Next week and over the course of the next month, we are going to be highlighting each Representative District and Senate District, to find out about the new districts (since most if not all of the districts have undergone some changes, from minor to major), about which Representatives and Senators are calling it quits in 2012, which are safe, and which are in trouble. One of the reasons we are doing this is because of the seemingly inability of the Republican Party to act like a political party in the state of Delaware. With no candidates or even prospective candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, Insurance Commissioner and Senator, 2012 is looking disastrous for the state GOP and boring for the rest of us.
But let’s again take a look at the possibilities.
GOVERNOR–Jack Markell. Governor Markell will run for reelection.
Republican Opposition?
1. Former Speaker Terry Spence. He always thinks about running, and never does. Even Celia Cohen has gotten wise to that game.
2. Former Senator and failed 2008 Republican Lt. Gov. Nominee Charlie Copeland. He seems much happier as a blogger now. Plus, with some of the things he has said over there at Irrational Delusion, I doubt very much his campaign would be successful.
3. Failed 2010 Republican congressional candidate Michele Rollins. She forced her grandchildren onto food stamps. Yeah, not happening.
LT. GOVERNOR–Matt Denn.. Lt. Governor Denn will run for reelection.
Republican Opposition?
1. Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips. After his recent troubles, I doubt it.
U.S. SENATE–Tom Carper. Sen. Carper will run for reelection. Republican Opposition?
1. Kevin Wade. The News Journal doesn’t even consider him a candidate, even though he has announced, so why should we?
2. Glenn Urquhart. Yeah, go ahead and run. That will be fun.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE–John Carney. Congressman Carney will run for reelection.
Republican Opposition?
1. New Castle County Council President Tom Kovach. He’s running, and he marks the first recruiting success the State GOP has had in many years. But will he suffer the same fate as Mike Castle?
2. Rose Izzo. She is running. The question as to whether she will be another Christine O’Donnell depends entirely on whether bigoted Sussex Republicans can get over the fact that she has a New York accent.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER–Karen Weldin Stewart. Commissioner Stewart will run for reelection, but if she is smart, she will retire.
Democratic Primary Opposition?
1. Mitch Crane
2. Vincent White
Republican Opposition?
1. Jim Van Houten. Who?