Frank Burns, who probably would have won in 2022 if Pete ‘n Val didn’t do everything they could to undercut him, returns for a rematch against Mike Ramone–if Ramone decides to run again.
Ramone has done himself no favors since the election, not only by voting against the Bond Bill while holding the House hostage so that corporations could vote in Seaford municipal elections, but by uttering the classic phrase:
“If you go to the birthday party, you’re watching those kids take all the cupcakes and all the candy and all this stuff and eat it, and you’re watching the other five kids be deprived of everything. Then, they finally are getting Skittles. And then suddenly the other kid runs and grabs the Skittles and says ‘I don’t want you to have that either.’
He was referencing Rethugs having to beg for crumbs because, well, they’re the minority. He also said:
(T)here’s no motivation for us to have to pass a bond bill.”
“As a matter of fact,” Ramone said, “I kind of hope we don’t pass a bond bill so we can get that $1.4 billion back in tax reductions to all the people.”
Instead of, you know, money for schools, roads, infrastructure, parks in his district. Burns will make sure that voters know about this.
Oh, forgot to mention the reason why Ramone opined that D’s opposed corporate voting:
Seaford is being “singled out, apparently as a means of punishing the city for opposing the establishment of a Planned Parenthood clinic there.” Well, that conforms with his anti-abortion obsession.
The district numbers are not Ramone’s friend: 8510 D; 5129 R; 5389 I. Here is the map.
Ramone edged Burns by 35 votes in 2022, with Burns getting a relatively late start. I see no way he beats Burns this time.
Enter Our PAL Val. She knows that a Burns win could pose an existential threat to her Speakership. She has granted this guy named Michael Smith (not that guy named Michael Smith, who’s facing a strong challenge from Nicky Beard) a leave of absence from his House job to primary Burns. Smith is the Staffer From Nowhere, appeared fully-formed on the House staff, and is now taking on Burns. Now, kids, keep in mind that Val has fired dozens of House staffers, but she’s gonna let this guy take a leave during an election year? Puh-leeze.
Smith called me out of Nowhere a few months back. You know, to introduce himself. I had only previously known him as a lurker on WFP chats. I asked him why he was primarying Burns. He could not provide a cogent answer. In prepping this piece, I stumbled on this comment that rings completely true to me:
Michael Smith is a faux-progressive house staffer who has openly been campaigning since before Pistol Pete gave him a job. This carpetbagger has zero shot of winning a general against Ramone, but caucus leadership has zero interest in beating him and love the idea of WFP and progressives having to waste their time on that primary instead of going after leadership allies.
Yep. Once he loses, he’ll likely go back to Oklahoma (or is it Arkansas? or is it Illinois?) from whence he came.
Frank Burns is a true progressive. Not only has he been endorsed by WFP, but he’s paid it forward by helping to train other progressive candidates.
Longhurst has good reason to fear a Burns victory. Making this race the Most Intriguing Legislative Race Of 2024.
For now…who knows what the future might bring?