“It is far too early for me to tell you who the statewide candidates are. We are looking at these things. We’re all focused on one thing — ending one-party rule in Delaware.” So said new Republican state chair John Sigler to Celia Cohen last month. Is it me, or is it kind of embarrassing for a major party state chair to refer to his state as a one party state, and his party is not the one party to which he refers. With absolutely no respect to John Sigler, it is not too early. It is getting too late for the state GOP. To beat Jack Markell and Tom Carper they will need millions of dollars, for each race. And the conundrum for the Delaware Republican Party is that the only candidates who can win their primaries and rake in national money are unelectable Teabaggers like Christine O’Donnell.
Who are the possibilities? Below I rate the possible opposition from most probable to less.
GOVERNOR–Jack Markell. Governor Markell will run for reelection.
Republican Opposition?
1. Former Speaker Terry Spence
2. Former Senator and failed 2008 Republican Lt. Gov. Nominee Charlie Copeland
3. Failed 2010 Republican congressional candidate Michele Rollins
LT. GOVERNOR–Matt Denn.. Lt. Governor Denn will run for reelection.
Republican Opposition?
1. Sussex County Council President Vance Phillips
U.S. SENATE–Tom Carper. Sen. Carper will run for reelection. Last year, there were rumors that he might retire and the Dems would run Beau Biden. But it looks like there was nothing to that.
Republican Opposition?
1. Teabagger Queen Christine O’Donnell again
2. Kevin Wade
3. Glenn Urquhart (only if Christine doesn’t run)
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE–John Carney. Congressman Carney will run for reelection.
Republican Opposition?
1. New Castle County Council President Tom Kovach
2. Glenn Urquhart
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER–Karen Weldin Stewart. Commissioner Stewart will run for reelection, but if she is smart, she will retire.
Democratic Primary Opposition? Mitch Crane! Thank God for Mitch Crane. Republican Opposition? Any one? Bueller? Bueller?
Once I get my head wrapped around the new districts in redistricting, I will put up a post regarding the candidates for the General Assembly. Remember, in the election after the census and redistricting, all 62 legislators from the House and Senate run. So everyone is on the ballot this year, well, not the Auditor, Treasurer and the Attorney General, but everyone else.