Competitive Races
4th Senate
LEANS REPUBLICAN
Michael Katz (D)
John Clatworthy (R)
Voters: 31,109 Dem: 34% Rep: 42% Other: 24%
This district has been trending more Democratic in recent years. A huge Democratic wave for Obama-Biden-Markell can perhaps close the gap for Katz. Also, Son of Clathworthy (c) is an un-apolgetic wingnut, so I don’t know how much the blue blood Republican fox chasers will like him.
10th Senate
LEANS DEMOCRATIC
Bethany Hall-Long (D)
Jim “Don’t Call Me Andrea” Weldin (R)
Voters: 31,480 Dem: 44% Rep: 31% Other: 25%
This should be a Democratic seat. However, Hall-Long has not been impressive and has little to show for her six years in the House.
17th Senate
TOSS UP
Brian Bushweller (D)
James Hutchison (R)
Voters: 28,031 Dem: 45% Rep: 30% Other: 25%
“Hutch” has some name ID as Dover’s ex-mayor, but Bushweller is no newbie.
7th House
TOSS UP
Bryon Short (D)
Jim Bowers (R)
Voters: 14,846 Dem: 38% Rep: 39% Other: 23%
Short rode a big anti-Republican wave in an ’07 special election but Republicans think Brandywine Hundred district belongs to them.
8th House
LEANS DEMOCRATIC
Quinn Johnson (D)
Martha Sturtevant (R)
Voters: 18,244 Dem: 46% Rep: 30% Other: 24%
I should know more about this race. Oh well. If Johnson was able to pick up the BHL machine, it should be a cake walk.
9th House
LEANS REPUBLICAN
Rebecca Walker (D)
Dick Cathcart (R)
Voters: 18,026 Dem: 42% Rep: 34% Other: 24%
Walker is working hard, but to give you an idea of what an uphill fight she has, my house (Jason) has one of each candidates signs up right now.
18th House
TOSS UP
Mike Barbieri (D)
Terry Spence (R)
Voters: 12,399 Dem: 51% Rep: 25% Other: 24%
Barbieri came close last time. In a big turn-out year for Dems you have to think that he is going to be this year’s Kowalko.
21st House
LEANS DEMOCRATIC
Pat Creedon (D)
Michael Ramone (R)
Voters: 14,588 Dem: 40% Rep: 34% Other: 26%
Pam Maier’s sudden retirement put this the Pike Creek Valley district in play. (Note to anon, please give us the skinny.)
22nd House
LEANS REPUBLICAN
Rebecca Young (D)
Joe Miro (R)
Miro’s first race in five elections, tells you something about the district. Give ’em hell Rebecca.
27th House
LEANS DEMOCRATIC
Earl Jaques (D)
Vince Lofink (R)
Voters: 13,821 Dem: 45% Rep: 31% Other: 24%
Jacques shocked Lofink in ’06. The Bear-Glasgow area will be represented by a Democrat sooner or later.
31st House
TOSS UP
Darryl Scott (D)
Nancy Wagner (R)
Voters: 12,355 Dem: 46% Rep: 30% Other: 24%
Wagner gives good constiuent services, but also created a state funded job for her goofball husband. Pramela Kazza did all the spade work on this and now Darryl Scott could to waltz in to Leg Hall.
32nd House
TOSS UP
Brad Bennett (D)
Donna Stone (R)
Voters: 11,240 Dem: 44% Rep: 30% Other: 26%
Bennett is the target of Republican dirty tricks …er ah… push polling, and Stone does not seem to want to represent her district, since she was the constant subject of retirement rumors. So are the district resident tired of Stone’s antics. The angry reaction to the push polling may indicate “yes.”
35th House
LEANS REPUBLICAN
Aaron Chaffinch
David Wilson
Voters: 12,101 Dem: 42% Rep: 37% Other: 21%
Former state police Superintendent Col. L. Aaron Chaffinch, who resigned three years ago amid a flurry of lawsuits against the agency, is running as the Democrat. Republican Sussex County Register of Wills David L. Wilson was been endorsed by Ben Ewing to be his successor. In this Republican district (some of the Dems down here are really Republicans too), I expect Wilson to hang on.
John Atkins (Drunk)
Greg Hastings (R)
Voters: 14,828 Dem: 42% Rep: 38% Other: 20%
It was Abe Lincoln who said, “You can fool some of the people some of the time, and you can fool all of the people in the 41st RD all of the time.”
THREESOMES ARE IN THE FORECAST
You know what would be more ‘impressive’…
If you knew who the candidates were in the 10th District.
Fixed. Gracias.
No problem. “Just keeping em’ honest…”, or whatever they say on CNN.
Wow…for once, OO and I agree on something. Andye is not BHL’s opponent. Andye would have rocked the house (Senate). I don’t know much about Weldin, though, mainly because I don’t live in that district.
It’s BHL v. Jim Weldin. For the record, I still expect that to turn nasty before election day.
BTW, I’m loving that two-sign thing you got going on.
Oh, damn…I took too long, you already corrected it. Curse my slow hand!
Not sure about the 18th House being a toss-up. Granted I don’t actually live in that district but in like the next one over. So I drive through there often and have friends who live there. I have seen a number of houses that have both Spence and Obama signs in the front yard, for whatever that’s worth.
Though I am on the Delaware GOP’s most hated shit list I have to say, John Clatworthy will win! Same goes for Ramone!
Why is everyone staying away from calling the Lt. Governor’s race! Copeland has been making so headway and Carney’s defeat may drag Matt Denn down. Seems to be a lot of folks out there commenting on a Markell / Copeland administration as a good thing! Lee is a wounded old soldier telling Copeland, “don’t worry about me I’ll be fine, just keep moving we need any win we can get.”
Wow! Looks like I am right! Folks are afraid to comment on the Lt. Governor’s race because it may be hard to say, “Copeland just might win.”
I dunno. I think there will be an increase in straight Democratic party-line voting this year. People that aren’t repubs are fed up with repubs.
anonone // Oct 1, 2008 at 11:42 am
“I dunno. I think there will be an increase in straight Democratic party-line voting this year. People that aren’t repubs are fed up with repubs.”
Wishful thinking! The bottom-line people fed up with it all! Carney defeat is a clear warning shot that Delaware dems can share some of the blame.
Just think if a Republican Lt. Governor was in with Minner! They, wouldn’t just sit back and let her running away train go unchecked!
Copeland wouldn’t be a danger to Delaware democratic because he being Lt. Governor would put pressure on Markell to deliver promises. Copeland will not be in the power seat!
The Lt. Governor’s race comes down to popularity and with Copeland having greater exposure over the years he obviously has better name recognition. “most” people / voters aren’t obsessed with those of us on the Blogs. Which candidate will be those most charming and likable! How many times have you decided not to buy something because you did like the salesman?
Copeland has closed the gap and many are in denial and will not be surprise when he wins. I am pissed at they guy but in the politically reality he is going to win! I am voting for Markell and don’t consider myself a Delaware Republican and certainly I dog meat to them! I walked from being Chair of the 19th RD, delegate and member of the state GOP Committee because Copeland pissed me off!
What about the race for Wilmington City Council President?
There is some concern in the community w/ Griffiths as he is (very) pro-Baker (we need someone to represent the citizens), an environmental attorney for duPont (an oxymoron) who would not agree to give the facilities that the taxpayer funds (use of the Louis L. Redding Bldg. for meetings, seminars, etc., access to community based programs on Channel 22 and has a tepid response to letting the ‘public comment’ session, before council meetings, be televised.)
He stated at a debate that Channel 28 is for the citizens to use…..doesn’t this joker know it costs money to get time on 28?
His opponent is Herman Holloway, Jr., who is running as a Republican.
Kowalko’s race is missing.
So is 4th House:
Gerald L. Brady (D, Delaware)
Tyler P. Nixon (R, McCain-Palin)
What about Liane Sorenson/McKenzie race in the Newark area…? I don’t know the senate deistrict number off hand.
RSmitty,
someone stole my call sign. That was not me!!!
The OO!!!!!!!
Damn! Look, we may be MOT-adversaries, but no one messes with my adversaries!!!!
I got your back! Just don’t turn around…everything is OK.
Seriously, tho…two people, one handle ain’t cool. Geek? Little help, here?
And it ain’t the PO either….Am I next?
As far as BHL goes, she has been an inside pool player. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t been impressive, just that her governance light has been hidden under the bushel that is her campaigning energy. If you look back to the pieces of legislation she’s sponsored, they tend to be her strong suits of agriculture and public health – I know an odd combination.
If anyone thinks that an R Lt. Governor would have had any real impact in the current administration other than standing outside her door and whining, that person has not been paying attention – to history or to the way this Governor operates.
Way back a long time ago, when Mike Castle was Gov, there was a surprise Lt. Gov in the person of SB Woo. He was shunted to the side after election day and never seen again. In this day and age with greater media access and alternative methods to gain a little traction, a Lt. Gov from another party might, just might, be able to point out the failings of a Governor. However, we need to understand that the Governor and OMB Director and Joint Finance Committee could very easily eliminate from the budget any staff or office space or other resources to actually do anything productive by a Lt. Gov who doesn’t play nice.
Anonone:
Since when are Tyler Nixon and McCain-Palin synonymous? Make it Ron Paul, perhaps, and we’ll talk.
I miss Celia. But thanks for throwing in some DE Local.
Copeland? in 08? Nah. Just getting his name warmed up for 2010. Heaven forbid if he won and had to resign in 2010 to assume his position in DC.
Hi Sedgwick,
That is who Tyler is supporting publicly in this election. Other than becuase he is a repub, I don’t understand why; maybe you can ask him.
gtg,
Thanks for your comments about BHN. I tend to think of her as a Carper-ite (short on soul, but big on sold) but I’d be happy to be proven wrong.
PI, Liane Sorenson is 6th Senate District (and minority whip.) She should keep her seat fairly easily, right Jason?
Anonone:
He’s supporting them not because of an overwhelming appreciation for their socially conservative views (where applicable), but because he disagrees with Obama’s liberal economic views. Or at least that’s the impression I’m getting.
Sedgwick:
Whatever. I guess he likes the repub economic view that we’ve had the last 7 years that has almost doubled the national deficit and led to a stock market crash and the biggest financial crisis since the depression.
Anyway, you asked why I put them together. Now you know.
Be prepared to be surprised in the 35th. Both men are well known, and it’s going to come down to geography. Wilson’s from the far eastern edge of the 35th, and Chaffinch has lots of friends in Bridgeville. He also has Adams’ backing.
So even after delawaredem’s caterwauling back in August, you guys don’t think Barb Hudson is competitive against Biff Lee in the 40th?
Can y’all please do more of this, and less McCain-Palin-Obama-Biden stuff? I can read that kind of regurgitation at Kos. This is the only place I can get Delaware gossip and insight.
Senate 6th–incumbent, moderate R Liane Sorenson against D John Mackenzie. Liane has several things going for her–she has few enemies in the district, and she has fairly good name recognition. She has something like $100K in the bank, and she is spending it on supersized signs throughout the district.
Liane Sorenson has two main factors going against her.
First, she is a Republican candidate in Delaware in 2008.
Second, the district is gerrymandered–it is a pan, and she (and Mike Terranova) live at the tip of the handle. John Mackenzie lives in the center of the pan, Newark’s residential center.
I stood with John for the majority of hours the polls were open during the primary. He has knocked on so many doors, himself, he has been at so many youth sporting and school events with his kids, Mackenzie has (for better or worse) served visibly on the Christina School Board, that at Downes Elementary’s polling location, the voters know him.
As on September 8th, we need to let the voters choose on November 4th. In September, dollars (Mike Terranova’s well-backed campaign) lost to shoe leather and geography.
Note that Newark’s UU church is hosting a candidate forum for the 23rd and 25th RDs and the 6th and 10th SDs on Saturday 10/18 from 1-5pm. A flyer is at http://www.uufn.org/temp/OctForum4Web.pdf