RACES-TO-WATCH 2012

Posted: Sept. 18, 2012; Updated legislative races: Oct. 27, 2012

STATEWIDE

Statewide registration: 47% Democratic, 29% Republican, 24% others

OFFICE MAIN CANDIDATES RUNDOWN OUTLOOK
Senate

Tom Carper

Democrat

 

Kevin Wade

Republican

 

Alex Pires

Independent

Carper looks unstoppable on his way to setting a record with 13 statewide wins Democrat
House

John Carney

Democrat

 

Tom Kovach

Republican

It is hard to imagine a better situation for Carney, who is a popular Democrat in a blue state that has not chucked out a sitting congressman in 30 years Democrat
Governor

Jack Markell

Democrat

 

Jeff Cragg

Republican

The only question surrounding a second term for Markell is what he wants to do next in politics after he gets it Democrat
Lt. governor

Matt Denn

Democrat

 

Sher Valenzuela

Republican

Sure, Delaware can elect a lieutenant governor separately from the governor. The voters just have not bothered to do it since 1984 Democrat
Ins. commissioner

Karen Weldin Stewart

Democrat

 

Ben Mobley

Republican

The bigger challenge for Stewart was getting through a primary, and she did. All she has to do now is let the Democratic ticket carry her Democrat

Incumbents in bold

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

Current Senate: 14 Democrats, 7 Republicans

Current House of Representatives: 26 Democrats, 15 Republicans

All seats are up because of redistricting

 

DISTRICT MAIN CANDIDATES VOTERS RUNDOWN OUTLOOK
Senate 4th

Greenville-Brandywine Hundred-Pike Creek Valley

Mike Katz

Democrat

 

Greg Lavelle

Republican

D: 35%

R: 39%

O: 26%

Katz had the early edge, but is Lavelle trying to say something by sticking sunny yellow smiley faces on his road signs? Tossup
Senate 12th

New Castle-Delaware City-below the canal

Dori Connor

Republican

 

Nicole Poore

Democrat

D: 54%

R: 23%

O: 23%

After 15 years in office, Connor could be done in by redistricting and a lopsided Democratic registration Advantage: Democrat
Senate 6th

Lewes-Rehoboth-Dewey-Milton

Ernie Lopez

Republican

 

Andy Staton

Democrat

D: 40%

R: 37%

O: 23%

Both candidates are transplants to Sussex, but Lopez appears to be capitalizing on local family ties and a little help from some Democratic friends Advantage: Republican
Senate 19th

Bridgeville-Georgetown-Long Neck

Jane Hovington

Democrat

 

Brian Pettyjohn

Republican

D: 40%

R: 39%

O: 21%

Once the court let the Republicans substitute Pettyjohn, a Georgetown ex-mayor, for Eric Bodenweiser, who was indicted for child sex crimes, this race was all but won Advantage: Republican
House 10th

Brandywine Hundred

Dennis Williams

Democrat

 

Bob Rhodunda

Republican

D: 44%

R: 32%

O: 24%

Even after two terms, Williams still looks to the Republicans like someone they can take out Advantage: Democrat
House 23rd

Newark

Paul Baumbach

Democrat

 

Mark Doughty

Republican

D: 41%

R: 31%

O: 28%

Baumbach is favored, but this is UD country, where it would be unwise to count out a candidate with the prize endorsement Doughty has from Tubby Raymond Advantage: Democrat
House 11th

Southern New Castle County-northern Kent County

Lynne Newlin

Democrat

 

Jeffrey Spiegelman

Republican

D: 42%

R: 31%

O: 27%

Spiegelman is running under the radar and could slip by the Democratic registration edge Advantage: Republican
House 29th

Cheswold-Dover-Camden

Lincoln Willis

Republican

 

Trey Paradee

Democrat

D: 44%

R: 32%

O: 24%

Although Willis coasted into this seat in '10, the Democrats are making a run with Paradee, who sat out the last election but nearly won it in '08 Advantage: Republican
House 32nd

Dover

Andria Bennett

Democrat

 

Ellis Parrott

Republican

D: 50%

R: 25%

O: 25%

Dynamite might not be enough to blast anyone named Bennett out of this seat Advantage: Democrat
House 20th

Lewes-Milton

Marie Mayor

Democrat

 

Steve Smyk

Republican

D: 39%

R: 37%

O: 24%

Mayor gets high marks for her campaign organization, although it is tough to beat a retired state trooper like Smyk in Sussex Advantage: Democrat
House 37th

Georgetown-Long Neck

Ruth Briggs King

Republican

 

Beth McGinn

Democrat

D: 41%

R: 38%

O: 21%

The district was drawn to give Briggs King trouble, and it is. The manufactured housing people are restless Advantage: Republican
House 38th

Ocean View-Fenwick Island-Selbyville

Ron Gray

Republican

 

Shirley Price

Democrat

D: 35%

R: 44%

O: 21%

Price, an ex-legislator, knows how to campaign, but Gray has the registration on his side as well as Gerald Hocker, a Republican giving up the seat to run for the Senate  Advantage: Republican
House 40th

Laurel-Delmar

Tim Dukes

Republican

 

Ben Lowe

Democrat

D: 41%

R: 38%

O: 21%

The retirement of Biff Lee, an 11-term Republican, opened up this Sussex seat in territory favorable to a Republican Advantage: Republican

Incumbents in bold

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