1. R Nikki Miller Drops Out Of RD 20 Race. I’m surprised, TBH. She almost beat Stell Parker Selby in 2024, and she almost beat Alonna Berry in the 2025 Special Election to replace the terminally-absent Selby. This leaves, as of now, no Republican clallenger in this race. Although, alleged Democrat Ruby Schaeffer has filed to challenge incumbent D Rep. Alonna Berry. Perhaps she’ll officially revert to the dark side. A quote from Miller:
In a Facebook post announcing her decision, Miller described her recent campaign as incredible experiences “filled with memorable moments, from events and fundraisers to meeting remarkable individuals in our community.”
Miller, a lifelong educator who is supervisor of instruction with the Seaford School District and previously served as principal of Cape High, said she is choosing to focus on education and her work with students, teachers and the community where she believes she can make a real impact.
“I’m deeply grateful to everyone who supported and encouraged me throughout this journey,” she said. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, grateful for the experience and excited for what’s next.”
2. It’s Official–Shay Frisby Is On The Ballot! As a Democrat for the SD 5 seat that encompasses Claymont, the Ardens, and much of Brandywine Hundred. Truth in advertising: I’ve volunteered on this campaign since we first started. Shay is an empath and a listener who has gotten results. She reminds me so much of Marie Pinkney and Kamela Smith. Here is her announcement:
WILMINGTON, Del. — Community organizer and public servant Shay Frisby today announced her candidacy for the Delaware State Senate, seeking to represent Senate District 5, which includes Claymont, the Ardens, and Brandywine Hundred.
“I am running because working families, caregivers, and everyday workers deserve a senator who understands their struggles and will fight for policies that make their lives better. “I’ve always worked on behalf of the community, and I’m ready to continue that work in the Delaware General Assembly,” Frisby said.
“Now I have the opportunity to go to Dover and put my experience into legislation—to turn the lessons I’ve learned into real policy change,” Frisby said.
Frisby’s professional experience reflects her deep commitment to service and advocacy. She organized and mobilized more than 500 childcare providers across Delaware, uniting early childhood professionals to successfully advocate for workforce sustainability, economic fairness, and policies that support both providers and working parents.
“Childcare providers are essential workers and the backbone of our economy, yet they are too often overlooked,” Frisby said. “Organizing alongside them reinforced my belief that when we bring people together, we can create lasting change.”
As the former Program Manager for Stand by Me, a joint State/United Way program, Shay provided financial literacy skills to families.
Frisby works directly with constituents to navigate Delaware’s social service system—helping families access the resources and support they need. This hands-on work has given her an intimate understanding of how state policies affect everyday people and where the system falls short.
As a trainer and supervisor for the State of Delaware, Frisby supports teams delivering critical public services, and helps ensure state systems respond with care and accountability to individuals and families in crisis.
Her campaign centers on four key priorities:
- Protecting working families from being forced out of their neighborhoods
- Supporting caregivers and workers with fair wages and sustainable working conditions
- Ensuring transparency and accountability in government decision-making
- Making childcare accessible and affordable for working families
“Our district deserves leadership that doesn’t just talk about working families—but actually comes from and fights for them,” Frisby said. “I’m ready to bring that voice to Dover.”
Frisby is actively seeking volunteers and community input as she builds her campaign. To support Shay’s grassroots campaign or volunteer, visit TogetherWithShay.com.”
I might also add, to contribute. Now that she’s on the ballot, there’s never been a better time.
3. Spotlight Delaware’s Tim Carlin Previews The Race To Replace Kent County’s Dave Lawson. We’re talking Western Kent County’s SD 15, which has been solid R country since Lawson defeated Nancy Cook. Carlin does an excellent job in looking at a race where the two candidates may not be typical of the district:
Senate District 15, which spans the length of western Kent County, covers towns including Felton, Marydel and Harrington. With both a Democrat and a Republican now in the race, this year’s election could be the first real litmus test of the district’s political leaning since boundaries were redrawn following the 2020 census.
As of this month, the district is home to nearly 40,000 registered voters. Of those voters, just less than 29% are registered Democrats. Nearly 36% are registered Republicans, and the rest are not affiliated with a political party.
But a Democratic challenger with institutional connections – Nisha Lodhavia – has already tossed her hat in the ring, setting up a contested election in the district for the first time in more than 15 years.
Lodhavia, a member of the University of Delaware’s Board of Trustees, announced her candidacy on the steps of Legislative Hall in January. She was joined by a slew of Kent County Democrats.
Lodhavia, a retired Delaware Technical Community College professor, has already raked in more than $16,000 in donations, according to her most recent campaign finance report.
The report includes campaign contributions from Nov. 10, 2025, through the end of last year. Although Lodhavia did not formally file to run for office until January, she was required to submit a report because she created a candidate committee last November in anticipation of her run, said a spokesperson for the Delaware Department of Elections.
In an interview with Spotlight Delaware, Lodhavia said her vision for the future of the 15th District includes investments in education, health care, small business, and making agriculture a “top priority.”
“And woven throughout all of that,” Lodhavia said, “is affordability.”
Though she has not sought elected office before, Lodhavia said she realized recently that her resume – from board service to volunteer work – has prepared her for it.
A self-described moderate Democrat, Lodhavia said her party affiliation was not a deterrent from choosing to run for State Senate. The issues at the heart of her campaign, she said, are not partisan. And making them so, she added, would only act as a roadblock to finding solutions.
“I feel like the time is now because my district needs change,” she said. “And I’m here for it.”
OK, kids, when I hear someone with these kind of connections proclaim that they’re a ‘moderate’ Democrat while mouthing the word ‘affordability’ (kids, saying the word itself doesn’t mean shit), the first phrase that comes to mind is ‘The Delaware Way’. Especially with ties to both UD and Del-Tech. Raising the question–are we better off with yet another Delaware Way legislator, or an R who appears to be much more reasonable than Lawson? The R candidate is Emily Thompson:
She explained that she had met the senator about six months before she officially filed to run in January. She expressed her interest in being his successor, and the pair began attending community events together so she could better “understand the political landscape.”
Through that work, Thompson said she has homed in on improving education and preserving the district’s agricultural community as two of her top priorities.
Thompson previously worked in child welfare, and now she oversees Delaware’s home visiting programs for young families through the state’s Division of Public Health. That work, she said, showed her just how few resources are available to children and their families.
If elected, Thompson said she wants to ensure families in Delaware schools understand what resources are available to them, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively and transparently to do so.
Along with education, Thompson, who grew up on her family’s horse farm, said she is passionate about preserving the agricultural footprint of the 15th district. If farmers are not supported, she said, more farmland will inevitably become housing developments or solar farms.
“If we don’t have policies and legislation in place, that financially supports farmers and makes it advantageous for them to continue farming … they obviously have to look at other avenues,” she said.
So. Looks like the entire Democratic establishment will be behind Lodhavia. Me? Just gonna watch this one from afar.
4. Filings: D NCC Councilman Dave Carter (CD 6); R State Rep. Lyndon Yearick (RD 34); D NCC Councilman Valerie George (CD 5) (will somebody primary the developers’ rubber stamp?); D Kent County Levy Court Commissioner Jeff Hall (District 2); R Suxco Recorder Of Deeds Alexandra Reed Baker.
That’s all I’ve got this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?