The press release in its entirety:
NORTH WILMINGTON — State Senator Kyle Evans Gay announced Thursday morning her campaign to become Delaware’s next Lieutenant Governor.
A mom of two young girls, attorney, and leader in Delaware’s nonprofit sector, Kyle has served in the Delaware General Assembly representing the 5th Senatorial District in North Wilmington and Claymont. Since her election in 2020 when she flipped a long-held Republican seat, Senator Gay quickly established herself as a leading lawmaker in the state, passing a wide-ranging slate of legislation, including policies to reduce childcare costs, protect voting rights, and expand abortion access.
“Delaware families know that raising kids is hard work, and it’s harder when the deck is stacked against working parents and working people. It’s what drove me to run for the State Senate, where I worked to pass bills that make it easier for Delawareans to afford the basics and raise a family,” said Kyle Evans Gay. “From defending Delawareans’ voting rights to dramatically expanding abortion rights, I’ve seen what’s possible when new leaders forge a better future for our state. But Delawareans know we have a lot more work to do. That’s why I’m running for Lieutenant Governor: to make sure Delaware works for working people.”
Public service has been at the center of Kyle’s work long before she ever held public office. She began her professional career as a Deputy Attorney General in the Delaware Department of Justice before clerking in Delaware Superior Court. Since then, she has worked in private practice, representing clients in Delaware’s business courts and practicing pro bono on behalf of children in Delaware’s foster care system. As Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, she spearheaded criminal justice reforms and child protection measures, and during her tenure as Chair of the Senate Elections Committee, she forged a coalition to deliver historic voting rights protections.
In the legislature and as a founding board member of First State Abortion Fund, Kyle has worked closely with lawmakers and advocates to defend Delawareans’ abortion rights from Republican attacks, particularly in the aftermath of the Supreme Court Dobbs decision. Among the protections she sponsored were legislation to increase the number of abortion providers and protect abortion providers from extradition to anti-choice states.
In addition, Kyle led the charge to secure historic funding for early childhood educational investments in the state budget and ensure health and safety standards are met by care providers across the state. A recent report found that Delaware parents pay an average of $11,695 yearly for center-based care, accounting for 10 percent of a couple’s median income and 34 percent of a single mother’s median income. Earlier this year she hosted a town hall series, meeting with childcare providers, parents, and business leaders in all three counties to find solutions to make childcare more affordable and accessible across the state.
To learn more about Kyle’s campaign, visit kylefordelaware.com.
Let me add–she’s very smart. (Meaning, at least smarter than me.) And, based on her monthly coffees, she has a mastery of what’s going on and what is possible. She has an unusual combination of progressive policy positions and mainstream support.
Make no mistake–she doesn’t aspire to merely be Lt. Governor. So I guess it makes sense for her to get her feet wet by running statewide. She immediately becomes the favorite in this race. She’ll raise gobs of money from Democratic members of the Delaware Bar alone. She won’t be satisfied being a figurehead, so it will be interesting to see what additional duties the new governor gives her, and/or what territory she carves out for her own.
What concerns me, of course, is what kind of a void her potentially leaving the Senate, along with the possibility that Sarah McBride (who had a long flirtation with a run for Lt. Gov.) will also depart, will cause to the engine of progressivism that has been the Delaware State Senate. Kyle’s district has become safer than when she first defeated Cathy Cloutier. Sarah and Kyle will have the opportunity to help determine their successors, should they win. In both cases, there would be special elections to choose the next state senators. The impacted committees would choose the candidates. I know who I’d like to see run for Kyle’s seat. Which would then necessitate a House special election should my choice win. Hmmm, I might get a chance to help choose Kyle’s successor and, um, Larry’s successor, if things break right.
We need to recognize that times have changed. Being an active and visible state legislator is fast becoming a possible stepping-stone to higher office, which it never used to be. Why now? Because we have several people of superior background and accomplishment in Dover than we’ve had before. Marie Pinkney is in the same class of Sarah and Kyle.
Anyway, I’m supporting Kyle (and Sarah). Although…I suspect that most of my grassroots campaigning will be for legislative candidates. Because my priority is getting progressive House leadership by electing more progressives to the House–and excising those who have buried progressive policies in the House.
But that’s for another day. Best wishes, Kyle. You have my support.