Leg Hall

Senate Dems pick up committee seats with larger majority

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Leaders in the Delaware Senate have revealed the body’s committee assignments for the 152nd General Assembly which begins in January. Senate President Pro Tempore-Elect Dave Sokola announced the assignments Monday. “Legislative committees are an essential part of the legislative process where senators gather public input and determine which bills should move forward,” Sokola said in a news release. “The assignments …

Jane Brady FTX

State GOP chair calls on Democrats to return FTX donation

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The chair of the Delaware Republican Party has called on the state’s Democratic Party to reject a donation from disgraced cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried. Bankman-Fried contributed $9,756.20 to the Democratic State Committee of Delaware on Aug. 31, 2022, according to the Federal Election Commission. Attempts were not successful to obtain comment from the Delaware Democrats. The contribution does not appear …

Caucus votes for new leadership

Democrats pick (not so) new caucus leaders

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Delaware House and Senate Democrats are sticking with the status quo in the next General Assembly. Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, was re-elected Speaker of the House during a caucus meeting Saturday after serving in that position since 2013. Schwartzkopf faced a challenge from Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark. House Democrats would not release a roll call vote to Delaware LIVE …

Statewide 1 1

Kent and Sussex vote red; not enough to overcome deep-blue NCC

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Democratic candidates for U.S. House, attorney general, state treasurer and state auditor swept Delaware’s general election — and they did it without the help of Kent and Sussex Counties. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Kathy Jennings, Colleen Davis and Lydia York lost in Kent and Sussex, but the Democratic vote north of the canal was too much for Republicans to overcome. U.S. …

Mike Ramone recount

History favors Ramone, numbers favor Burns in Pike Creek race

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

A suburban New Castle County race for state House is turning into one of most hotly-contested battles of this year’s general election. Incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Ramone, who has been in office since 2009, faces Democrat Dr. Frank Burns for the South Pike Creek seat — one of the last held by Republicans in the state’s northernmost county. Before entering …

Leg Hall

Vote-by-mail ruling: More complex than simply barring it

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

  Republicans were quick to say “we told you so” Thursday as word spread that a Chancery Court judge had ruled that Delaware’s new vote-by-mail law violates the state Constitution. Democrats were quick to say the ruling – all but guaranteed to be appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court – will disenfranchise voters, especially low-income voters and people of color. …

Polling place

What to know before Tuesday’s primary election

Charles MegginsonHeadlines, Government

Just one statewide incumbent and eight sitting members of the Delaware General Assembly will have a primary opponent when the polls open Tuesday. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Incumbent Auditor of Accounts Kathy McGuiness will face off against attorney and accountant Lydia York.  Eight incumbent members of the General Assembly have primary opponents, including Sen. …

RD 4 Candidates

4 seek House seat moved from Wilmington to Sussex 

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Now that the Route 24 corridor from Millsboro to Angola has its own state House District, four candidates have emerged to represent the area. The legislative seat was moved from Wilmington to Sussex County during last year’s redistricting process, reflecting population growth in the southern end of Delaware. Republican candidates include Dr. Jeff Hilovsky, co-founder of Sussex Eye Center, and …

First District Candidates

3 candidates, 3 different visions for North Wilmington

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Voters in Northwest Wilmington, Brandywine Village and Trolley Square will have three choices when they decide who to send to Dover as their next state representative.  They can go with who they know: incumbent Democratic Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha.  They can toss Chukwuocha out and promote progressive Councilwoman Shane Darby to the seat.  Or they could do the unlikely and vote …

McGuiness York 2

McGuiness pushes back after DE Dems endorse primary opponent

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

In a rare move, the Delaware Democratic Party has endorsed a primary challenger over a sitting statewide-elected Democrat. The state party’s 25-member executive committee unanimously voted last week to endorse Lydia York, a candidate for auditor of accounts, over incumbent Auditor Kathy McGuiness. McGuiness on July 1 was found guilty of three misdemeanor charges, including official misconduct, structuring, and conflict …