|
Posted: May 14, 2012
UPDATE: EARLY LINE 2012
By Celia Cohen
Grapevine Political Writer
With Election Day about six months away, the Delaware
Democrats look likely to keep a stranglehold on state
offices.
In the small-state politics practiced here, the
voters tend to stick with the statewide officeholders
they know. It provides a decided advantage for the
Democrats, who have an incumbent running in every race,
although they do have a primary for insurance
commissioner, as well as the overarching presence of Joe
Biden on the presidential ticket.
The Democrats also appear more and more comfortable
about staying in control of the General Assembly. For a
while it seemed like the Republicans could make a run at
the Senate when the Democrats dummymandered the
redistricting, but not after Liane Sorenson, the
Republican minority whip, decided to retire.
The filing deadline is still two months away, but
here are the candidates to watch for now.
STATEWIDE
| Office |
Leading Democrats |
Leading Republicans |
Rundown |
| Senate |
Tom Carper |
Kevin Wade |
Carper has turned into "Mr. Postman" for his
prominence on postal issues. How fitting,
because the state's senior officeholder can put
a stamp on this race and mail it in |
| House |
John Carney |
Tom Kovach
Rose Izzo |
Carney is a popular
Democrat in a blue state with more than half a
million in the bank. Kovach has a bare-bones
campaign and a nuisance primary. 'Nuff said |
| Governor |
Jack Markell |
Jeff Cragg |
Four governors in a row have been re-elected
to a second term. If even Ruth Ann Minner can do
it, Markell must be a lock |
| Lt Governor |
Matt Denn |
Sher Valenzuela |
When the voters keep the
governor, they keep the lieutenant governor. No
worries for Denn |
| Insurance Commissioner |
Karen Weldin Stewart
Mitch Crane
Paul Gallagher
Dennis Spivack |
Ben Mobley Jim Van Houten |
Stewart is a shaky incumbent, but too many
candidates can spoil the opposition. The more
who get in, the better her survival looks |
Incumbents in bold; endorsed candidates in
italics
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Senate now:
14 Democrats, 7 Republicans
House of
Representatives now: 26 Democrats, 15 Republicans
| District |
Leading Democrats |
Leading Republicans |
Rundown |
| Senate 4th Greenville-Brandywine Hundred |
Mike Katz |
Greg Lavelle |
This seat used to be automatic for the
Republicans, who are pushing to get it back with
Greg Lavelle, the House minority leader, and
make Katz's first term in Dover also his last |
| Senate 8th Hockessin-Newark |
Dave Sokola |
|
A race that was supposed to be a top
Republican priority fizzled when Liane Sorenson,
the Republican whip tossed together with Sokola
by redistricting, decided to retire. No sign yet
the Republicans have a Plan B |
| Senate 6th Lewes-Rehoboth-Dewey-Milton |
Bob Frederick Mike Miller
Andy Staton |
Ernie Lopez Glen Urquhart |
The lure of a new Senate seat in Sussex has led to
primaries on both sides. Anything goes |
| Senate 20th Bethany-Fenwick
Island-Millsboro |
|
Gerald Hocker |
With the retirement of George Howard
Bunting, a Democrat, this looks like one of the
easiest Republican pickups ever |
| House 22nd Hockessin-Pike Creek Valley |
Dave Ellis |
Nick Manolakos Joe Miro |
Redistricting combined Manolakos and Miro in
a seat that should stay Republican, whoever wins |
| House 11th Southern New Castle
County-northern Kent County |
Lynne Newlin Dave Brown Jr. |
Jeff Spiegelman |
This is a new district with a
Democratic-leaning registration but no political
identity yet |
| House 32nd Dover |
Brad Bennett |
Ellis Parrott |
It would be a surprise if Bennett stays in
this race after getting charged with his second
DUI and sideswiping a parked police car |
| House 20th Lewes-Milton |
Marie Mayor Lynn Rogers |
Steve Smyk |
Rogers, who used to be a Sussex County
councilman, is looking to get back into
politics, but whatever, Sussex likes to vote
Republican |
| House 38th Ocean View-Fenwick
Island-Selbyville |
Shirley Price |
Ron Gray |
Price has waited 10 years to try to get back
to the House after losing to Gerald Hocker, the
Republican representative going for the Senate,
but this Sussex seat is made for the Republicans |
| House 40th Laurel-Delmar |
Ray Adkins Ben Lowe |
Tim Dukes |
The retirement of Biff Lee, a Republican
representative, has opened this Sussex seat up,
most likely for another Republican |
Incumbents in bold
RETURN TO COVER PAGE
###
|
