Delaware Political Weekly: May 3-9, 2024

1.  Have The Governor’s Races Changed Over The Last Week?  On the R side, which doesn’t particularly matter, the answer is a clear yes.  On the D side, I think the answer is yes, but it’s less certain.  It will become decidedly ‘yes’ if Collin O’Mara can run a campaign that builds on his momentum.

Those who minimize the meaning of the endorsement by the Working Families Party do so at their own risk.  Among those who have endorsed him are legislators who the Working Families Party endorsed and helped to get elected.  Since 2020, they include Marie Pinkney, Larry Lambert, Sherae’a  Moore, DeShanna Neal, Sophie Phillips, Cyndie Romer, Madinah Wilson-Anton, and Eric Morrison.  I might be missing one or two.  This year, they have a notable slate, including Branden Fletcher Dominguez, Terrell Williams, Frank Burns, Monica Beard, Kam Smith, and Monica Shockley-Porter.  While not all of them may have endorsed O’Mara, each has something that most legislative endorsers lack: grassroots campaign teams.

To those who question whether O’Mara has sufficient ties to members of the Delaware General Assembly, all I can say is that I’ve head several legislators tell me that he has quietly and effectively worked with them on district issues.  If so, he needs to get less quiet.

Here’s the dynamic of this race that fascinates me the most:  I get the sense that many of BHL’s supporters do so b/c they can’t stand Matt and won’t vote for him.  I equally get the sense that many of Matt’s supporters do so b/c they can’t stand Bethany and won’t vote for her.  So, if O’Mara is able to demonstrate viability as a candidate, he has access to a couple of pools of potential primary voters that will not be accessible to the other two candidates.

Which is not to dismiss Al’s theory that BHL will attract female voters–because.  There’s some truth to that for sure.  But she’s not a trailblazer like Ruth Ann Minner was.  She’s a hack backed by the diminishing Old Guard.  This could well end up one of the most interesting races in Delaware political history.

Oh, the R’s?  They definitely could have done a lot worse than having Mike Ramone as their candidate.  He might be able to attract the remaining vestiges of the ‘good government’ element in the Republican Party while feeding enmity to abortion and electric vehicles to the downstate mouth-breathers.  None of which makes him electable.  But a respectable showing is not out of reach.  Guaranteed he won’t be as lazy as Colin Bonini was.

I know, I know.  I think too much, often without tangible positive results from my thinking.  I’d love for those of you who are not merely trolling to weigh in.  If you’re engaged but undecided, how do you plan to make your choice?

2.  RFK Jr. Worms His Way Onto Delaware Ballot.  Along with his multi-millionairess Veep choice.  The ‘Ind Pty Of DE’.  I’m assuming that is the same as IPOD, home to the candidacy of Dr. Michael Katz.  Could the good doctor perhaps de-worm his presidential standard-bearer?

3.  Filings: State Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha (D-RD 1);  Wilmington R. City Councilman At-Large James Spadola.

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