1. Stephanie Bolden Draws Legit Progressive Challenger. Lest you’ve forgotten who Bolden is, please allow me to reintroduce her to you:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLqfsYdMsmz/?igsh=MWlwbXU1dXkwNm1qcg%3D%3D
I now introduce you to…Michelle Booker. This part of her statement particularly impresses me:
What I see in District 2 now breaks my heart. The drugs, the violence, the sex trafficking, families losing their homes to tax hikes, people who can’t afford the “affordable housing” being built in their own neighborhood. And for all the years this district has had representation (from Bolden), the conditions have only gotten worse.
I’m not running for a title or a paycheck. I’m running because what we’ve been doing isn’t working, and it’s time for a fresh mind — someone who has actually been in this community, who has lived these struggles, and who genuinely cares about the people in it. That’s me. And I’m not doing it alone — I’m running as a team with my husband, and we are ready to work.
That’s it in a nutshell. Seriously, what has Bolden done on behalf of the constituents she’s supposed to represent? If you’re a renter, she fought legislation to give you rights. If you’ve been the victim of predatory lenders, she’s supported by them. If, and only if, you’re in the tank for Buccini/Pollin, then she’s just your type. Perhaps, like them, you’ve helped to bankroll her.
She has never had a competitive race. Except–way back, she decided to primary Bob Marshall for the 3rd Senatorial District–got about 25% of the vote.
I think this race is eminently winnable. While late entries are generally not conducive to winning, when you’re running against someone who is generally invisible and has some pretty high negatives, it’s a different set of circumstances altogether. That’s why I like Keonna Watson‘s chances against self-dealer Nicole Poore. If anything, Michelle’s chances should be even stronger because a rep district is smaller, and this rep district is quite concentrated. Easy to campaign here. I’m really excited about this race. BTW, Booker’s ‘Donate’ button works. I checked.
2. The Dwayne Bensing Candidacy. It’s just my take, but I’m puzzled by it. If he had decided to run last year when he first considered, then opted against, it, that’s fine. It’s possible I’d support him. But looking at his website, other than ‘it’s time for a new generation of leaders’, I see no reason for his candidacy. More than pretty much any elected official, Jennings has fought the Trump Administration at every turn. I could be wrong, but I don’t really see a path for him to succeed this year, and it might redound against him if/when he decides to run in the future. I absolutely look forward to hearing him state his case. But it’s gonna take a lot to convince me to vote Jennings out.
3. Two More D’s File For Deb Heffernan’s Seat. One is the chosen flag-carrier for the special interest lobbyists in Ed Mulvihill (props to Ed for featuring his business in this video). The 6th RD D Committee features two of Dover’s most prominent special interest lobbyists–Bobby Byrd and Sean Finnigan. Finnigan lobbies for Mulvihill’s business, so this kind of insiderism is hardly unexpected. Another D, Ralf Santana, has also filed. I was unable to find anything about his candidacy online. He’s a veteran, and he lives in the Edgemoor area of the district. Perhaps he’s concerned about the (my view) cavalier way residents near the proposed Port expansion have been treated throughout the process. I don’t think either of the new candidates will pose a true threat to Rae Krantz, who has been running an effective grassroots campaign for months.
4. Joe Jasper Joins D Primary In RD 23. This makes him the fourth candidate seeking to replace current Rep. Mara Gorman, who is instead running to succeed Dave Sokola in the State Senate. I believe that he and his wife ran the Midnight Oil Brewing Company in Newark, which closed last year after a good run. Would anybody, including Joe, care to let us know what he’s doing now and why he’s running? Based on his wife’s background, he might well be someone worth considering.
5. Filings. Sen. Jack Walsh (D-SD 9); Sen. Nicole Poore (D-SD 12); Rep. Kim Williams (D-RD 19); Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris (D-RD 32); NCC Councilman Brandon Toole (D-CD 1); Kent County Recorder Of Deeds Eugenia Thornton (R).
That’s all I’ve got this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?