After this week’s primary elections, Delaware moves a step closer to new leadership at the federal, state and local levels. Regrettably, this year’s campaign cycle saw some of the most negative campaigning I’ve seen in a race for governor. It’s my hope that now that the party general election candidates have been chosen, communications from campaigns will focus on policy approaches to issues important to our membership and the residents of Delaware.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer prevailed in the Democratic primary for Governor by a pretty wide margin over Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long and former DNREC Secretary, Collin O’Mara. In November, Executive Meyer will face House Minority Leader, Mike Ramone, who won the Republican primary against Jerrold Price and Bobby Williamson. Marcus Henry prevailed in the Democratic New Castle County Executive primary against New Castle County Council President Karen Hartley-Nagle. Mr. Henry is unopposed in the General Election and will therefore, barring unforeseen circumstances, be Delaware’s most populated county’s next Executive.

In an upset, Speaker Valarie Longhurst lost her primary competition with Kamela Smith by 6.6 points. Speaker Longhurst only assumed the Speakership the last day of session in June 2023. Her loss will result in at least some new majority party leadership in the Delaware House of Representatives. The General Assembly will see many members return but there will also be several new faces based upon retirements seen this year.

Senator Sarah McBride achieved almost 80% of the primary vote and State Senator Kyle Evans Gay took slightly more than 48% of the vote in her competition. Senator McBride will face John Whalen III in the general election determining who will be Delaware’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Kyle Evans Gay will face former State Representative Ruth Briggs King when Delaware elects its next Lt. Governor in the upcoming general election.

Delaware’s party registration numbers are so heavily in favor of Democrats running statewide, it is a very steep hill for Republican candidates to climb. If Senators McBride and Gay are successful in November, the result will be the need for two special elections to fill their seats.