Primary Preview
Here are my thoughts on tomorrow’s primary election. These are mine alone and not official endorsements of DL or that of my colleagues here. I suspect we might disagree on certain races.
If you want to find out where you vote tomorrow and what districts you are in, check the Polling Place Locator.
US SENATE–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
U.S. Senator Tom Carper v. Keith Spanarelli.
I am voting for Keith Spanarelli as a protest against Carper. We all know Carper is going to win both the primary, and with the general election now a four way matchup, I can’t risk protest voting in the general, so the primary is my only chance.
I am impressed at Spanarelli’s signage in North Wilmington. I believe Nemski and Liberalgeek referred to it as “campaign in a box,” but it is professional looking and there are a lot of signs for an underfunded challenger.
US CONGRESS–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Rose Izzo v. New Castle County Council President Tom Kovach
Rose Izzo doesn’t have the magical witches’ brew that fueled Christine O’Donnell. Kovach will win this easily, me thinks. And then he will go on to lose to Carney and his political career will be over in Delaware. In an alternative universe somewhere, Kovach wisely decided to run for County Executive, and would have go on to a landslide victory over either Clark or Gordon, and then he would be the front runner for Governor on the GOP side in 2016. Oh well…
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Mitch Crane v. Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart v. Dennis Spivack v. Paul Gallagher
I am voting for Mitch Crane, obviously. If you oppose KWS, Mitch Crane is your only choice. Paul Gallagher and Dennis Spivack have not distinguished themselves as viable alternatives to either Crane or KWS. And at this point, a vote for either is a vote to reelect Karen Weldin Stewart.
NEW CASTLE COUNTY EXECUTIVE–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
County Executive Paul Clark v. Former County Executive and convicted criminal Tom Gordon v. Bill Shahan v. Jon Husband
I’m voting for Shahan as the choice between Clark and Gordon is so odious that it is akin to choosing between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants if you are an Eagles fan. You want both to lose teams to lose if possible when they play each other. Jon Husband has not impressed me as an alternative, so I am voting Shahan. I encourage you all to as well.
And I have this to say: if Gordon wins, I am voting for the Republican in the fall, whomever that is. (See, Kovach, you could have had a future).
NEW CASTLE COUNTY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
Rev. Chris Bullock v. Renee Taschner
In the undercard, I’m voting for Renee Taschner. Chris Bullock is a former Republican, as you will see below, and I do not trust his constant changing of parties. I also do not like the company he is keeping, aligning himself with Tom Gordon and Dennis P. Williams. I have met Renee and I know her personally, and I like her. She is a tough former cop and has a common sense approach. She will bring new blood onto the County Council.
WILMINGTON MAYOR–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Bob Bovell v. Councilman Kevin Kelley v. Rep. Dennis P. Williams v. Baker Chief of Staff Bill Montgomery v. Scott Spencer
In my opinion, Kevin Kelley is the best candidate in this race hands down. Scott Spencer and Bob Bovell are the fringe perennial candidates. Bill Montgomery is the defacto Republican. That leaves us with Kelley and Williams, and I have been unimpressed with Williams’ behavior during this race and his alliance with Tom Gordon.
Vote for Kelley.
1st SENATE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Former Representative Dave Brady v. Senator Harris McDowell v. Jim Martin
If I could vote in this race, I would vote for Dave Brady despite what seems to be a horrible campaign run by him. McDowell’s time in Dover, like his protege KWS, is up. And Senator McDowell, I no longer live in your district so please stop calling me.
3rd SENATE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Eric Anderson v. Senator Robert Marshall v. Timothy Meades, Sr.
If I could vote in this race, I would vote for Eric Anderson. The Dems need new young leadership, and luckily, throughout many primary races, we have good young candidates of a new generation running. Eric is one of them. And Bob Marshall, you should retain a lawyer for the inevitable copyright lawsuit coming your way from the Marshall Department Store.
6th SENATE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Former Dewey Beach Mayor Bob Frederick v. Andy Staton v. perennial candidate Micheal Miller
I would vote for Andy Staton if I could. Bob Frederick is good on LGBT issues but not much else. Miller is horrible on every Democratic issue. Andy is good on all issues. And he is one of the young candidates of a new generation for the Democrats. Vote for him.
6th SENATE DISTRICT–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Ernie Lopez v. Glen Urquhart
This is an interesting race. The battle for the future of the State GOP is boiled down to this race. If the Urquhart wins, the teabaggers are firmly in control and the party will continue its inexorable decline. If Lopez wins, and then goes on to win the general, he becomes a star of the party and will herald a return to sanity that the establishment of the GOP longs for.
I predict Urquhart will win.
11th SENATE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Senate President Pro Tem Tony Deluca v. Bryan Townsend
Much like the Republican primary in the 6th, this race is for the soul of the State Democratic Party. There are some old rotten tree branches on the tree that is the State Democratic Party. And like McDowell and Marshall, Deluca’s branch needs to be cut off so a new one can grow. The further problem with Deluca’s branch is that it is diseased and corrupt, and the disease could spread to the whole tree. It is imperative that Deluca be defeated. Luckily, Bryan Townsend has ran a stellar campaign for a grassroots challenger. Should he win, he will become an instant star in the Democratic caucus, and a sign that the party has a bright future. Needless to say, if I could, I would vote for him. If you can, you must vote for him.
18th SENATE DISTRICT–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Teabagger Matt Opaliski v. Senator Gary Simpson
Maybe I don’t know much by being upstate, but I don’t sense teabagger anger at Sen. Simpson that exists towards Sen. Booth. So I think Simpson survives.
19th SENATE DISTRICT–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Eric Bodenweiser v. Sen. Joe Booth.
Booth won by a couple votes last time. I think this time Bodie girl wins.
1st REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Victoria Kent v. Charles Potter v. Rourke Moore
Victoria Kent is another one of the young up and comers on the Democratic bench. She goes up against the well known Charles Potter, a three term City Councilman and husband of former Treasurer Velda Jones Potter. If I could vote in this race, it would be for Victoria Kent, not because I have any animus towards Potter. I just like her better. But I think Potter win Dennis P. Williams’s old seat.
2nd REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Rep. Stephanie Bolden v. Former State Rep. Arthur Scott
Given the matchup, I would have expected to have heard more on this race. Stephanie is in her first term and thus she is vulnerable to a challenge, but Scott has run an invisible campaign. Bolden should win this easily, and I would vote for her if I could.
10th REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Sean Matthews v. Rep. Dennis E. Williams
I like Dennis Williams. I think he has been there for the tough votes. He is not one of the Democratic incumbents that needs to be replaced. Sean Matthews has a future in party politics, but this is not his year. If I could vote in this race, I would vote for Dennis.
19th REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Bill Dunn v. Kimberly Williams
In an open primary caused by Speaker Gilligan’s retirement, this race is anyone’s for the taking. I prefer Bill Dunn. I know him. He has been a civic advocate in NCCo. for years, and he is a progressive. I don’t know Kimberly, and have no animus towards her. But if I could vote in this race, it would be for Bill.
22nd REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Rep. Nick Manolakos v. Rep. Joe Miro
Nick is the better legislator, but Joe Miro will win this redistricting-forced incumbent v. incumbent matchup. Joe has more of his district in the new 22nd. The winner faces progressive Dave Ellis in November.
23rd REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Paul Baumbach v. Jerry Grant v. Claudia Bock
The retirement of Terry Schooley opens this race up for a free for all. If would vote for Paul Baumbach if I could. He is a personal friend, and is the Progressive Dem’s chair, although he is on leave, and a small businessman. Jerry Grant is well known to party regulars likely to vote in the primary due to his work in Dover as a longtime Legislative Assistant. And the final candidate is teacher Claudia Bock, who I don’t know but seems impressive in her own right. This is an embarrassment of riches race, and the party wins no matter who wins the race. But personally I would go with Paul.
32nd REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Andria Bennett v. William McGlumphy
Vote for McGlumphy. Andria Bennett is Rep. Brad Bennett’s wife and her campaign is a transparent move to keep the seat warm so that Bennett can pull an Atkins: returning to the Assembly after a “redemptive” two years.
32nd REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Ellis Parrot v. Will McVay.
Parrot is the establishment candiadate and McVay is the libertarian alternative who has been in fights with the party before. If I had to guess, Parrot will win.
The next few races I have no opinions on. Either I don’t know the candidates enough to offer an opinion, or I am ambivalent. Feel free to offer your own:
11th REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
David Brown, Jr. v. Lynne Newlin
15th REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
James Burton v. Rep. Valerie Longhurst
20th REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Thomas Jones, Sr. v. Marie Mayor v. Lynn Rogers
39th REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Patrick Murray v. Rep. Daniel Short
40th REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT–DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Ray Adkins v. Benjamin Lowe
I’m going for Spanareli for the same reason. (“campaign in a box,” Clever. I wish I had said that about Spanny)
I’m worried that my vote for Shahan will put Gordon in. Talk me down.
“Ernie Lopez v. Glen Urquhart” Whoever wins there will be tons of bad blood. DelawarePolitics is blowing up over this race. Good for Staton!
That’s the risk. I think my decision will be last minute. Hold my nose for Clark, or vote for Shahan with no guilt that I am enabling a Gordon win.
In the 11th District Lynne Newlin has a record of public service on the Smyrna School Board. She is smart, energetic, has run a great grassroots campaign. The Republican opponent will make mince-meat of Mr. Brown should he win. Newlin looks like a good bet to put this new seat in the D caucus. And, having another woman in the House is a good outcome. Democrats should consider all this when they vote in tomorrow’s Primary.
Marshall will face a trademark lawsuit, not a copyright claim.
I really, really want Lopez to win, and I think he will. Urquhart is a soulless bastard of an asswipe.
In the 15th District Val Longhurst is the favored candidate by the party and by me personally. Mr. Burton was asked why he is running and he had no reply other than this is a democracy and it is his right to run. True, but I’d prefer my candidates to have some fire in the belly about governing if elected. Doing it just because you can doesn’t earn my vote.
Mitch Crane is one of the few genuine progressives running in the cycle for Delaware. He’s got my vote.
If you live in the City of Wilmington and are worried about Gordon being County Exec again, you should be certain to vote for ANY of the other three candidates. Gordon is counting on a big city turnout, so every vote he doesn’t get in the city undermines that strategy.
I’m voting for Spanarelli as a protest vote too.
I’m voting for Taschner — neither of these candidates is especially progressive, but I like Renee and I’m not fond of the company Bullock keeps, either.
Voting for KELLEY for MAYOR — he’s run a great and positive race, which is a good sign for future governing. There are a fair number of undecideds for this race and am hoping that staying out of the slugfest helps people to decide for Kevin Kelley.
“Urquhart is a soulless bastard of an asswipe.” Props to you.
I’m voting for Renee Taschner tomorrow and you should too.
I still can’t get over the fact that Urquhart has seen the Loch Ness monster.
Last Saturday’s letters to the editor in the WNJ featured one by a Leonard Bafundo titled “Karen Weldin Stewart won’t back down” that praised her for all the wonderful things she’s supposedly done for consumers generally and him particularly and encouraged everyone to vote for her. Funny thing is, Leonard is her next door neighbor. He’s married to Jamie who works in the insurance department’s Captives office. How desperate is dumb old KWS that she has to have one of the cronies make up some bullshit statistics in letter form and have a neighbor send it to the WNJ as his own? She probably paid him to do it. It’s kind of like the fake legislators’ endorsements she claimed to have recently until they made her take them off her campaign website. What a pathetic loser.
For the record, “Campaign in a box” is the product of Jason330’s mind.
I have an issue with kspan, though. he has a billboard in Glasgow that I have to drive by frequently that has the funny, but inappropriate, WTF acronym. Mrs. Geek was appalled. I’m not sure that it’s the best strategy if you are seeking a Senate seat.
My apologies Jason. I knew one of you said it.
@Deldem- I am with you-IF the world goes mad and Gordon wins, I will vote for the Repub in the general, and have no doubt many others will too. Better to have anonymous Repub with no baggage than let Gordon run amok again.
kspan tweeted after TNJ asked: “Thanks for reaching out WTF stands for Where The Fuel since we are the only nation with out an Energy Policy send me to DC and I will fix it”
My response to KSpan’s tweet: WTF?
Yeah, that’s a bullshit explanation. He was going for the eyecatching acronym. Admit it. Meh, whatever, he gets my protest vote tomorrow.
Just imagine … if all those protest votes were to actually make him WIN … Tom and Mike would be spending Tuesday night through Thursday getting completely wasted together, cursing Chrissy and Keith to the heavens.
What’s enough of a protest vote, percentagewise, to get Carper scared? 20 percent? 30?
got 3 robocalls in the last 2 days from convicted criminal and sleazy jerk, Tom Gordon…. from Oklahoma City… Yeah outsource your robocalling to an Tijadi run state… real democrat move there… ass.
Bilbo, Im voting for the R if Gordon OR Clark wins. Screw them both and screw the state democratic party for letting that choice happen.
If any delaware democratic party official reads this blog, know that you are driving away people because you cant find non-sleaze bags to run for office in the bluest of blues states. get your act together.
30% would get TC’s attention. I’m setting the over/under line for KSpan at 18%
Anybody want the over?
Any thoughts on Wilmington Council At-Large race?
I feel that, socialistic Ben. I wonder what the filing fee was in that race. Maybe I missed an opportunity. But the party can only endorse candidates who volunteer. It’s a democracy. If they’re registered D, they run, and they get the votes, they’re endorsed, no matter how anyone individually feels about it. What *I* can’t get is why ordinary committee members voted their endorsements that way. To me, it’s crazy… it screws the brand. But the alternative, I guess, is letting the high-ups overrule the ordinary voters and THAT won’t fly.
For me, this is why it’s so important to elect Renee Tashner. She’s like the closest first responder to the emergency that looks likely to befall NCC. If she goes in with a sizable majority, she’ll have leverage to restrain the craziness. I hope.
On a side note, I love Dave Brady, and I know that district is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg, but I’m seeing his signs in lots of places that aren’t in it. I suspect we’ll have trouble at some of the polling places tomorrow. If anyone has time to volunteer, we’ll need the help sorting it out, I’ll bet
DD–thank you for the coverage, the kind words, and the phone banking.
Kim Williams web address since it was omitted:
http://kimwilliamsforstaterep.weebly.com/
@ DelawareDem. You’re the guy on Al Mascatti right? Why are you so clearly pro-Kelly? You make these posts as some kind of an independent arbiter of what Dems should think but you’ve never really made a case for Kelly or anti-Williams other than “Williams is blustery” or “Gordon was a criminal”. Has anyone considered that Gordon was fined $300 after being charged with federal RICO crimes basically in 2006, which were basically just using equipment for political gain?
Could he be just have been overly-aggressively prosecuted to make way for Coons? Possible.
No, that is El Somnambulo.
No. You are confusing me with El Som. But I am pro-Kelley. And I offer these posts to be informative and opinionated. Obviously, these are my opinions. I have never offered myself as an “independent arbiter.” My name is Delaware Dem, for chrissakes!
But I do have a megaphone here at DL, and I will offer my opinion even if it is to your chagrin.
It’s not just Dave Brady’s signs that are everyplace, I got a lit piece from him in the mail over the weekend and I’m clearly in the 3rd Senate District.
I’m in Dave Brady’s district and never got anything from him.
“Has anyone considered that Gordon was fined $300 after being charged with federal RICO crimes basically in 2006, which were basically just using equipment for political gain?”
Yes, every person who stumps for Gordon on this site has made that point. And every time, I have pointed out that he has not answered for the bulk of the charges in the indictment, particularly the one regarding the secret $260,000+ settlement of a sexual abuse allegation against County Councilman Chris Roberts, a situation Gordon should never have learned of in the first place (separation of powers was another Gordon administration weak point).
The points in the indictment were the tip of Gordon’s iceberg, and every time he claims he was found “innocent” of those charges he is lying. The charges were dismissed; that does not mean they were untrue.
If you are like me, you have been assailed with phone calls, sometimes repeatedly during the same day, about the NCC Executive race. Well, I think I just found out why.It seems that Shahan is doing exceedingly far better than anyone expected according to my source. It seems he might not be a wasted vote after all.
That’s good to hear. That may have clinched my vote for Shahan tomorrow.
Dave Brady requested from the Department of Election for an updated list of the 1st Senatorial District to send out his literature. What he got from them was a disk label “1st Senatorial District” with the 3rd district on it.
You know I would have given “some” credence to “some” of the bloggers on here who (and I qualify with some) seem to be very knowledgeable and very pro Democratic party and process up and until I saw Markell and Denn back DeLuca. That is when I knew that nothing . . . zilch, zero, nada was remotely on the up and up in Delaware. So my take is this – – Gordon (with all his baggage) owes nothing to no one and I mean NO ONE and is someone that can come in and throw a curve ball into all that is in play right now. Is that a good thing or a bad thing . . . I for one am willing to take my chances. All I know is that he can only serve one term. Let the games begin!
DD, I also have another friend who used to work for the County. He implored me to vote for Shahan. My friend knows him personally and said that he knows his stuff, has a high degree of integrity, is quite progressive, and would make an excellent Executive.
Well, the Progressive Dems did endorse him, and as I was involved in that process, I have met Bill and know he is progressive. But I always get strategic in multi candidate races, was worried about Gordon winning.
But I think I have resigned myself to vote Republican in that race should Gordon win, and I have made peace with that decision. So now I am free to vote Shahan.
Dont know who your ears are on Urquhart vs Lopez but no way in hell Uncle Urkie wins. Lopez is eating his lunch this last month.
Stayton wins in a snoozer. Frederick did nothing and Miller, well he is Miller.
Regarding two of the races you didn’t have any comment on:
I downloaded the DFPC’s very socially conservative voter guide today, and they said that Democrat David Brown in RD11 and Democrat Lynn Rogers in RD20 both oppose same-gender marriage or repealing Delaware’s DOMA, and they appear to both lean anti-choice. Brown also opposes civil unions and gender identity protections. (None of the other candidates in the two races responded to the survey, so I can’t offer insights there.)
Hope that helps someone make up their minds.
@LG, that billboard with Low, Mid, High grade gasoline price points at:
$ LOL!
$ OMG?
$ WTF!
is classic.
Yes, for a Facebook post, or a Kilroy graphic, but probably not for a Senate campaign.
“Daddy, what does WTF stand for?”
For a long time one could vote for Republican in DE and still be supporting a liberal/moderate. So sad that is no langer the case..
Where’s The Followup? Why is your mind in the gutter LG?
SD11 update: I saw my first DeLuca sign today! No DeLuca mailers today either.
Confirming @ Dave Brady Supporter’s story. (I use the same printer as Brady) Apparently he had a big mailing put together and sent out, but the voter list he was sent from the Elections people was the one from the 3rd SD. The disk is labeled the 1st SD, the file was labeled the 1st, but all of the names were the 3rd. So now it is too late to reprint and Brady is out all of his money I guess.
Who said Denn supported DeLuca? I believe he decided to stay out of the primary…
Okay, so I went to DeLuca’s facebook page and see Denn in a photo there and DeLuca thanking him for his support. Denn had originally said he was not getting involved in the primary… what changed?
I got the same Dave Brady mailer. In the 3rd. Ouch.
Manlove eases sanctions on Lopez based on misrepresentations from her staff. Original complaint came from Mark Hubbard and was filed using Urquhart’s address. The Urquhart campaign denied filing the complaint, but Lopez claims that election officials had told him he had. Full story in Cape Gazette dated Sept 11:
http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/news/story/elections-commissioner-eases-sanctions-on-lopez/893957