Delaware primary slate set for September
Six Republicans are vying for governor in the Republican primary set for Tuesday, Sept. 15, while Gov. John Carney is facing a sole challenger in the Democratic primary to be held the same day.
On July 20, Carney said he was seeking a second term, in a press release backing Joe Biden for president while acknowleding challenges the state has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m confident that Delaware will step up, ignore the voices that would divide us, and come out of 2020 stronger because we worked together. I also look forward to electing Delaware’s own Joe Biden our next president. I know Joe – and I believe his compassion, his leadership and his unrelenting advocacy for working families are uniquely suited for this time,” Carney said.
Carney will face David Lamar Williams Jr. of Camden-Wyoming in the Democratic primary.
Carney was elected governor in 2016 after previously serving in Congress and eight years as lieutenant governor under Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.
On July 16, the Delaware Republican Party endorsed attorney Julianne Murray of Seaford for governor. She will face five others in the Republican primary – Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover South, Sen. Bryant Richardson, R-Seaford, David Graham of Smyrna, David Joseph Bosco of Greenwood, and Scott Walker of Wilmington.
The state GOP also endorsed Lee Murphy for Congress, James DeMartino for U.S. Senate, and Dover's Dr. Julia Pillsbury for insurance commissioner.
“This should be a highly promising year for the Republican Party,” said State Chair Jane Brady. “All of our GOP candidates are capable and energetic, and I look forward to an exciting and successful election season.”
Murphy and Matthew Hathaway Morris, both of Wilmington, will face off in the Republican primary, and Lewes resident DeMartino will run against Lauren Witzke of Delmar.
U.S. Sen. Chris Coons will face Democrat challenger Jessica Scarane of Wilmington.
Dover senator runs for second time
Even before the COVID-19 economic shutdown, Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover South, says Delaware's economy was far from good.
“Delaware was one of the worst economies prior to the pandemic. We've got to get people working,” he said.
Quoting former Republican Gov. Pete du Pont, Bonini said the solution is simple: Lowering regulation and cutting taxes has never not worked.
“We are a high-tax, high-regulation, high-utility cost state, and we can fix all of those things. The truth is we can make Delaware a place that people want to come to because geographically we are in this incredible position,” he said. “We can make this a much more attractive place, and we need to do it.”
Providing a trained workforce that companies can tap into is also key, he said. Real tech schools that offer tech training for the workplace would not only attract students, he said, but provide skilled labor that today's companies need.
In 2016, Bonini defeated Lacey Lafferty in the Republican primary to challenge then-Lt. Gov. John Carney. Bonini said he had a good platform with solid questions which Carney wouldn't answer until after the primary. “I couldn't get at John until after the primary, and by then it was too late,” he said.
Bonini also ran for state treasurer in 2010, losing with 49 percent of the vote.
He hesitates criticizing Carney's decisions during the pandemic, but said the economy should open up if it can, instead of shutting everything down until there is evidence to reopen.
His campaign slogan, “We can fix this,” reflects his optimism.
“I am just so worried about Delaware. We are heading in the wrong direction in so many ways, but I'm confident we can fix this,” he said. “I think the Democratic Party has completely failed Delaware, and we need to move in a new direction.”
