I pre-empted last week’s Political Weekly in order to document the massive investment that corporate lawyers have made to keep their Delaware Way drones in office.
Accordingly, this week’s piece will cover events that took place between June 19 and July 2. There’s more than you might expect:
1. Branden Fletcher Dominguez Announces Run For RD 3 Seat. The seat currently held by alleged domestic abuser Josue Ortega. That much we know. We don’t know (a) whether Ortega will seek reelection; and (b) whether the House Ethics Committee will take action concerning Ortega. The Speaker has pledged an inquiry into the whole affair. We also don’t know (c) who, if anybody, will primary Branden should Ortega bow out. Or, at least, I don’t know. Do you? Anybody talked to Bud Freel lately?
2. Delmarva Ally Kerri Harris Gets Serious Challenger. Her name is LaChelle Paul and she’s been more active in this district than the incumbent in this Dover-based House district. Here’s an example of her advocacy. People who know tell me that this race is a great pick-up opportunity for challengers of the Delaware Way casual corruption. Which is why the corporate attorneys and the lobbyists’ PAC are throwing big dollars at Harris, who ranks as one of Delaware’s all-time political sell-outs.
3. W-whoa. David Tackett challenging the eternally-tan Mike Kosikowski for NCC Recorder Of Deeds? Both have the soul of an NCC Recorder Of Deeds. (I stole that. Who did I steal it from?)
4. An IPOD Sighting–in the form of one Dexter ‘Dizzy’ Bland, who has filed in RD 3. His campaign slogan is ‘Believe In Bland’, which is…unfortunate.
5. Lyndon Yearick Gets A D Opponent In RD 34. A good one, too. Annie Norman has just retired as the State Of Delaware librarian. Please read that bio, she’s been a trailblazer for Delaware libraries. Going out on a limb, she’s probably well-read as well. Yearick is basically a Rethug ‘no’ vote, nothing more. Kids, this could be competitive race! Registration favors the D’s: 7679 D; 5669 R; and 7912 I’s. I did not see this one coming.
5. D’s Get A Name On The Ballot In RD 22. At first glance, that appears to be pretty much all the D’s got from Alexander Green. Here’s his website, including a completely non-political shout-out to our first responders. Look, everybody loves our first responders. Putting it in a brochure is seeking what’s called in pro rasslin’ ‘a cheap pop’. I’d personally also like to thank our veterans. Announcing my candidacy soon. (Just kidding.)
6. Could Rethug In-Fighting Flip RD 36 to the D’s? A long-shot, as this is a rematch of a very close R primary from 2024. However, a D will challenge the winner of that primary. One Andy Gorlich. He’s a math professor at Del-Tech, and (I think) he’s a competitive runner. At least someone named Andy Gorlich is a competitive runner. Long-distance. Good skill to have for a candidate. The R primary is once again between incumbent Bryan Shupe and challenger Patrick Smith. Shupe prevailed by 12 votes in the 2024 primary. He then got 63% of the vote in the General against Rony Baltazar-Lopez, so it looks like any lingering resentment from the primary didn’t carry over to the General.
7. Remember Chris Beardsley? He was the guy who was gonna primary Chris Coons for about two weeks earlier this year. He has indeed filed to primary incumbent Kyra Hoffner in SD 14. While I suspect that she has better name recognition in this NCC/Kent district, I also know that she’s, um, singularly unimpressive. Still, I question whether a self-advertised Democratic Socialist can win in this right-of-center district. If Rethugs are gonna flip one seat this year, it’ll be this SD 14 seat with Mark Pugh running for a second time. Doubtful, but doable.
8. R Melissa Brayman To Face Dee Durham In NCC District 2 Race. You may remember Brayman as the Chamber Of Commerce R (literally, that’s who employs her) who ran against Monique Johns for NCC President in 2024. In other words, she’s literally bought and paid for. Here’s hoping the voters don’t buy her shtick.
8. Incumbent Filings: Rep. Frank Burns (D-RD 21); Rep. Mike Smith (R-RD 22).
That’s all I’ve got this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?
