The Return Of The Delaware Political Sometimes Weekly: Thursday, September 18, 2025

I was able to scrape together this list of currently filed and/or announced candidates as a starting point.  I know of several more real good candidates who are running, but I honor embargo requests:

SD 1: Adriana Leela Bohm has filed for this seat.  She will challenge part-time Rehoboth resident Dan Cruce.  Wilmington Party insiders have twice denied Bohm’s nomination–first, when she sought to fill out the term of disgraced former State Rep Gerald Brady, and second when she sought the nomination to run for the Senate seat that was vacated by Sarah McBride.  Meaning, for the first time, Democratic voters will get the opportunity to select a non-drone over the machinationss of the insiders.  Check out her background.  I mean, she’d be perfect in the State Senate.

RD 1: Shane Darby will run against Nnamdi Chukwuocha.  Yes, Nnamdi apparently is running, whether he has his heart in it or not.  How do I know?  Because the House Democratic Caucus ‘leadership’ is sponsoring a fundraiser for him later this month.  At the home of a top Richards, Layton & Finger litigator.  Make no mistake–the ‘House Democratic leadership’ is/are well aware that their iron fist control of the Caucus is at risk here and elsewhere.  Nnamdi has been a passive enabler of this crew.  ‘Passive’ describes the kind of legislator he’s been. The ‘Musk-pass’ legislation is likely why a corporate litigator is hosting this event.

A brief detour: A new PAC has filed with the Department Of Elections.  It is called ‘Wilmington Strong’.  It is merely a front for, well. I report, you decide.  While its stated purpose is, and I quote, “dedicated to advancing bold, community-centered, and forward-looking leadership in Wilmington and across Delaware”, it is in fact run by one Javier Horstmann, whose curriculum vitae suggests that ‘forward-looking leadership’ is the last thing this PAC is seeking.  By my count, he’s been tied to Delaware’s Worst Governor Ever, now Wilmington’s Most Uninterested Mayor ever, since 2017.  Before that, he was an intern for, wait for it, then-Congressman John Carney.  Gonna go out on a limb here–the purpose of this PAC will be, in part to keep drones like Nnamdi and Dan Cruce in office.  Prove me wrong.  (Hmmm, guess I reported and decided.)

RD 4: D Gregg Lindner, who ran in 2024 for this Suxco seat, has announced that he will run for this seat in 2026.  The incumbent is Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R).  Lindner got 42% of the vote in 2024.

SD 5: Much like what happened in SD 1, Ray Siegfried was chosen at a Democratic Party Caucus to run for the seat being vacated by then newly-elected Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay.  He triumphed over Second Amendment gun-nut Brett Burdge in the Special Election.  Challenger Shay Frisby, who lost an exceedingly-close vote at that Caucus, has been running ever since.  While Ray, as a retired Christiana Care Bean-counter, has predictably used his office to try to foil the efforts of the Hospital Cost Containment Board, Shay has run on a progressive platform.  Truth In Advertising: I’ve been volunteering for Shay since her campaign began (Yes, that’s me in that profoundly-disturbing Christmas sweater).  I knock on doors pretty much every Saturday as part of our team.  Shay has also been sponsoring community events, including food giveaways.  She has quite the inclusive personality, which is reflected in her campaign.  She reminds me a lot of Kamela Smith.  That’s a compliment.

RD 9: Two Democrats have filed to take on R Kevin Hensley in this Middletown-area district.  In alphabetical order by last name, we have Gemma Lowery. Looks to me like she’s pretty well-qualified.  And Michelle Wall. Looks good as well, although I don’t know whether her service on the Appoquinimink School Board will prove to be a liability.  I honestly don’t know either candidate.

RD 12: D Dr. Robert Bahnsen has filed for the seat currently held by D Krista Griffith.  I briefly met Dr. Bahnsen while campaigning for Shay Frisby.  If he’s willing to knock doors, he should have an excellent chance to take out Elon Musk’s preferred incumbent.

SD 14: R Mark Pugh, who has run for office before, has filed for the Senate seat currently held by Kyra Hoffner.  Pugh got 48.2% of the vote in that 2022 contest, so he could be a rare R challenger with a chance to win.

RD 38: D Maureen Madden has filed.  The seat is currently held by the aptly-named Ronald Gray.  Madden is a retired NASA Physicist.  That’s right–a rocket scientist.

If I missed anybody, please share.  However, please don’t share names of those who have not announced yet.  Also, if you’re aware of anyone who will not seek election, please share.

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