a running list of all the respective candidates.
Blunt Rochester enters as front runner to U.S. Senate race
U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware’s sole congresswoman, entered the 2024 U.S. Senate race Wednesday, June 21.
Blunt Rochester, if elected, would become the first Black Delawarean and the first woman to represent The First State in the U.S. Senate – and possibly the third Black woman ever in the country’s history.
READ:Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware’s sole congresswoman, will run to fill Carper’s Senate seat
This announcement by Blunt Rochester has been highly anticipated, following U.S. Sen. Tom Carper’s retirement announcement in late May. The senior senator publicly called on the congresswoman to run – admitting she probably should have done so years ago.
Colleen Davis to run to U.S. House seat
Colleen Davis, state treasurer, announced Wednesday, July 19, that she will run for Delaware’s at-large U.S. House of Representatives seat.
Davis, 43, was largely unknown in Delaware before she ran for treasurer in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Ken Simpler. She is also one of the rare statewide elected Democrats from Sussex County.
READ:State Treasurer Colleen Davis enters race for Delaware’s US House seat
“Raising three children here in Delaware,” Davis said in an interview, “ I think that we need more leaders in Congress who come from working-class situations as I did growing up.”
“And truly, I’m focused on fighting for families and keeping them safe and secure.
Sarah McBride announces historic bid for Congress
State Sen. Sarah McBride, the country’s highest-ranking transgender elected official, announced her candidacy Monday, June 26, to become Delaware’s next sole congresswoman.
McBride, if elected, would become the first trans person elected to federal office, catapulting the already nationally known politician to an even bigger stage. She would also be the youngest elected official Delaware has sent to Washington since President Joe Biden’s U.S. Senate win in 1972.
“It’s clear that diversity in government is necessary for us to not just ensure we have a healthy democracy but also to truly deliver for people,” she said in an interview with Delaware Online/The News Journal.
READ:Sarah McBride announces run for US House seat to become first trans member of Congress
Retired U.S. colonel to run for lieutenant governor
Debbie Harrington, a retired U. S. Army colonel, will run for lieutenant governor in 2024.
The Middletown resident served in the Army for 25 years. In her retirement, she became an advocate for children with disabilities. Her daughter is visually impaired.
Harrington, who has run unsuccessfully for other elected offices, is a vice chair of the state Democratic Party, as well as a part of Delaware State University’s Board of Trustees, according to her website.
She is also vice chair of the Middletown Police Advisory Board.
Dorsey Walker announces bid for lieutenant governor
Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, a Wilmington Democrat, has announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor.
Dorsey Walker, who officially entered the race on Juneteenth, would become the state’s first Black woman to serve in this role. The representative previously ran for this seat in 2016, coming second to now Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long in the 2016 Democratic primary.
“As Lt. Governor I will continue to be a boots-on-the-ground advocate for all Delaware citizens,” she said in her announcement. “My decision to announce on Juneteenth is symbolic of the advancements made by people of color, women, and those who seek the freedom that comes with change for the advancement of all mankind.”
New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer becomes first to enter governor’s race
New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer announced in early June that he will run for governor in 2024
Meyer, who has been county executive since 2016, previously worked as a school teacher, attorney, entrepreneur and economic development adviser for the U.S. State Department in Iraq. He didn’t have much government experience before leading the state’s largest municipal government, which has an annual budget of about $300 million.
READ:New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer becomes first to enter 2024 governor’s race
He signaled in his announcement that health care, affordable housing and education will be key issues in his campaign, noting the state “needs to move with greater urgency to tackle” these problems. Meyer has also been a polarizing figure. He has frequently publicly sparred with the county’s police union, which supported his opponent during his bid for county executive reelection in 2020.
Familiar face Velda Jones-Potter launches Wilmington mayoral campaign
Former city treasurer Velda Jones-Potter announced her run for Wilmington mayor in March, launching the first mayoral campaign for the 2024 election in Delaware’s largest city.
Jones-Potter unsuccessfully ran for the city seat in 2020, trailing incumbent Mayor Mike Purzycki by just over 1,000 votes in the Democratic Primary. Purzycki captured 42.9% of the total vote, compared to Jones-Potter’s 35.6%. Former City Councilperson Justen Wright also vied for the Democratic nomination, garnering 21.5% of the vote.
The former city treasurer’s mayoral campaign touts a focus on making neighborhoods safer, empowering Wilmington residents and using city resources efficiently. Those efforts include:
- Creating an Office of Neighborhood Development to work across city departments and ensure needs of all neighborhoods are met.
- Collaborating with community and city public safety to address challenges in policing, fire and emergency services.
- Improving the city hiring process to promote diversity and establishing policies that promote social justice and economic equity.
- Creating policies to ensure fairness, accountability, and transparency in all transactions involving public funds.
- Updating city facilities and infrastructure to implement smart-city technology and remove lead and other hazardous materials.
The campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
With Meyer gone, Marcus Henry, Karen Hartley-Nagle make play for New Castle County executive
Two familiar faces to New Castle County politics are vying for the County Executive race.
Democrat Marcus Henry, son of former Senator Margaret Rose Henry, began his campaign for county executive in April of last year.
Henry has over 20 years of experience in public service and has worked for the past three county executive administrations, including as the general manager of the county Department of Community Services under current executive Matt Meyer and a brief stint as the county’s economic development director.
He has publicly stated his intention to bring transparency to the position and ensure that the county remains “a safe and flourishing home for residents, and an attractive destination for visitors.”
The Marcus Henry campaign did not directly respond to a request for comment.
Karen Hartley-Nagle, current New Castle County Council President, announced her candidacy on March 24 of this year. She has served as council president for the past six years, with two left in her current term.
Hartley-Nagle previously served as a board member of Delaware Common Cause and the Coalition for Open Government and was a member of the New Castle County Board of Adjustment. She has publicly stated that as County Executive, her main focus would be on core services such as public safety, parks and recreation, libraries, land use and infrastructure.
Hartley-Nagle has come under scrutiny from her fellow council members in the past, and was under investigation for hostile work environment claims. As Council President she has focused on uplifting the county’s senior population and attracting business development to the area.
The Hartley-Nagle campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Candidate enters Insurance Commissioner’s race
Kayode Abegunde, a member of New Castle County’s Financial Advisory Council, launched his campaign for insurance commissioner.
Abegunde, a Democrat, previously lost in the primary to incumbent Trinidad Navarro, who has served in the role since 2016. The two will likely face off again in the primary. In his announcement, Abegunde said would “bring more insurance products” to Delaware and provide more options to veterans.
