DE’s Most Intriguing Legislative Races Of 2024: #11–RD 34

‘Potential races’ is more accurate.  I see 11 House races as possibly being both competitive and important.  Progressive gains in these seats could well move the House in a more visionary direction and put an end to the obstructionism of the current leadership and their mindless minions.  Some of these races already have challengers.  Some may, or may not, have challengers who haven’t declared yet (whoa, one just filed, and she’s a good one!).  Some have no challengers, but would be attractive contests should challengers emerge.  I’ve ordered these based on what I see as the most-likely pickups, starting with those that are less likely but are definitely in play.

Granted, it’s a hodgepodge, but it’s also only August of 2023.  Over a year until the primaries.  Let’s start the countdown!:

#11.  34th RD: Incumbent R Lyndon Yearick vs. D challenger Tracey Miller.  The 34th RD is largely a suburban Kent County district running south from the Dover suburbs.  Here is the map.  The registration is 8189 D, 6100 R, 5560 I. As we know, as we move downstate, the registration totals provide a misleading picture when it comes to how people vote.  In 2022, the D candidate in this district, Adewumni ‘Ade’ Kuforiji, got about 39% of the vote.  He raised almost no money and ran a weak campaign.  Still, Yearick got 60% of the vote.

Despite the registration, only two of the election districts in the RD reside within the boundaries of a Democratic senator, in this case, Trey Paradee. Yes, it’s gonna be a tough lift.

However, there are reasons for optimism.  Tracey Miller has already filed, meaning she’ll have the opportunity to run a real campaign instead of Ade’s invisible campaigns.  She is not an unknown.  She’s quite visible as the Director of Marketing & Community Engagement at Dedicated To Women, a health clinic in Dover.  Based on this article, it looks like she might be able to build an effective grassroots campaign powered by high school students and activists.  She’s also a member of the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Might I point out that the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization could look askance at Yearick’s vote to kill the Bond Bill?  I might also add that this will be the first post-Dobbs election in Delaware. This district is becoming more suburban, and less rural.  If Miller runs an effective campaign, this could be an Election Day surprise.

Kent County is not my strong suit (said Captain Obvious).  Let me know what you think, and what you’re seeing.