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 …

EOSM

A tale of two bills: Paid leave and pot

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

One became the law of the land. The other went up in smoke.  Both involved years of planning, hundreds of meetings, thousands of stakeholder discussions and countless compromises.  The difference? One bill had the support of Gov. John Carney — the other didn’t.  With his signature, the Healthy Delaware Families Act became the 151st General Assembly’s big winner, while his …

Election Center 8

Who’s running? Full list of candidates in Delaware

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

This report has been updated for the Nov. 8 general election. Click here for the most up-to-date information. With just days to go before the first votes are cast in Delaware’s 2022 primary elections, every seat has at least one person running. Some have numerous candidates. The 151st General Assembly comes to an end in November, meaning all 21 Senate …

McG Schwartz

House speaker refuses to consider McGuiness removal

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware Senate on Monday passed a resolution to begin a process Democratic leadership hopes will result in the removal of one of their own: State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness. Every Republican voted against the measure, putting them in line with House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth, who said he has “no intention of calling the House into session to consider this …

Leg Hall

Senate to convene Monday to start removal of state auditor

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Delaware Senate will reconvene in a special session Monday to consider a resolution to initiate the removal of State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness, its Democratic leadership announced Thursday. Senate Republicans indicated a few hours after the announcement that they were opposed to the idea until her trial had run its course. The auditor’s was convicted of three misdemeanors including abuse …

Kowalko Schwartzkopf

Kowalko: House Speaker killed inspector general bill

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

An outgoing Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives says House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf blocked his bill to create an office of the inspector general.  Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, said the move was typical of Schwartzkopf’s leadership style. That leadership style can be characterized by “coercion, intimidation, incentivizing and reward,” Kowalko said, and the inspector general bill is just …

Jobs and right to repair 2024 budget grant

Pettyjohn, Briggs King secure exception to magazine ban, save jobs

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

When Georgetown’s state senator and representative learned a bill to ban high-capacity firearm magazines could impact close to 100 jobs in their district, they knew something had to be done.  Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Sen. Dave Sokola, D-Newark, banned the possession, sale, purchase, receipt or transfer of magazines that hold more than 17 rounds of …

Leg Hall

Lawmakers praise formal application process for state grants

Charles MegginsonHeadlines, Government

A change to the way non-profits apply for state community development funds has lawmakers and advocates on both sides of the aisle applauding what they consider a victory for transparency in government. When the General Assembly passed the largest Bond Bill in state history this June, it authorized $90 million in grants for projects aimed at improving the economic, cultural, …

John Carney wearing a suit and tie

Carney to sign gun bills today

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Democratic Gov. John Carney will sign multiple gun control bills Thursday. The gun bills will ban the sale of assault weapons, raise the age from 18 to 21 to purchase most firearms, return background checks to state control, ban high-capacity magazines, open up the potential for lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers for gun violence, and ban the use of devices …

text, letter

General Assembly passes permanent mail-in voting

Charles MegginsonHeadlines, Government

Delaware voters will be able to cast their ballots through the mail in all future elections thanks to a bill passed by the House of Representatives late Wednesday evening. All but one Democrat voted for Senate Bill 320, which many Republicans and their attorneys say violates the Constitution. Rep. Bill Bush, D-Cheswold, abstained from the vote after a debate that …