Delaware Political Weekly: February 10-15, 2024

Only six days this week b/c of my delayed report last week.  But we have more news and speculation/innuendo this week than last week.

1.  Matt Meyer Lands Political Heavyweight As Campaign Manager.  Generally I am loathe (to borrow a word from the supercilious Greg Lavelle) to attribute much weight to someone’s campaign manager.  We’re generally talking semi-anonymous nomadic political operatives who win some/lose some.  However, check out who Meyer has hired:

The Meyer for Governor campaign is thrilled to announce Nick Merlino as the Campaign Manager. With a proven track record of winning tough races, especially Democratic primaries, Merlino brings invaluable experience and strategic insight to lead our team.

Merlino joins the Meyer for Governor campaign after most recently serving as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Campaign Manager, leading the campaign from polling at 2.3% in December 2022 to a historic victory – unseating an incumbent mayor for the first time in over 50 years. Prior to that, Merlino managed gubernatorial and congressional campaigns in Florida. In cycles past, Merlino has managed Congressional campaigns in Red-to-Blue battleground districts in Texas and Georgia.

I remember that race.  Progressive Democrats, especially younger voters, led the grassroots campaign to a close victory:

The 47 year old Cook County commissioner will become the 57th mayor of Chicago in a come-from-behind victory by a candidate who was largely unknown six months ago.

The youth vote was crucial for Johnson’s victory. Current numbers from the Chicago Board of Elections shows voters 18 to 34 cast more than 9,500 ballots Tuesday than they did in the February 28 election. With mail-in ballots still being counted, that increase could end up being 20,000 or more.

“It was monumental,” he said. “You saw it, and that’s the type of excitement that we need, right? Think about the number of people in my generation or older that are constantly pushing young people to get engaged. And we did that.”

If Merlino can harness that kind of energy in Delaware, Meyer will be in a strong position.

2.  Stell Parker Selby Faces Strong R Challenger.

In fact, if she’s not an RWNJ, I’d make the challenger the favorite.  Her name is Nikki Miller.  Former Principal of Cape Henlopen HS, then Superintendent of the Seaford School District.  She seems to have been pretty darn popular.   Why she’s a Republican is beyond me.  Perhaps my Sussex Spies can provide more context.  Parker Selby is a first-term representative who won the seat that had been vacated by ex-cop/Pete pal Steve Smyk.  She defeated R Dallas Wingate, 6635-6264. 

3.  More Hi-jinx In RD 14?  Somebody, I think it’s almost certainly Pete Schwartzkopf, has underwritten a poll asking voters in RD 14 to state their preference for the vacant seat between Democrats Marty Rendon and Clair Snyder-Hall, and Republican Ernie Lopez.  What’s unusual, of course, is that Lopez ‘retired’ after having admitted an affair with disgraced former State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness. I don’t know whether it was a push poll.  However, were Lopez to decide to run, I’d welcome a push poll with a question not unlike the following:

“Now, let me tell you that Sen. Lopez was thrown out of his house after his wife found out that he’d shacked up with convicted former state auditor Kathy McGuiness.  Let me ask once again, who would you support?”

Perhaps Pete is trying to convince Lopez to run.  Perhaps Pete has given up on the idea of KMG running.  Perhaps he envisions them running as a ticket.  You know, kinda like the Clintons: “Two miscreants for the price of one.”

All I know is that Pete doesn’t want to see a progressive taking his place while his Kop Kabal Koalition hangs by a thread.

Sussex Spies:  What are you hearing?  Meanwhile, I got this from the Snyder-Hall campaign on Feb. 8:

Greetings!

This time last week, we launched our campaign, and we never imagined how fantastic our first week would be! Frankly, we are overwhelmed with the outpouring of support.

✔ Thanks to the generosity of friends, we raised over $10,000 in less than a week — $10,022 to be exact!!!

✔ Our launch made the 10 and 11 o’clock news on WMDT, as well as Good Morning Delmarva!

✔ We are already out knocking on doors and have been warmly received. Have you seen the video of my first knock on YouTube?

✔ Our social media is up and running, including Facebook, Instagram, and X! Please follow us and like or repost our posts.

✔ People are already organizing meet & greets, where I can talk with their friends and neighbors!

✔ AND we have over 30 volunteers on the list to help with various tasks – like driving me around for door-knocking, writing letters to the editor to support our campaign, organizing meet & greets, hosting fundraisers, stuffing envelope, texting, and phone-banking…

I want to be the first woman to represent the people of RD14 in Dover, & with your help, we can do it!

4.  Q: Who Is The Only Candidate For Governor Currently On The Election Ballot?  A: Republican Jerrold Price.  That’s right, kids.  None of the announced D candidates have yet filed for the ballot.

5. Val Gould Files Committee For NCC Council President.  Hmmm, at first blush, an intriguing candidate, which would make the first intriguing candidate in the race.  Quite the combination of an environmental justice background while also serving as a school music director.  I believe that State Rep. Sophie Phillips was in the same Environmental Justice program as Gould.  Gotta say, looking forward to meeting them.  Maybe it’s just me, but we could sure use someone with an abiding commitment to environmental justice on New Castle County Council.

6. Filings: D Senator Russ Huxtable, SD 6;  D Rep. Paul Baumbach, RD 23;  Brenda Wootten, D, For Kent County Clerk Of The Peace; R Sussex County Councilman Mark Schaeffer, CD 3.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?