Delaware Political Weekly: Week Ending January 8, 2026
“We are kings of our bikes. So, we are again really lucky to live in Rehoboth, when we park a car, we have to get back into the car. We can hop on our bikes and our ritual is that we are always biking from our home to L(ewe)s. We do a little bit of walking around, a little bit of margarita, a little bit of good food – there’s amazing food then bike right back. So the ritual, on our bikes, every chance we can, any place we can go, and eliminate the cars.”–Dan Cruce.
1. R State Senator David Lawson Announces Retirement. (Hmmm, does that leave Franklin Cooke as the only ex-cop left in the General Assembly?) Ex-cop, ex(?)- gun range owner won’t seek reelection. We’ll likely find out if anybody is an improvement on Lawson. The district is almost certain to remain in Republican hands. Back in 2020, D Jaci Hugg did about as well as you could expect from a D challenger in the 15th SD–she garnered about 45% of the vote against Lawson. The district became more Republican following the 2022 redistricting, and it made sense to do so in order to shore up adjacent districts that were more hospitable to Democrats. The current registration numbers in the western Kent County district are: 11,152 D; 14,251 R; 14,350 I.
Annnd–just like that, one Emily Thompson has filed for that SD 15 seat. Yes, she’s a Republican. Here is the statement announcing her candidacy:
Family, friends, and neighbors,
I am a lifelong resident of Delaware’s 15th Senate District, where my family has lived, worked, and built small businesses for generations. This community shaped my values, strengthened my commitment to service, and has always been home. After deep reflection and many meaningful conversations, I have officially filed to be a candidate for the Delaware State Senate in District 15, motivated by a deep belief in our community and a commitment to building a stronger future for our families.
I’m running to serve our community with honesty, common sense, and a deep respect for the people who make Delaware strong. That means accountability in government spending, protecting family farms and small businesses, and strengthening education and early support so families get help when it matters most.
I want to share something important as I make this announcement. Senator Dave Lawson, who has faithfully served this district for many years, has become a mentor and a dear friend to me. I have learned so much from his example of service, integrity, and dedication to this community. It is my sincere hope to serve District 15 in the same thoughtful, committed way he has, and to honor the leadership legacy he has built.
Over the coming weeks, I look forward to listening, learning, and sharing more about how we can move Delaware forward together. I’m grateful for your support and excited about what we can accomplish together.
At first glance, potentially an upgrade over Lawson.
2. Janet Kilpatrick Reconsidering Retirement? I remain skeptical, but I’ve heard it from two different sources. What we need is a Democrat who will stand against the mega-data centers. Ain’t a lot of Tim Sheldon’s construction trades voters in that Hockessin/Greenville councilmanic district. That issue alone should be enough to retire Kilpatrick, one way or another. All we need now is a credible candidate…
3. El Somnambulo Surfs The Campaign Finance Reports So That You Don’t Have To. This week’s highlights, according to me:
Colleen Davis has spent her remaining campaign funds.
Kids, check out the report from Sheet Metal Workers Local 19. They report total receipts of $51,099.90 for the year, and, get this, allegedly without a single donation above $100. I smell shenanigans. BTW, probably a misprint, but a $5000 contribution went to “House Of Democrats”. I love stuff like this. Although a contribution to “3-D House Of Stewardesses” would have been cooler. Might have even earned the fellas at the Sheet Metal Lodge those complimentary 3-D glasses.
Claire Snyder-Hall raised over $54 K this year, almost all of it from within her district. One of the healthiest reports I’ve seen so far.
R Mark Pugh, who is seeking a rematch with Sen. Kyra Hoffner in SD 14, raised $19K this year. A respectable amount, which is to be expected, as he came very close last time and is not currently facing any primary opposition. I suspect that Hoffner may report an even larger war chest. This could be one of the most competitive races of the cycle.
That’s all I’ve got this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?
Nisha Lodhavia has already announced at the Kent County meeting that she is running for the Lawson seat as a Dem. Jaci Hugg was really hitting it hard in the 15th and probably won had it not been for Covid 19. She had huge groups door knocking and volunteering until the mandates kicked in.
If a Union member (Local 19) has $1 0r $2 taken out of their check per week and sent to the Local’s PAC fund, not unusual at all for no persons over $100.
Not buying it. I’ve looked at a lot of campaign finance statements, quite a few from union PAC’s. Never seen anything quite like this.
Exactly how many members does Local 19 have anyway? Because, if each each contributor gave exactly $99, there would have to be 516 sheet metal workers to do so.
They have a couple thousand members.
Not in Delaware. The local also represents Pa and NJ.
Plus, I went onto their website and checked their dues structure. Saw no provision for an earmarked weekly contribution for their PAC:
https://www.smartlu19.org/pay-dues/
I say it still stinks. Would like some clarity. It sure appears to be a way around disclosure requirements.
Spotlight Delaware has an article about the building trades targeting Dave Carter with Chris Muntz.
Asked about a potential for artificial intelligence to take jobs away from swaths of the economy, Muntz said growth of the industry is inevitable. Because of that, he said, Delaware policy-makers should work to secure near-term economic benefits by ensuring that data centers are built in the state, and not in Maryland or Pennsylvania.
“We’re not stopping this,” Muntz said of the growth of data centers and artificial intelligence. “I mean, this is another industrial revolution.”
Not yet it’s not, and not in the immediate future, either. According to what I’ve read, the demand is nowhere near what it needs to be for all this investment to eventually pay off. Building one of the biggest centers in the country has the potential to be the biggest Delaware City boondoggle in history, which will be saying something.
It’s time to bury the trade unions as allies. They’re not progressive and never will be.
https://spotlightdelaware.org/2026/01/09/trade-unions-reenter-county-politics-amid-fight-over-data-center-development
When was the last time a buncha trade union guys won an election in Delaware? When Tim Sheldon won his seat on council something like 20 years ago?
For all of Maravelias’ macho posturing, they lose almost every time. On merit. And piss away a lot of money doing it.
I’ll grant that, but once in the system these guys are hard to get out. Tim “bricks for brains” Sheldon does *below the bare minimum* for his constituents yet his seat has remained safe all this time. I can’t recall the last time he has attended a community y meeting of his own volition.
whoever you are Anon who sits behind a desk in a basement. You have no idea what I have done the last 21 years. 2,184committee meetings,546 council meetings 2250 civic meetings. 4 just this week,80,191 incoming phone calls, 82,591 out going calls from my office.101250 incoming emails,103,572 outgoing emails. This plus meeting constituents on there properties helping them navigate problems. Thank you Brook Banta for making me but my phone on a counter system so if someone like Anon says smart remarks but are lies I can tell the truth!
Impressive list but what did you actually do? But hey you cal flip the bird with the best of them😎
I’d say that tire-slashing requires at least SOME expertise…
I just get reelected Joe that says it all. Community work can do that. Remember all that bad flooding in 2004. My $ 17 million flood ordinance fixed that. Responsible contracting ordinance and all politics are local. I have also had great legislative assistances
Reaching back 22 years to point out a single “accomplishment” really says it all!
You’ve got a point there. Can’t do much without great legislative assistances.