I don’t know how much weight to give this, but there is chat going around that Cloutier is either not running for re-election or changing her party affiliation.
The “standing down” chat sort of makes sense on its face. Along with Anthony Delcollo, she is the most endangered Republican this election, as her district is no longer a Republican district, and she will be facing a tough Democratic challenger after not really having to campaign for years. Additionally, she will be 70 years old in 2020.
On the other hand, she is probably the one remaining Trump supporting Delaware Republican who to get Democratic voters to split their ticket for old time’s sake. So maybe the Trump reverse coattails don’t really apply? She has also reatured prominently in recent wack-a-doo DEGOP fundraising emails.
The only way the changing her party affiliation chat makes sense if John Carney or someone from the dying corporate wing of the Democratic Party is trying to throw a hail-mary to keep the seat from falling into the hands of someone who actually wants to accomplish something.
Catherine Cloutier in a picture that must have been taken 30 years ago.