1. BREAKING NEWS: Mike Ramone’s Successor To File Today. Wow, Was I wrong! And was Dave Woodside right! Stephanie Barry will officially file today to challenge The Mediocrity That Is Mike Ramone in the 21st RD. Who is Stephanie Barry, you might ask? She is the Director Of Operations and Programs For the Newark-based PAWS For People, a ‘nonprofit organization committed to providing therapeutic visits to any person in the community who would benefit from interaction with a well-trained, loving pet. What makes PAWS for People stand above other pet therapy services is the emphasis we place on providing individualized therapeutic experiences for every person we visit. Our strict standards in training and testing dogs and cats make sure every therapy team is capable of meeting the various needs of our diverse clientele.’ You can find Stephanie’s bio here. Even a casual perusal of the site (they really do great work) will tell you that she has already developed an extensive list of possible supporters through relentless networking. Oh, and let’s just take a look at those 21st RD numbers, shall we?: 7663 D; 5015 R; 5051 I. Something tells me that not all the bipartisan Maypole dancers in the world will rescue Mike Ramone from political extinction.
2. Two More Candidates Face Political Extinction. Let’s face it. This was a profoundly depressing week–with the victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the lone bright spot. But I think the week’s events could spell the political death-knell for two longtime Delaware state senators. First, Sen. Bob Marshall. Like Crowley’s district in NYC, Marshall’s district is a ‘minority-majority’ district. He’s always wanted it that way and, for the most part, he has represented all the people of his district to the best of his ability. But, with many of his supporters passing on, the candidacy of Tizzie Lockman, and the galvanizing energy of the Ocasio-Cortez win, he might finally see the handwriting on the wall.
The other Dead Senator Walking? Greg Lavelle. Just what he needed. A week where ‘Roe v. Wade’ is suddenly back in play. Greg has hardly been an ardent supporter of women’s reproductive rights, neither has his Party, and now he is facing an electorate motivated to the nth degree by Kennedy’s retirement. And an aggressive challenger. You read it here first. He’s going down.
3. $22.51. Chris Johnson is running an unabashedly progressive campaign for Attorney General. I got this message from him yesterday:
In Delaware, African Americans are 22% of the population, but make up 51% of the prison population.
Tough on crime policies, the over-policing of minority communities, and the criminalization of poverty have had tremendous impacts on racial groups.
It’s going to take comprehensive reform to overcome the systemic racism that has persisted for decades.
If you’re like me and believe it’s time to end mass incarceration, join the movement and contribute $22.51 to this campaign today.
I ponied up an additional $22.51..maybe you could too.
4. Where The Bleep Is Kerri Harris? In a week when the Supreme Court became more likely to overthrow Roe v Wade than ever before, and faced with an incumbent senator who voted to end the filibuster that gave us Justices Alito and Roberts, you (I) would have thought that Kerri Harris would seize the moment to point out why we can’t afford ‘reach across the aisle’ types like Carper in DC. You (I) would have thought wrong.
5. Perennial Candidate Sherry Dorsey Walker Is Back. Fresh off her appointment to a public board, and hot off her endorsement of Kathy McGuiness, Sherry Dorsey Walker let no grass grow before filing to replace the retiring Helene Keeley for Keeley’s RD 3 seat. I’ve seen nothing from Sherry but the same sort of touchy-feely crap that sent Lisa Blunt Rochester to DC. Looks like she’ll finally get her taxpayer-funded salary.
6. Speaking Of LBR…in an age where our very democracy is threatened, this content-free video makes me want to just fwow up. What an empty vessel.
7. Yet ANOTHER D Candidate In RD 7. Looks like a Chamber of Commerce type. Catherine Imburgia is her name, she’s the President of Creative Communications, and her husband is a Republican. Gee, you don’t think she’s playing the ‘I’m the only woman in a field with three male candidates’ card, do you?
8. Pointless Primary In RD 12 Is On. It’s official. Rachel Blumenfeld filed, so we’ll now have a D primary between her and Krista Griffith. This virtually guarantees the reelection of Deborah Hudson in this challenging district as there will be little time for the primary winner to introduce herself to the rest of the district.
9. Consider, Just For A Moment, Joan Winters. The R candidate for State Auditor. Here’s her website. BTW, didja know she just gave blood? It’s on there. You can also see her feeding a puppy. Is LBR her campaign manager?
10. Filings. Plenty o’ incumbents filed during this past week: Rep. Sean Matthews (D-RD 10); Rep. Steve Smyk (R-RD 20); Rep. Ronald Gray (R-RD 38); Rep. Tim Dukes (R-RD 40). Also, Brad Connor filed as a D to challenge Rich Collins in the 41st RD. He ran against Collins in 2016 and got 41% of the vote.
That’s it for this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?