EARLY LINE 2016

Updated: Dec. 10, 2015

Having endorsements in politics is like having good looks. It is better to have them than not have them, but they can get someone only so far.

Otherwise, John Carney would be finishing up his time as the Democratic governor, not campaigning to be the next one. After all, he had endorsements and good looks when he shaved off his mustache but still lost the 2008 primary.

Even so, endorsements can help with credibility and contributions. As a matter of fact, they are helping Bethany Hall-Long, a Democratic state senator running for lieutenant governor. 

Hall-Long has locked up a decent share of the Legislative Hall crowd and turned it into a host committee for a fund-raiser on Thursday evening in the Hilton at Christiana. Her backers include 14 of her fellow Democratic legislators, topped by Patti Blevins, the president pro tem, and Dave McBride, along with some lobbyists.

Anything that can help someone stand out has to be welcome. The 2016 election season is turning out to be quite prolific in spawning candidates.

The open race for lieutenant governor has six people, all Democrats. The field for the congressional seat, which is being liberated by Carney's exit for governor, is getting there, too.

To go with the serious congressional candidates -- Sean Barney, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Bryon Short and Bryan Townsend for the Democrats and Hans Reigle for the Republicans -- there are the serial congressional candidates that have not gotten the message.

Dennis "Not the Mayor" Williams, who was a Democratic state representative before he lost a primary last year, plans on filing in January, and so does Mike Miller. It would be the third congressional race for both Williams (1996 and 1998) and Miller (2000 and 2002), with all of their earlier ones against Mike Castle, the Republican congressman elected nine times from 1992 to 2008.

On the Republican side, Rose Izzo is making her fourth congressional race in a row.

Not that running more than once cannot have its upside. Instead of calling John Carney a serial candidate, people expect to call him "Governor."

Office Democrats Republicans Rundown
Governor

John Carney

Colin Bonini

Lacey Lafferty

 It is too early to call Carney the governor, maybe just "His Inevitableness"
U.S. House

Sean Barney

Lisa Blunt Rochester

Mike Miller

Bryon Short

Bryan Townsend

Dennis Williams

Rose Izzo

Hans Reigle

 So many candidates, so many ways to splinter the vote. Perish the thought, but the congressional race in this Democratic state could be decided by whoever can get something like a third of the vote in the Democratic primary
Lieutenant governor

Brad Eaby

Greg Fuller

Bethany Hall-Long

Kathy McGuiness

Ciro Poppiti III

Sherry Dorsey Walker

   Matt Denn couldn't wait to get out as lieutenant governor, and now a whole bunch of people want to get in. This isn't an office, it's a bus terminal
Insurance commissioner

Karen Weldin Stewart

Paul Gallagher

Trini Navarro

George Parish

 Stewart had a primary when she won the office in 2008. She had one in 2012. Why should 2016 be any different?

Incumbents in bold

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