Alignment in the 19th.
For decades, a conservative represented the 19th. And now a conservative will again represent the 19th. Nothing will change except for the letter behind the name. I am personally glad that Booth won. It is an overwhelming conservative district and I much rather have a Republican elected from it than a conservative Democrat that would thwart Democratic goals in the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Another reason I am glad is because while the Rethugs get a 6th Senator (wow, that is pathetic), we now have a real chance to pick up a super majority in the House by winning Booth’s seat in the 37th RD. I will defer to others as to how winnable that district is. I have heard that it is relatively winnable for a Democrat, but what kind of Democrat? If it is only winnable by a Thurman Adams Democrat, then, well, see above.
Polly Mervine was a horrible candidate. I cannot say that enough. She expected to coast into office on her maiden name, and campaigned accordingly. She took no hard stances on the issues. She and her husband (who acted more like the candidate in some appearances) insulted key Democratic constituencies when they dared seek her position on equality. She was arrogant, entitled, and ultimately, a loser. May her short political career rest in peace.
Finally, our horrible Department of Elections. It is 9:32 pm as I write this, more than 90 minutes after the polls have closed. And not a single vote has been posted. Not a single news organization has reported the actual raw vote totals, because they do not have them. We only know that Booth won because we have been told he won. It is not acceptable to excuse this epic fail on technical difficulties. It is the Department of Elections’ job to prepare for such difficulties and account for them. A few machines having problems is to be expected. But to not report a single vote total for hours from every precinct in the district? Either all the machines failed or no one in Sussex County or the Department of Elections can a) count and b) master a telephone. That is incompetence. And someone must be fired for it. I want a firing tomorrow or I will blame the Governor, for he is ultimately responsible.
According to WGMD – Georgetown DMV and Dept. of Elections are locked tight, everybody went home
no results anytime soon, I suppose.
Suzanne, if that’s true and they’re just going to neglect putting up the tallies, then Elaine Manlove needs to be gone, too. This is a goddamned disgrace.
Maybe they could send out those official returns by an old-fashioned device – like the telephone?
I got a confirmation of the numbers from a Dept. of Elections official about 15 mins. ago. He was pretty much mute on the non-results-posting, though…
Thank you Mr. Varine. Can I have the name of the official you spoke with?
Now DD–take a deep breath. I don’t want you to be sayin’ regrettin’ words.
LOL, JC. Yeah, I want the Election officials rounded up and ….
join in a square dance!!!!
We’ll use that as code DD!!!
I want a firing tomorrow …
Define “firing.” 😉
Good one Bud!!!
LOL. Should I say “terminated.” No, too Arnold.
Reaction from Wendy Jones, Polly Adams Mervine: http://short.to/lmfv
OMG – make me barf – the Cracker sis quoted in the Sussex Countian as saying “Doors have bene opened for me”
Will she turn into a perennial candidate (kind of like Mike Protack – run until she finally gets elected or movies away or … – whatever happens first)….
–“Joe managed to reach the most people who were inclined to vote. It’s been a positive experience and it looks like I’ll probably be back next year,” said Libertarian candidate Wendy Jones. —
Wendy – not sure your numbers warrant a second try, but it will be fun blogging about you anyway.
I’d actually prefer Brian Shields run for some kind of office.
NJ had results about an hour ago – twitter.com/depolitics
You will note that I posted this over an hour ago, before any news organization had any numbers. Shortly after I posted this, the Sussex Countian contacted Mr. Ken McDowell of the Department of Elections to get actual vote totals. However, the state election results site has yet to provide any results.
DD wrote:
Might I suggest that our desire for instant results is one reason that there seem to be increasing problems with getting votes counted correctly? We’re so concerned with getting it fast that we fall down in getting it right.
Jes’ round ’em up, Del Dum!
The results were available within about 35 minutes. I posted results from 15 of 16 67 minutes afterward. It has been 3 hours 17 minutes. They gave a press quote about two hours in and still did not do anything for the public. They just went home. If we did not have checker challenger counts they may not have even confirmed the numbers then. The locked up and went home. I don’t think they were trying for accuracy. They could at least tell us they had a technical problem. People understand that. Just being mum is disrespectful.
I am working on my official comment.
http://www.mourningconstitution.com/?p=1177
So when they redistrict Booth and Simpson into the same Senate district, who is going to win?
Booth is going to have a very short Senate career.
That would require some sort of a vertical district, along the 113 corridor. Interesting concept.
Although the notion of conjoining Booth and Simpson into the same district – first noted here: http://www.delawaregrapevine.com/7-09special19thanalysis.asp – may tempt some, it is also possible that the Democratic majority may instead try to keep Booth and Simpson – the guys they know – and pack as many inland conservatives into their districts as possible.
If coastal population continues to grow faster than inland Sussex, the table might be set for a scenario where upstate Democrats cede to Booth most of the territory now held by Venables [who will be 78 when redistricting happens in two years] and give Greater Bridgeville to Milford-based Simpson.
This could create the opportunity for a Cape district [Lewes-Milton-Rehoboth], drawn in a way consistent with George Howard’s ability to carry forth.
Net result: a pair of fresh pragmatists for the Democrats in Sussex County, which for years larded the party down.
Trading Adams and Venables for Booth and a far less conservative Democrat sounds like a good deal to me.
I wonder how Booth will affect the dynamic between Simpson/Bonini and Sorenson/Cloutier/Connor.
There are several good, strong Democrats who could win the 37th. Mervine was one of the worst candidates I have ever seen pop up on the political scene. No substance whatsoever. And I’m sure her father would like her to get off from the top of his grave.
The Department of Elections down here is a joke. McDowell has taken an office that was efficient when Frank Calio ran it and turned it into a something no one could be proud of. He needs to retire, either willfully or forcefully.
She was arrogant, entitled, and ultimately, a loser. May her short political career rest in peace.
Amen.
I don’t view yesterday’s election as a Democratic loss since there were no Democrats running. The Republican spin on Booth’s win is nausiating. MJ is absolutely right…the heir to the throne had no substance. She was clueless as to how to run for office. What worked for Nancy Cook decades ago and for Cloutier and Conner and Plant more recently doesn’t resonate any more. The voters don’t necessarily agree that the next of kin candidate is the best choice just because they have companionable blood lines. The internet and blogs have kindled a new fire of enthusiasm and it’s inspiring to see voters become engaged in the process. Unless the Democrats choose wisely for a House candidate, I predict similar results to the next special election. Party leaders in the 37th Rep District will hopefully not be held to the same low standard as the Party leaders of the 19th Senate District were. The loss yesterday can be placed on the shoulders of all the committee people who put personalities before politics.
From reports I have heard, the Dems were having a hard time recruiting for the 37th. Maybe now that it is a reality, someone who said no will decide to run.
The GOP, on the other hand, have at least 2, maybe 3 different candidates to choose from. Eric Bodenwiser from SCCOR being the lead candidate. He has a PAC, and an organization of 40 dedicated people behind him that can easily turn into a campaign. They have been thinking about elections all along, planning to put up stiff support behind an opponent of Pete Schwartkopf in 2010. He is a businessman, either running or owning the chain of Bodies convenience stores/gas stations/laundromats all over Sussex County.
I easily see him as the front runner.
The 37th is winnable for Democrats, though it may be more difficult in a non presidential year. Obama lost the district, but both Markell and Denn carried it in 2008. Obama was within a few hundred votes. If the Dems find a decent candidate, it could be a close race. I just hope the number of dixiecrats in the Delaware legislature continues to wane as the years progress.
The 37th used to be centered around Lewes and be principally eastern Sussex with a popular Dem named Schroeder as the Representative.
Then came redistricting, so the 37th became a long narrow bone running from Lewes all the way to Georgetown, enabling Booth to squeak by Schroeder in a close election.
Booth was reelected against a weak but valiant candidate.
Retirees moving in here tend to be Repubs, so the district is leaning more toward GOP.
The 37th Dems are not well organized and factionalized between progressives and dixiecrats.
Schroeder has not shown much interest in running, so far.
Bodenweiser is on the fringe of the Right, therefore will draw from the SCCOR folks plus mainstream Repubs. This should motivate the Progressive Dems to vigorous action.
Hopefully we can find a good candidate and launch a strong campaign, supported for a change by the DE Dems. The work has to begin right now.
It is going to be a real challenge for the Dems to mount a challenge against the GOP in this upcoming election for the Booth seat!
Here is a grid re. how the different districts voted –
http://elections.delaware.gov/results/html/stwres.shtml
I believe one of the strongest Dems who could run would be Bob Stickels. Russ McCabe would also be a good candidate, but I believe he’s enjoying retirement right now.
Maybe we need to convince him to go out of retirement…
Suzanne, he and Michelle told me they were heading back down to Mexico for another vacation.