This will rank much higher if somebody emerges as a challenger.
Fact is, nobody knows just how strong Our PAL Val Longhurst is in her own district. She’s had a couple of half-hearted primary challenges from James Burton, who had no money. Burton’s last challenge came in 2016, where he got about 35% of the primary vote. Val’s made a lot of enemies, including in the part of her district that she jettisoned during reapportionment (Delaware City).
She is devoid of ethics, having almost immediately parlayed her election into a six-figure job with the Police Athletic League Of Delaware, thanks to Speaker Pete and his cop cronies. Other than her connections, she had no qualifications for that job. She has guided one of the most corrupt projects in recent Delaware history–The ‘Underground City At Fort DuPont’. She has appropriated (stolen) dozens of bills from other legislators for herself, and then grandstanded about her sponsorship. She has treated both staff and legislators who don’t agree with her dismissively, then ‘dismissed’ the staffers. Simply put, she is not a good person.
Yes, she’ll have close to an unlimited war chest, and she will require practically the entire House staff to serve as her ‘grassroots volunteers’. Since she has fired far more staffers than are currently employed there, any challenger would likely have a legit group of volunteers to go door-to-door and let constituents know the real Val Longhurst. I, for one, am ready and willing. Plus, assuming that the House staff is tied down in the 15th, other incumbents facing challengers will be on their own. Yes, there are some, and there will be more.
Did I mention that Val is the newly-anointed Speaker? Dethroning her puts an end to the decade-plus obstructionism by the House leadership just like that. A House without Speaker Pete and Our PAL Val? Dare to dream. Then act.
The primary is the de facto general election in the 15th RD. Registration is 10,802 D; 3719 R; and 4793 I. The 15th RD is one of the most blatantly gerrymandered of this cycle. Here is the map. It extends from Bear in zigzag fashion down to the C & D Canal. A lot of new development here, making it more attractive to a challenger. You will note how Val cut Delaware City out of the district so that the pissed-off residents there couldn’t vote against her.
The bulk of the RD is in Nicole (No Longer) Poore’s Senate District. They’ve generally been allies, but have had a couple of falling-outs (‘fallings-out’ just doesn’t sound right). Perhaps, or perhaps not, over bar tabs at Crabby Dick’s. Bryan Townsend has one ED, and Marie Pinkney has three. Wouldn’t mind if some of Marie’s volunteers helping out here.
Not to be sexist, but I think the ideal challenger would also be female, someone with a background that constituents can relate to, and with a personality that directly contrasts with the relentless bullying that defines Longhurst’s modus operandi.
If such a candidate emerges, this race will shoot up the list of priorities. Way up.