Today featuring primaries for the State House Of Representatives. Again, in reverse numerical order by district:
RD 34 (D Primary): Bob Haynes vs. Ade Koforiji. Koforiji ran (IMO) a disappointing campaign against R incumbent Lyndon Yearick in 2018, yet still got 41% of the vote. Haynes, the D chair of the 34th, is challenging him this time. This district represents one of the very few Kent County districts that could flip, especially if it’s a blue tsunami. Worth keeping an eye on this primary result. Anybody have a take on this race?
RD 27 (D Primary): Earl Jaques vs. Eric Morrison. While I have a soft spot for Jaques, much as I do for Sen. Bruce Ennis, it is clear that he is a fave of Pete ‘n Val. He chairs the Education Committee (he shouldn’t), he chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee, and he’s on the Joint Finance Committee. He is being challenged by Eric Morrison, who is supported by Leftward Delaware and the Working Families Party. This district may be a tougher lift for progressives than some of the others, but a Morrison win is not out of the question.
RD 26 (D Primary): John Viola vs. Madinah Wilson-Anton vs. Gabriel Adelagunja. One of the most important primaries in Delaware this year. The third candidate has not run a campaign. I am convinced he was put up to siphon votes from Wilson-Anton. I mean, just look at his website. No ‘there’ there. Madinah had campaigned so hard before the pandemic hit that she suffered a lot less than other challengers by having to curtail her door-to-door efforts. Viola has always been a back-bencher. The district demographics skew in Madinah’s favor. This is a great chance for a progressive upgrade. I’ve had the chance to talk to Wilson-Anton, and she is so thoughtful and empathetic. She’s also seriously intelligent. So intelligent that I just shut up and listened. I never do that.
RD 10 (D Primary): Sean Matthews vs. Keith James. Keith James, who has no real roots in the district, has every right to run in this primary. The only question is why. He has no chance to win and virtually no campaign save for a couple of signs on right-of-way. He seems to be an activist who supports Black Lives Matter, and that’s all to the good, but he’s running against one of Delaware’s more progressive legislators, and one who should chair the House Education Committee. I suspect that we’ll hear more from James going forward, but it might not be in Brandywine Hundred.
RD 8 (D Primary): Rae Moore vs. Matthew Powell vs. Yvette Santiago. This is the primary created by the retirement of Quin Johnson, meaning that the entire campaign is being run post-pandemic. Delaware United has endorsed Moore, and I encourage you to check out her website. Powell seems the most Quin-like in this race. I confess I’ve had a disdain for ROTC ever since my college days, and I don’t see it as a plus. His so-called ‘issues’ are as generic as they come. Santiago has quite the extensive background, and appears to be a coalition-builder. Gotta wonder if everybody pictured agreed to be in her campaign lit, though. Regardless, due to the short timeline on this race, I can say that whoever runs the best campaign will win. I know we have quite a few readers from this district. What are you seeing/hearing?
RD 7 (D Primary): Ray Seigfried vs. Larry Lambert. A rarity: two really good candidates and people facing off. Seigfried narrowly defeated Lambert in a five-way primary in 2018 to win the seat that was being vacated by legislator-turned-lobbyist Bryon Short. I voted for Larry. I must say that Ray has been, to me at least, a pleasant surprise. I knew that he would be strong on constituent services, but he’s been a valuable member of the caucus, especially on health-care issues, and has generally been a reliable progressive vote. However, Larry, who has been endorsed by Delaware United, Progressive Democrats For Delaware, Working Families Party and the like, has walked the progressive walk for a long time. He would immediately be a leader in Dover on economic and environmental racism, police reform, and the rights of workers. I know who I’ll be voting for. I just wish that I could vote for both of them.
RD 4 (D Primary): Gerald Brady vs. Amy Solomon. One of Delaware’s worst legislators, Gerald Brady, who deserves a serious primary challenge, is facing one from Amy Solomon. She’s actually a progressive and has some real good credentials. For the life of me, I don’t understand what took her so long to surface. For months, you couldn’t find out anything about her. Hopefully, she’ll put enough of a dent in him this time to go after him again in 2 years.
Coming next–The State Senate races! Can’t wait to write that one.