Delaware’s populous north has long been rough territory for Republicans to run in competitively, in relative contrast to downstate. Of the 12 New Castle County Council seats, for instance, the party holds only one. Candidate recruitment can therefore be difficult, and thus many Democrat-held seats from the General Assembly down to local boards go unchallenged. Consequently, GOP candidates run a …
Earlier this month, a storm of political change swept across America to return Republican Donald Trump to the White House. But governing institutions in the First State appear unshaken – at first glance. Democrats, as before, will occupy the state’s congressional office, both Senate seats, its governorship, and both legislative houses. Yet some who participate in Delaware politics see change …
By Bradley Vasoli In a letter to Governor John Carney (D) this week, the Delaware Healthcare Association (DHA) urged him to forego nominations to the controversial Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board. The DHA, an advocacy group formed by Delaware hospitals, argued that the commission will take its ultimate form during the upcoming administration of Carney’s fellow Democrat Matt Meyer, who …
By Bradley Vasoli A year ago, Wilmington faced a choice: Continue to require non-union municipal workers living outside the city to move in within a year of getting hired or ditch the restriction. The city chose the former, a controversial policy to the point where outgoing Mayor Mike Purzycki (D) feels it’s hampering recruitment for some roles …
By Bradley Vasoli Liberal politics are on a steady march in the Delaware House of Representatives. The shift reached a milestone in September when progressive Kamela Smith defeated Speaker Valerie Longhurst (D-Bear) in their state House primary. The trend continued with the Democrats boosting their chamber majority by one seat in the general election earlier this month. And the leftward …
By Bradley Vasoli Amidst GOP successes across the nation on Tuesday, Delaware remains deep blue. From the city of Wilmington to the governorship to Congress, the First State turned in election results that are delighting local Democrats — and spurring Delaware Republicans to strategize for future success. The party has not held a statewide office since the final term of …
Delaware Governor John Carney and four other Democratic governors are pushing for changes at PJM, a regional power grid operator, after its recent auction pointed to sharp increases in electricity costs. But David Stevenson, director of the Center for Energy & Environment at the Newark-based Caesar Rodney Institute, sees three general problems with the governors’ letter. Delaware’s Carney joined …
The Delaware Food Bank will host just one mass drive-thru distribution of food this month, on Tuesday, June 18, in Dover. It’s the Food Bank‘s first since December. That’s a big change from the monthly events that were held in all three counties, starting at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic in spring 2020. Kim Turner, the Food Bank’s …
A Delaware House panel on Wednesday voted down a bill to open voting in Delaware’s primary elections to unaffiliated voters. State Rep. Michael Smith, R-Newark, introduced the legislation with Reps. Bill Bush, D-Cheswold, and Sean Matthews, D-Middletown. But despite House Bill 43’s bipartisan sponsorship, the House Administration committee rejected it three-to-two along party lines with committee Democrats opposed. Currently, a …
