Delaware Political Weekly: June 14-20, 2024
1. Meaningless Endorsements. We’re in Captain Obvious territory here: Any endorsements that take place after a primary has been resolved are meaningless. Or, in some cases, pathetic. Or perhaps you missed the e-mail that John Carney has now endorsed Sarah McBride. Yo, John, you endorsed Eugene Young. Everybody knows that you and Sarah get along as well as Carper and Minner did. Hey, didja know that Nancy Pelosi endorsed Sarah? After Eugene dropped out? Who the fuck was she gonna endorse? Sorry, some political stuff just gets on my nerves.
2. Yet Another Out-Of-State PAC Files To Support BHL. This one is called ‘Workers For A New Delaware’. W-wait a minute. That 1811 Chestnut Street Philly address looks familiar. Be right back–well, lookee here. The new PAC has the exact same address–right down to the suite #, 305 to be specific, as Jimmy Cauley’s First State Forward PAC. The treasurer of record is one Thomas ‘Doc’ Sweitzer. Wanna see who he is? This guy. His firm’s specialty?:
Whether you’re facing media scrutiny, a major reputational risk or a byzantine regulatory maze, we know how to get you on the right path – and how to communicate it to the audiences that matter.
Hmmm, more trouble brewing for BHL? One can only hope.
3. Three More Primaries. In two cases, incumbent Republicans filed this past week, and face already-filed primary challengers. Hmmm, both in districts that cross over between Kent and Suxco. Probably not a coincidence. Anyway, Dave Wilson of the undistinguished Wilson clan has filed for reelection in SD 18, where he will face Bob Reed, who we’ve previously discussed here. Rep. Bryan Shupe has filed for reelection in RD 36, where he will face challenger Patrick Smith, also previously discussed here. Looks like Shupe’s district is now completely in Suxco, although it previously included portions of Milford.
Oh, the Democratic primary–perennial candidate Ade Adewunmi Kuforiji has filed to face Tracey Miller in RD 34, the winner to face Lyndon Yearick in this Kent County district. Kuforiji lost to Yearick in 2018, getting about 41% of the vote; edged out one Bob Haynes in a 2020 D primary for the same seat, then lost to Yearick, this time with about 43% of the vote; then lost in yet another rematch with Yearick in 2022, this time garnering 38%. I remember writing back in 2018 that his race against Yearick could be one to watch. But he didn’t raise any money, didn’t seem to try. I think that Miller, at least on paper, could give Yearick a run for his money. Anybody have inside skinny on this race?
4. Shane Darby Gets Primary Challenger. Hmmm, why is my Spidey Sense tingling? His name is John Johnson Jr. I found at least three John Johnson Jr’s in Wilmington who could be this John Johnson Jr. Can one of you tell me (a) which JJJ this is; and (b) why they would run against arguably Delaware’s best city councilperson? Is this retribution from Nnamdi? Are the Potters involved? I want facts, pipples? Or, failing that, juicy innuendo will suffice.
5. Filings. D Lisa Blunt Rochester for United States Senate; R Donyale Hall for US Representative; State Rep. Rae Moore (D-RD 8); State Rep. Kim Williams (D-RD 19).
That’s all I’ve got this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?
BHL is such a mystery to me. With no real ideological north star, she is on the retail politics brand building grind 24/7. As a result everyone who has ever worked with her on anything is a fan. But she seems to go out of the way to test that fandom.
Her prodigious energy is only matched by her self sabotage.
She has a fine resume – for head of the Department of Health. Nobody has yet explained to me how her expertise in that field is supposed to translate to the duties of a governor.
Even her supporters cite as a credential her ability to bring people together. That’s not the job. The job is to lead, and to do that you need an agenda. Her lack of any bold proposals signals her agenda is simply to “stay the course,” which has been the agenda of two of her three immediate predecessors. But “stay the course” can win with a plurality if the “change” vote is split.
I thought Doc Sweitzer was dead. Is there a nursing home where all of these people are hanging out? Is that where she’s finding them? Good lord. 1998 called and they’d like bullock and houghton and sweitzer back please.
Forget all of the alleged crimes. The campaign itself appears to be an absolute disaster that she’s going to consultant and PAC her way out of? Holy moly it’s such a mess.
You know, I’m really grateful for Ruth Ann Minner. Because if not for Minner, BHL would be hitting the “first woman governor” thing really hard about now: “In a year of historic firsts….”
Thank you, thank you.
For 15 years I’ve been trying to figure out why we should be thankful for Ruth Ann Minner. You’ve finally provided the answer.
I don’t care what anyone says – Minner was horrible but did get out in front of the clean indoor air act before anyone else
Her first term was not bad at all. However, her second term was rife with the rewarding of insiders with no-show positions. And morphing into a Delaware Way insider who did favors for the connected class.
Darby won a 4 way primary in 2020 and the person who came in second was named John Johnson, Jr. I’m betting it’s the same guy ( or a heck of a coincidence) . Wilmington City Council District 2
Democratic
Candidate Name Machine Votes Absentee Votes Total Votes Percentage
SHANE DARBY 795 338 1,133 53.07 %
JOHN JOHNSON JR. 293 205 498 23.33 %
DOROTHY KING 80 87 167 7.82 %
BILLY LANE JR. 223 114 337 15.78 %
I’m betting you’re correct.
You almost always are!
Interesting. Buried on his DSEA campaign page and not his personal page where it probably would have been more widely viewed.
dissent among the teachers?
https://www.facebook.com/Matthews4DSEA/posts/pfbid0378dvPMgmbHmbjb4JZdXU9rfuQ6cxbE2jakyAQ7mE4bN7Jr7trH9zDyrEx4gbBQBcl
That IS interesting. There are quite a few Mike Matthews fans on here. I am one of them.
I feel that what he’s written is so important that I will post it in its entirety:
“Last week, the DSEA Executive Board endorsed Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long in the three-way Democratic Primary for governor by a vote of 18 yes, 5 no, and 1 abstention. In my role as Executive Board member from New Castle County, I asked a number of questions during our last few Board meetings, seeking clarity on some alarming campaign finance news over the last year where $200,000 of Lt. Gov. Hall-Long’s campaign monies were called into question in a series of articles by WHYY’s Cris Barrish.
Barrish’s reporting has been exhaustive. And truly concerning through a fiscal transparency lens. I will not get into all of the details of those articles here…they are linked in the comments. However, I have not been satisfied with Lt. Gov. Hall-Long’s offering up amended campaign finance reports as “proof” that there was no wrongdoing.
Delaware has extremely lax campaign finance laws that require little to no accounting or oversight on the transactions that are entered into the reports. So, quite frankly, making $200,000 worth of amendments to YEARS of campaign finance reports should not be taken as gospel that everything is honky dory. I asked DSEA leadership to ask the Hall-Long campaign for receipts such as credit card statements or canceled checks to verify the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in amended transactions; these receipts were not provided.
I will not go into further details via a Facebook post. All I will say is I was prepared to make a motion of “no endorsement,” but an endorsement for Lt. Gov. Hall-Long had already been made and there was no reason to believe a majority of members of the Board would have supported my substitute motion.
The reason I’m posting this is because I support democracy. As a member of the DSEA Executive Board, I will support the endorsement in my Board capacity, but I cannot in my individual capacity. I have been approached by many members over the last few months about this gubernatorial campaign. Many of our members are supporting Lt. Gov. Hall-Long. Other members are supporting Matt Meyer, Collin O’Mara, or the GOP candidates. And that’s OK. There have been many times my own preferences haven’t aligned with our union and we move on.
The difference here is that DSEA is, I believe, the gold standard for union endorsements in Delaware. However, I’m definitely biased. I do not believe that Lt. Gov. Hall-Long’s campaign satisfactorily responded to either the Barrish articles or requests to provide more detailed information on the transactions of her amended finance reports. If even a scintilla of the Barrish reporting is true, then I do not believe Lt. Gov. Hall-Long holds the integrity needed to be our next governor.
Yes, that’s a truly difficult thing for me to say, as I have long respected Lt. Gov. Hall-Long’s advocacy work in Delaware and I believe she still has many great things to do for our state. For me, transparency and integrity are key characteristics in any of our elected officials and I believe that is missing from the campaign of our now-endorsed candidate.
This will be my final public posting on this endorsement. If DSEA MEMBERS from New Castle County would like to chat with me in my role as their representative to the Board, then I would love to do so. If you are not pleased with this vote (or any vote by our Board!) then it’s imperative you use the tools of democracy to contact your county’s Board members and ask them any questions you may have. And then, when elections for either leadership or Board seats come up, vote…vote…vote!
And one more thing: If you want to do something, contact your Representative and Senator about Rep. Eric Morrison’s EXCELLENT HB 292, which would require the Department of Elections to review EVERY political committee’s contribution and expense reports. This would go a long way towards building trust and transparency in our state’s campaign finance system. Link in the comments.
Have a great summer, everyone!”
On the race in the 34th…Tracey actually has a chance since she is out there banging on doors and going to events. She is upbeat and energetic. Kuforiji has run multiple campaigns where he gets in the race and does not campaign or raise money. Yearick is unliked and unseen in his district but there has been no one down there offering an alternative. Tracey is definitely a liberal and helps run a non-profit. Her wife is a physician and well respected in the area. The district numbers have also moved quite a bit in the last couple decades so that there should be more advantage to a Dem. If Tracey wins the primary, the district will be flipped. If Kuforiji wins, Yearick will win by a landslide again (at least 30%).
That’s what I wanted to know–is she hitting the doors?
If so, she should handily win the primary.
I live in the 34th. The comment that that Yearick is unliked and unseen couldn’t be further from the truth. He is a very active representative. However he could be beat given he is to the right of many. Tracy is too liberal for the 34th though and she hasn’t been to my door yet. Ade came to my door during his first run and he was very nice and sincere and is not as far left. It’s a shame he hasn’t done better at the ballot box.
Well, you’re a Republican, you’ve run for office as a Republican, and you’ve been our R Kent County commenter for some time.
Not sure why you’d expect Tracey Miller to knock on your door during a D primary.
Just thought the readers might like to place your comments in perspective. You’re hardly a disinterested observer.
Actually I’m a democrat now check the registration
Sure you are. Doesn’t matter what your registration is, you’re no progressive and hence your opinions are going to be taken with a large portion of salt.
I would think that the public has a right to know why $3 million is given to the Del. Turf scam while the same Chair of the JFC and the Senate Finance Committee that helped that giveaway is personally blocking consideration of a much less $800,000 startup for the Office of Inspector General. This move has stalled consideration of the independent OIG and that needs some explaining. Would an O.I.G. threaten to expose some problems in that area? Would an O.I.G. threaten some exposure of the swampland Delaware City debacle? How about OIG consideration of campaign finance moves or investigation into the Dept. of Labor embezzlement. How about a looksee into Carney’s attack on the rights and promises made to retirees? We should have nothing to hide from the taxpayers of Delaware and the taxpayers’ have every “pennies/dollars” worth of rights that the electeds’ and appointeds’ have to see and know.
Retired Rep. John Kowalko