Big Breaking News: Liane Sorenson Not Running!!
Sen. Liane Sorenson (R-Hockessin) has just announced in Dover that she will not run for reelection to the Delaware State Senate, according to reliable sources.
Sorenson and Dave Sokola had been placed in the same district by Tony DeLuca after both Sorenson and Sokola opposed DeLuca for President Pro Tempore of the Delaware State Senate.
Sorenson’s retirement is a real loss for progressives, as she has had one of the most estimable voting and sponsorship records in Dover.
It is also, however, a likely death knell for any hopes that R’s had of taking over the Senate chamber.
I would love to see Gov. Markell nominate Liane for a key position in his administration. The State of Delaware cannot afford to lose the likes of her.
More information as I get it.
Tags: Sen. Liane Sorenson Delaware; Sen. Dave Sokola Delaware; Steved Tanzer Delaware; El Somnambulo
THEREFORE, DEMOCRATS RETAIN CONTROL OF THE SENATE!!!!!
Right, and by at least a 12-9 margin. There will only be, at most, 6 incumbent R’s running for reelection, so even if they swept the three contested seats, meaning the one that Bunting is vacating, the Katz seat, and the new open Sussex seat, and assuming that there are no further R retirements (Cloutier and Connor are still both possibilities), they can’t get past nine. I predict 13-8 as I think Andy Staton will win, but, with Liane gone, I’m not sure that Connor and/or Cloutier will have the stomach to stick around, in which case the numbers could be even grimmer for the R’s.
And another moderate Republican is out of office… Somewhere Evan Q is smiling.
Oh well, where’s my anchor?
How long before Tiny Tony says, “I told you so. Sorenson knew she couldn’t beat an incumbent Democrat. I protected our Senate majority every bit as well as Pete did in the House.”
Katz is still endangered due to Tiny Tony, and Bunting retired because his district got redder. There will be no forgiveness for the President Pro Tem. If he retires and endorses Bryan Townsend for his seat, then maybe forgiveness will come. But until then, no.
Current majority 14-7.
We are going to lose the 20th due to Bunting’s retirement
13-8.
We might lose the 4th due (Katz (D) v. Lavelle (R))
12-9.
I do not concede that we will lose the 6th. If Staton or Frederick win the 6th, that is essentially a Democratic pickup, since the old 6th was represented by Sorenson (R).
13-8.
If Dori Connor gets a credible Democratic challenger backed by the unions, then Dori is done in the 12th.
14-7.
But then Bob Venenables may retire (he is 79), even though he has announced that he is running. Or he may lose if he gets a strong Republican running against him.
13-8.
And Dori may win.
12-9.
But maybe Cathy Cloutier is done in by Judy Travis in the Republican primary in the 5th, and then Counihan defeats Travis in the general.
13-8.
Liane was on the ‘correct’ side of many, many issues in Dover. She has been my senator since her start in 1995. I will miss her moderation of DE Republicans in Dover.
Rep Lee just announced he will not seek re-election.
Has Mr. Frederick filed to be a candidate im the 6th or do we just think he is going to step in? I can’t find a website or anything for him.
Just checked the Sussex County filings and, no he has not filed. You can bet that Dem leaders like Pete Schwartzkopf are trying to talk him out of filing.
BTW, Sen. Venables HAS filed for reelection, effective yesterday.
They should. He has been talking about running all year but here we are in April and he is yet to take the plunge. He has not articulated a rationale for running, has no chance and would only lead to an unnecessary primary in a vital district.
Dan Gaffney tweeted that a new candidate for the 40th (Lee’s seat) will announce in the morning.
You guys should really recast your story. Biff’s retirement is the most astonishing news of the day, more so than Sorenson. The Lee family has had a lock on that seat since 1987, and he was guaranteed that seat for the rest of his life, if he’d wanted it.
Either he or a family member is ill, or Ray Adkins (the announced Democrat) is a far more formidable opponent than he appears.
The Lee retirement is surprising to me.
However, the Sorenson story is far bigger b/c it virtually ensures that the D’s will retain control of the Senate, whereas the R’s had no realistic hope to win back the House. And I question just how much in jeopardy the 40th is for the R’s
The fact that the R’s will announce a new candidate tomorrow makes clear that this move was in the works for some time now. I don’t think that the Adkins candidacy had anything to do with it, but I’ll gladly defer to our Sussex spies.
Word is Biffs mother is not well. Its a culture shock too, he went from Majority Whip to being a back bencher in a few short years. He travels every weekend to a NASCAR event and probably would have run if he ran un-opposed again.
I was with two life long Laurel farmers yesterday and neither one of them had ever heard of Adkins. Adkins is also in real estate with Venables son.
Biffs pick is Tim Dukes (former Council President Dale Dukes-(D) son). Tim is a pastor of a huge church with a big following. He will be tough but not unbeatable.
A conservative Democat farmer could win this seat.
I think Russ Melrath would be a great candidate for Bunting’s seat. He ran a decent race against George Cole in 2010, taking 40% of the vote with little money and only 6 weeks to campaign.
Sorry,MJ .The new 6th senate Dist. is harder road for any DEMOCRAT .Russ Melrath or any solid Democrat from north of Indian River bridge can beat George Cole or Parrish in 4th council dist. but not new 6th Senate dist. Until I get video of HOCKER doing something at SEACREATS in O.C. the 6th is his if he wants it.
Allan Loudell thinks Ramone may run against Sokola –
http://www.wdel.com/blog/post.php?postid=3084
Capesdelaware, uh…….Hocker doesnt live in te 6th. He lives in the 20th Senate District.
Thanks spy. Sorry for typo. Shows I should never blog before first cup of coffee. Bunting and HOCKER are in 20th not 6 th .
“(Biff Lee) travels every weekend to a NASCAR event and probably would have run if he ran un-opposed again.”
I read that yesterday and it is just one of those sentences that stays with you.
I’m convinced that if we can find a conservative from the farm community that we could sneak this seat from the Rs. Same goes for Booths Senate seat. Bridgeville Republican farmers are NOT HAPPY with Booth.
As one farmer told me the other day “He’s no Thurman Adams”!
Capes – I was not saying that Russ should run in the 6th District, but for Bunting’s seat. And the 6th is a D district – don’t know where you got your info, but it’s wrong.