DE’s Most Intriguing Legislative Races Of 2024: #7–RD 2
I could do #’s 5, 6 and 7 in pretty much any order. We’re talking three absolutely abysmal incumbents with no (so far) challengers, either announced or rumored. I’ve ordered them from those doing (IMO) the least damage to those doing the most damage. They, all, however, have done significant damage.
Career hack Stephanie Bolden leads off this Rogue’s Gallery. Always in it just for the paycheck, which, BTW, she briefly augmented with a no-show job with Wilmington City Council, she went from being a hand-to-mouth fundraiser to raking in big bucks in 2022. Why? Because of her single-handed, and temporarily successful, killing of legislation protecting renters’ rights. Pretty much every member of Buccini/Pollin corporate, the Buccini/Pollin families, and other assorted big-time rental entities, flung cash at Steph. She spent little. Gee, where do you suppose the rest of that money went?
You might think that Bolden would have been chastened by a primary challenger in 2022. You would be incorrect. Although she finally voted yes on the renters’ right to representation bill this session, (a) it only came after she buried it first in the House Housing Committee last session, and burying it again in the Appropriations Committee. This year, she went ‘not voting’ (same as a no vote) on HS1/HB 191(Dorsey Walker), which gives tenants the right to withhold rental payments in escrow when landlords fail to keep properties habitable. The bill passed with only one vote to spare. Please keep in mind that RD 2 likely had more renters who would have benefited from those protections than pretty much any other district in the state. Bolden is now a completely out-of-touch legislator who merely does the bidding of her financial benefactors.
Oh, the district? Here’s the map. I think that the entire residential population of the district is within the City of Wilmington limits. The registration is ridiculous: 11,912 D; 1440 R; 3496 I.
Bolden has been one of Pete ‘n Val’s go-to anti-progressive legislators. That’s why she’s been ensconced on the Joint Finance Committee, along with another plausibly-human rain delay in the form of Lumpy Carson, for years. She doesn’t do anything w/o their permission.
She was primaried two years ago by someone totally unsuitable to serve in the General Assembly. His name was James Taylor, who spewed anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. He got 37.9% which, when you consider that he made himself completely toxic, does not reflect favorably on Bolden. Especially since his toxicity ensured he would get no assistance from the progressive grassroots.
You would think that the people who live here would demand better. Unfortunately, many of them have either settled for mediocre or downright unethical representation for seemingly forever.
The usual (good) suspects tried mightily to recruit a progressive challenger in 2022. I honestly don’t know why a community leader, any community leader, of some stature hasn’t stepped forward. Until/unless that happens, I guess the residents of the 2nd RD will get the government they deserve. Bought and paid for by Buccini/Pollin.
If you bothered to open the link to the map you inserted in the article you’d find a considerable (residential) part of RD2 consists of voters outside the city. Its also comical that DL has a tendency to believe it’s 25 readers can challenge Bolden.
Nice try DL. But you’ll probably remove this comment anyway.
Why? You’ve merely demonstrated your idiocy and lack of knowledge about her district. She now has Alban Park in her district. Great. Along with areas inside the city that have already rejected her once.
You may not know that she once ran against Bob Marshall for his Senate District seat. Got less than 30% of the vote. Oops, I’m sorry. Got 25.2% of the vote back in 1998. Lost every ED outside the city. Badly. Why? Because she publicly said that it was about time that some areas outside the City got some of that crime that the City was known for.
She even got blasted in a News-Journal editorial that we made damn sure got lit-dropped to every house in the Senate District that was outside of the City. I know, b/c I pretty much ran that campaign for Marshall. She got blasted in pretty much every ED inside the city as well.
A decent challenger will blow her away, Buccini/Pollin filthy lucre notwithstanding. And, as Joe Connor points out below, the area from which to recruit a challenger has only expanded post-redistricting since she is unknown in the newer areas.
What kind of fuckhole would admit to wanting Stephanie Bolden to represent them? Oh, wait. Never mind.
Hey r2d2 or whatever. You seem really, really smart! But what you miss is that the area of the district running down Maryland Ave almost to Banning Park is ripe candidate recruitment territory. The Rep has no history with these constituents and not being known for hard work doesn’t know many. But hey go play with your light saber:)
Idiot, fuckhole, and especially r2d2 – very transphobic of YOU! DL really comes out of the woodwork when a different opinion presents itself.
Congratulations, you “pretty much” ran Marshall’s campaign (yeah right, that’s what all wanna-be’s say). Anyway, 1998 was opportunity for Stephanie to take a shot and she won even though she lost. Back then, being a member of LBGTQIA+ was unpopular with voters. And she’s right, county residing liberals don’t want to hear it, but you should take on some of the burden city residents put up with.
Stephanie will find out about this. And she is there for her constituents! Ask the 3,155 voters that supported her on November 8, 2022.
You’ll put more respect behind her name when she’s our next governor.
You ARE an idiot. Her personal orientation, whatever it was, played no part in that campaign. None. Wasn’t on anyone’s radar. Neither Sen. Marshall’s nor the voters.
I was one of two Chief Administrative Assistants to the Senate Majority Caucus at the time. As we were expected to do, I took leave time to work on Bob’s campaign, including writing the lit, running the phone banks, coordinating election day operations, getting the numbers from the polling places, and making strategic decisions based on those numbers. As it turns out, once the first numbers came in around 11 am, I knew we would win big. Call that a wannabe?
Oh, the county-residing liberals you’re referencing? Uh, Cleland Heights, Alban Park (WELCOME to Stephanie’s House district, folks!), the south side of Lancaster Avenue heading out from Union Street. Hardly liberal enclaves. And saying that crime should be exported to those areas of the Senate District she was running in was just stoopid. Was she gonna pay them off to commit crimes there rather than addressing a situation in her own district?
I’m starting to think you’re an anti-Stephanie troll. Because nobody in their right mind could seriously make the deranged arguments that you’re making. You’ve made them twice.
There won’t be a third time.
You’re projecting, sport. Couldn’t care less what you are, or she is. Actually, I know what she is, and it ain’t pretty. And I’m not talking about her physical qualities or her gender identity, because I neither know nor care what it is.
I’m not stupid enough to think someone’s sexual identity has anything to do with their politics. But I’ll call you a fuckstick if you prefer.
“Idiot, fuckhole, and especially r2d2 – very transphobic of YOU!” Huh?
No idea how you made this judgment.
The knock on this Rep. that resonates through all her work is she is skilled grifter and she never met a check she wouldn’t be happy to cash :).