By Bradley Vasoli Liberal politics are on a steady march in the Delaware House of Representatives. The shift reached a milestone in September when progressive Kamela Smith defeated Speaker Valerie Longhurst (D-Bear) in their state House primary. The trend continued with the Democrats boosting their chamber majority by one seat in the general election earlier this month. And the leftward …
Mike Ramone’s internal polling contrasts with less favorable UD survey
By Bradley Vasoli Delaware House Minority Leader Mike Ramone (R-Pike Creek) sees reason for optimism in his gubernatorial campaign’s internal data, despite a bearish University of Delaware survey. Ramone’s pollster says he can win if he gets his message out to Delawareans. The representative is vying for the governorship against New Castle County Executive Matthew Meyer (D). UD’s poll, conducted …
Ruth Briggs King launches campaign for lieutenant governor
Ruth Briggs King, a former state legislator from Georgetown, formally announced Friday she is running for lieutenant governor. If elected, she said, she will continue to work as a public servant, just as she did in the House of Representatives. “I realized that I was elected by Republicans, Democrats and Independents,” she said. “This is a campaign for the people, …
GOP Chair Murray decides against bid for governor
The leader of Delaware’s Republican Party has decided against a run for governor. Julianne Murray, chair of the Delaware GOP announced Monday that she will forego the gubernatorial race to help strengthen her party. “I cannot sit idly by as our party faces the prospect of division and distraction,” Murray said in a statement. “Now, more than ever, unity is …
GOP’s Mike Ramone to file Monday to run for governor
Rep. Mike Ramone plans to file Monday to run for governor of Delaware as a Republican. Ramone, 62, who’s represented the Newark and Pike Creek area in the Delaware House of Representatives for 16 years, has an extensive list of platform issues, largely revolving around efficient government, taxes, education and the failure of the Democrats, who he says have controlled …
Assisted suicide finally passes House, despite GOP concerns
A unique method of death by self-administered medication that has been discussed by the General Assembly for several years has once again made into this year’s legislative session. And, once again, the Republicans pushed back in full swing, with a myriad of concerns with both logistical and moral concerns. The concept made Rep. Rich Collins, R-Milsboro, question the religious morality …
Politicians react to court striking absentee, early voting laws
A ruling by the Delaware Superior Court that restricts early and absentee voting – a highly contentious aspect of the 2020 Presidential Election – has state leaders reacting on party lines. Judge Mark Conner ruled Friday in favor of former state attorney general Jane Brady’s suit that laws passed by the General Assembly – over objections that they were not …
Legislators call for means testing for property tax credits
Calls to consider means testing before granting veteran and senior housing tax breaks shocked a legislative committee last month. Delaware’s secretary of finance doesn’t think an income-based means test for property tax breaks is likely. Even so, Rick Geisenberger did say that a means test based on property values not only could happen, but should. “Seniors get a lot of …
Proposed House redistricting offers more changes than Senate
Sussex County House districts will change a lot if proposed plan goes forward. House Democratic leadership has released their proposed redistricting maps and Sussex County will pick up a seat — that of embattled Representative Gerald Brady, a Democrat from Wilmington. The House of Representatives will convene in a special session on Nov. 1 to finalize the maps that …