Delaware Political Weekly: Week Ending March 26, 2026

1.  Check Out This Prospective D Candidate In RD 23!  This is the Newark-area district currently represented by Mara Gorman, who is running for SD 8, where President Pro-Tem Dave Sokola is retiring.  Another D has filed a committee for this race, and I’m very intrigued.  His name is David Redlawsk.  He is the Chair Of the UD Department Of Political Science And International Relations, and is the James R. Soles Professor there.  Which reminds me–when Jim Soles ran for Congress against Pete duPont, he attracted a new generation of student volunteers, several of whom went on to significant careers in politics.

I know what you’re thinking–isn’t this guy overqualified to be a state legislator?  Not as much as you might think.  One notable trend over the past several years has been an increase in members with higher education levels and/or a higher degree of community leadership. Fewer hacks, although plenty still abound. I found this interesting:

Dr. Redlawsk’s research focuses on the role of information and emotions in voter decision making. His most recent research aims to examine how moral values influence voters and the ways local elected officials engage with moral principles in decision making. 

He’ll have quite a bit to study in Dover if he’s elected to office.

Two other D’s have already filed.  They are LuAnn D’Agostino and Dan Seador, both of whom have qualified for the primary ballot.

2.  Dr. Michael (‘Mike’) Katz’ Wandering In The Political Desert Is Now Complete.  From Democrat (where he was once a one-term State Senator, a ‘courageous’ one, according to his campaign page), to Independent candidate for several offices, to his ultimate destination.  He has qualified for the primary ballot as a Republican candidate for United States Senator,  and he will face one John Shulli in a primary.  Shulli invokes a Hegseth-like muscularity in his campaign pronouncements.  Dr. Mike Katz stands, well, pretty much for his election.  Here’s his website, I’ll leave it to you to decide.  But it looks like gobbledygook to me.  Having said that, this is the post-Christine O’Donnell Rethuglican Party we’re talking about, so I think I have a pretty good idea how this campaign will turn out.  Perhaps that journey in the wilderness is not quite over yet.

3.  It’s Official: Pam Salaam Has Qualified For The Ballot.  She takes on incumbent Franklin Cooke, whose only constituents are his cop buddies, in this showdown in RD 16, a south Wilmington/New Castle area district.  Yes, you can contribute, you can volunteer.  Right here.   This is a very winnable race.

4.  Rae Krantz Qualifies For The Ballot.  One of my faves.  She’s running for the RD 6 seat currently held by Deb Heffernan, who has not yet filed, but is likely to.  This Brandywine-area district features Bellefonte and the communities along Marsh Road as it runs from Veale Road down towards the river.  You say you want to contribute?  You say you want to volunteer?  You can do it all right here.

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