close
close

Delaware gubernatorial election: Who is supporting the candidates?

tabnews August 16, 2024
0

play

As the primaries approach, candidates for Delaware governor are stepping up their campaigns.

The Democratic candidates – Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and former Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Collin O'Mara – and the Republican candidates – Jerrold Price, House Minority Leader Mike Ramone and Bobby Williamson – will each face a three-way battle for the electoral vote in the First State next month.

The primaries are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 10.

The winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries will then face off in the general election, scheduled for Tuesday, November 5.

Here's what we know about who has supported these candidates so far.

Soon: Candidates for governor and congressional seats compete in Delaware Journalism Collaborative debates

Who supports Bethany Hall-Long?

Hall-Long has served as the state's lieutenant governor since 2017 after spending more than a decade in both the state Senate and House of Representatives.

If elected, Hall-Long would like to promote universal child care and early education, improve access to affordable housing and increase the state's workforce.

Since announcing her candidacy, Hall-Long has received endorsements from several state representatives – including current Governor John Carney – and several unions across the First State, including the Delaware AFL-CIO and the Delaware State Education Association (DSEA).

According to DSEA President Stephanie Ingram, part of the reason the organization supports Hall-Long is because of her past experience and commitment to improving the lives of all First State residents – especially children and working families.

“Lieutenant Governor Hall-Long shares our commitment to serving all Delaware students, and we are confident she will keep her promise to engage and partner with public school teachers, parents and community members as we work together to strengthen public education in the First State,” Ingram, a fourth-grade teacher in the Colonial School District, said in a statement.

And when a forensic audit of Hall-Long's campaign finances was released last July, many, including Senators Stephanie Hansen and Nicole Poore, reiterated their support.

“[Hall-Long] “He has the breadth and depth of experience in state government and on the issues most important to Delawareans that we need,” Hansen, who represents Middletown, said in a statement.

Poore, who represents New Castle, also noted Hall-Long's compassion and dedication during her years of public service and that her track record, not merit, should be the deciding factor in this election.

Senator Jack Walsh, who represents Christiana and also endorsed Hall-Long, agreed, stressing that she has a “very deep understanding” of Delaware's political landscape and a clear vision for its future.

Who supports Matt Meyer?

Born and raised in New Castle County, Meyer was previously a small business owner and public school math teacher before serving as New Castle County Executive since 2017.

If elected, Meyer plans to increase public safety, expand access to housing and health care, and increase funding for public schools across the First State.

On August 2, the American-Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC) voted unanimously in favor of Meyer's campaign, citing the executive's previous business experience in Africa as a key factor in its support.

“Given his life journey, from founding a small business in Kenya to working as a diplomat in a war zone to teaching math in our state’s elementary school, we are confident that Matt Meyer is the right leader for Delaware and its growing Ethiopian-American community,” AEPAC Executive Chairman Mesfin Tegenu said in a press release the same day.

AEPAC could not be reached for comment.

Former Democratic Party state chairman Erik Raser-Schramm also supported Meyer, emphasizing his ability to consider new solutions and adapt to unexpected changes.

“Sometimes people stop at a crossroads, or they turn around,” Raser-Schramm wrote in an op-ed for Delaware Online last July. “As someone who worked with Meyer, I saw a leader who continually faced challenges, stood at crossroads, and saw opportunity in adversity.”

In a press release, Meyer's campaign team also mentioned that it was receiving support from the Delaware Democratic Party Pride Caucus.

The parliamentary group could not be reached for comment either.

Related: This PAC claims not to support any candidates but publishes an ad praising Matt Meyer

Who supports Collin O'Mara?

O'Mara was the first Democrat to file his candidacy and is currently president and CEO of the nonprofit National Wildlife Federation.

According to his campaign website, if elected, O'Mara promises to improve the state's education system, create permanent jobs and help Delaware become the first state in the country to achieve 100% clean energy and net-zero emissions.

According to an August 1 press release, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund and the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Action Fund jointly announced their support for O'Mara.

Tiernan Sittenfeld, senior vice president of government affairs for the LCV Action Fund, said in a statement that O'Mara has been a “tireless advocate” for both the environment and surrounding communities, emphasizing the need for leaders committed to a cleaner, more sustainable future for all Delawareans.

NRDC Action Fund President and CEO Manish Bapna echoed Sittenfeld's sentiments, noting that O'Mara “knows how to bring people together to accomplish great things” amid the ongoing climate crisis and that he will be considered “one of the greenest governors in the country.”

On the same day, LCV Action Fund, NRDC Action Fund and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Action Votes also announced an independent spending initiative to help elect O'Mara in the Democratic primary.

These organizations, together with other groups, want to help “strengthen O'Mara's candidacy in the ongoing election campaign,” including by investing in advertising campaigns on television and digital platforms.

The first endorsement for O'Mara's campaign came last spring from the Delaware Working Families Party.

O'Mara's campaign was also supported by the Friends of the Earth Action Fund and the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund.

A closer look: Who did Working Families endorse for governor in the Delaware General Assembly?

Who supports the GOP candidates?

Due to the dominance of Democrats in state politics, Republican gubernatorial candidates have less support.

The Delaware Republican Party is endorsing political veteran Ramone. Neither Ramone nor the Delaware Republican Party could be reached for further comment.

Ramone, who represents Pike Creek, has been in the House of Representatives since 2008. In May, he first announced that he would run for re-election.

Since Price is not offering any support, he is asking anyone interested in donating to his campaign to donate to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital instead.

Price, a retired New York Police Department officer and Lewes resident, advocates for, among other things, insurance reform, better job and career prospects, and a stronger police presence to combat violent crime.

Williamson appears to have support from community members, but no major supporters.

Williamson, who has lived in Bridgeville his entire life and describes himself as a businessman, intends to “advocate for law enforcement, public safety and crime reduction,” support the growth of small businesses and defend Second Amendment protections, his campaign website says.

More: Race for governor in Delaware becomes exciting due to primaries between Republicans and Democrats

Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. Reach her at [email protected].

Tags:

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *