By Larry Nagengast
With two longtime Democratic leaders retiring and another facing a primary challenge, plus a Republican mainstay seeking his party’s nomination for governor, Delaware’s House of Representatives could experience a makeover following the Nov. 5 general election.
After the votes are counted, House Republicans will have to choose a new leader and Democrats might have to do so as well.
The Senate, however, will look much the same next year because only 10 of 21 seats were supposed to be in play during this year’s election cycle and incumbents face no opposition in seven of those districts. There is a traditional Republican-Democrat battle in only one of the three others.
Here’s a look at how the legislative races are shaping up as we approach the primary election on Sept. 10.
State House of Representatives
Democrats currently hold a 26-15 edge over Republicans, with all 41 House seats up for election this year.
However, it’s all over but the counting in 17 districts, with 9 Democrats, including 8 in New Castle County, and 8 Republicans, including 6 in Sussex, running unopposed.
New representation is guaranteed in at least five districts, with three incumbents stepping down and two others seeking higher office.
On the Republican side, House Minority Leader Mike Ramone, from the 21st district in New Castle County, is seeking the GOP nomination for governor. Democrat Sherry Dorsey Walker, from the 3rd district in Wilmington, is seeking her party’s nomination for lieutenant governor.
Ramone’s departure ensures that Republicans will have new leadership next year.
Three Democratic lawmakers have decided not to seek re-election: Pete Schwartzkopf, the longtime speaker of the house, from the 14th district in coastal Sussex; Paul Baumbach, from the Newark-area 23rd district, known for his expertise in finance and economic development, and Sean Matthews from the 10th district in Brandywine Hundred.
Dorsey Walker’s seat will be filled by a Democrat, the winner of the primary battle between Branden Fletcher Dominguez and Josue O. Ortega. Baumbach will be succeeded by Democrat Mara Gorman, who is running unopposed.
Primaries will determine the pairings in the general election in the three other districts.
Republican Mike Simpler will face the winner of a three-way Democratic primary to replace Schwartzkopf. Schwartzkopf is backing Kathleen McGuiness, who resigned as state auditor two years ago after being found guilty of conflict of interest. Her opponents in the primary, both considered more liberal, are Claire Snyder-Hall, former leader of Common Cause Delaware, and Marty Rendon, a former aide to committees in the U.S. Senate and House.
Republicans have chosen Brenda Mennella as their candidate for Ramone’s seat. She will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Frank Burns and Michael Alexander Smith (not to be confused with Michael F. Smith, the Republican who represents the adjacent 22nd district).
To succeed Matthews, Republicans have chosen Brent Burdge, who awaits the winner of another three-way Democratic primary among Melanie Ross Levin, Stephen Jankovic and Dennis E. Williams, who held the seat before Matthews was elected in 2014.
Two other New Castle County Democrats with significant name recognition are facing primary challenges.
In the 15th district, Speaker of the House Valerie Longhurst is being tested by newcomer Kamela T. Smith. The winner will face no Republican opposition in the general election. Should Smith prevail in the primary, House Democrats would have to choose a new leader for their caucus.
In the 27th district, Margie Lopez Waite, a charter school leader, is taking on Eric Morrison, who is seeking his third term. The winner will face Republican Kristina Griffing in November.
Other races in New Castle County include:
,
There are four House contests in Kent County, with incumbents defending their seats in each one. Primaries are set in two districts.
In the 29th district, incumbent William Bush will take on Monica Shockley Porter in the Democratic primary, with the winner facing Republican Anthony Egipciaco in the general election. In the 34th district, Republican Lyndon D. Yearick will take on the winner of the Democratic primary between Ade Adewunmi Kuforiji and Tracey M. Miller.
In the 28th district, Republican Erik Sunstrom Jr. is challenging Democrat William J. Carson. In the 32nd district, Democrat Kerri Evelyn Harris faces a challenge from Republican Amy Spampinato.
In heavily Republican Sussex County, four incumbents face challenges. In the 4th district, Democrat Gregg Lindner aims to unseat Republican Jeff Hilovsky. In the 20th district, incumbent Democrat Stell Parker Selby faces a primary challenge from Brian P. Jankins, with the winner taking on Republican Nikki Miller in the general election. In the 36th district, Patrick Smith is challenging incumbent Bryan Shupe, with the primary winner facing Democrat Rony J. Balthazar-Lopez. In the 41st district, Democrat Tom Brett is taking on incumbent Republican Richard G. Collins.
In total, there are 21 districts where only one party has candidates filed, so Democrats are assured of 13 seats and Republicans eight. While seats in the remaining 20 districts are officially up for grabs, the incumbent’s party holds a registration edge in most of them, reducing the odds of any significant change from the current 26-15 Democratic majority.
State Senate
The 2024 election cycle will have minimal impact on the composition of the state Senate, where Democrats now hold a 15-6 majority.
Eleven seats – eight held by Democrats and three by Republicans – are not up for election this year.
Of the remaining 10, seven incumbents – five Democrats and two Republicans — are unopposed.
So, Democrats are assured of 13 seats and Republicans of five, with voters in three districts left to choose their state senator.
One of those three openings will definitely go to a Republican. In the 18th district, in Sussex County, incumbent David L. Wilson faces a primary challenge from Robert Reed. No Democrat has filed in that race.
In New Castle County’s 2nd district, incumbent Democrat Darius J. Brown will face Jon Roe, of the Conservative Party, in the general election.
The only Senate race with a traditional Democrat-Republican battle is in the 6th district, in coastal Sussex, where incumbent Russell Huxtable is being challenged by Republican Kim Hoey Stevenson.
However, it is possible that there will be two more new faces in the Senate next year, through the special election route. That’s because two incumbent Democrats whose terms are not expiring this year are running for higher office. Sen. Sarah McBride, in the 1st District, is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, in the 5th District, is a candidate for lieutenant governor.
Note: Listings are accurate as of publication. Individuals have until 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 to file a declaration of candidacy for any House or Senate seat.
The Delaware Journalism Collaborative is a project of the Local Journalism Initiative.
