LEGISLATIVE EARLY LINE 2016
Posted: March 8, 2016
Within the Delaware General Assembly, the ruling
majority in the state Senate has been about as immutable
as the old Soviet Politburo.
The Democrats have been in charge for 43 years, but
never mind. The Republicans are making a push to
overturn them in the 2016 election with three races
targeted so far.
The Democrats are striking back with an attack of
their own.
Across Legislative Hall in the state House of
Representatives, the Democratic majority looks like it
will go unchallenged. The only races that have emerged
there are primaries.
Still, the candidates' filing deadline is not until
July 12, naturally at high noon. Give it time.
# # #
State Senate:
12 Democrats, 9 Republicans (11 seats up)
State House
of Representatives: 25 Democrats, 16 Republicans (All 41
seats up)
|
District |
Democrats |
Republicans |
Voters |
Rundown |
|
Senate 1st
Wilmington-Claymont |
Harris McDowell |
James
Spadola |
D:55%
R:21%
O:24% |
McDowell already has set a record with 40 years
as a senator. The Republicans are crossing their
fingers the voters are in a mood to throw out
people like him, but the registration is
seriously against them |
|
Senate 5th
Brandywine Hundred |
Denise Bowers |
Cathy Cloutier |
D:41%
R:33%
O:26% |
With
the Republicans going after Democrats for the
Senate majority, here is where the Democrats
play tit-for-tat |
|
Senate 7th
Elsmere-Prices Corner |
Patti Blevins |
Anthony Delcollo |
D:49%
R:23%
O:28% |
The
idea for the Republicans is to keep Blevins, the
Senate's president pro tem, busy at home, so she
has less time to help her fellow Democrats the
way she usually does |
|
Senate 14th
Lower
New Castle/upper Kent counties |
Bruce Ennis |
Carl
Pace |
D:47%
R:27%
O:26% |
Ennis, who is about to turn 77, is the oldest
senator. The Republicans are sending out a
Millennial to take him on |
|
House
7th
Claymont-Arden |
Dave
Brady
Rob
Cameron
Joe
Daigle |
|
D:48%
R:27%
O:25% |
With
Bryon Short, the sitting Democratic
representative, running for the congressional
seat, this Democratic district is having a
free-for-all |
|
House
10th
Brandywine Hundred |
Sean Matthews
Dennis Williams |
|
D:45%
R:31%
O:24% |
Matthews ousted Williams in a primary in 2014,
and now Williams wants to do unto Matthews what
Matthews did unto him |
|
House
14th
Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach |
Pete Schwartzkopf
Don
Peterson |
|
D:41%
R:35%
O:24% |
Schwartzkopf, the House speaker, has trouble in
his own house. The Republicans will probably
jump in with a candidate, too |
|
House
33rd
Milford-Bowers Beach |
|
Jack Peterman
Morgan Hudson
Charles Postles |
D:38%
R:35%
O:27% |
There
are doubts Peterman will run again because he
has missed so many legislative days with health
problems, and he has yet to file for
re-election. It has other candidacies sprouting |
Incumbents in bold
RETURN TO COVER PAGE
###
|
