Two Weeks Out – Who’s Running?
The filing deadline for office in Delaware is July 13 (the last day to withdraw is July 15). Let’s look at the state of the election for federal and state offices. Who’s running? What races are of interest?
Federal Offices
Right now Chris Coons, John Carney and Beau Biden have no primary candidates. So far, Chris Coons is unopposed (go Chris!) Scott Spencer, Michele Rollins, Christine O’Donnell and Mike Castle are not candidates yet, according to the Department of Elections. On the Republican side, Glen Urquhart and Rose Izzo are filed candidate.
As of today here are the primaries (filed candidates only):
Democratic
Treasurer – Velda Jones-Potter (I) vs. Chip Flowers
Auditor of Accounts – Richard Korn vs. Ken Matlusky [Wagner (R) incumbent]
State Representative District 8 – S. Quinton Johnson (I) vs. Valerie Jones-Rabb
State Representative District 10 – Dennis E. Williams (I) vs. Kenneth R. Dargis
State Representative District 24 – Kay Wilde Gallogly vs. Ed Osienski [Open Seat – Oberle]
State Representative District 27 – Earl Jaques (I) vs. James Maravelias
Republican
U.S. Representative (DE-AL) – Glen Urquhart vs. Rose Izzo [Open Seat – Castle]
State Senate District 19 – Joe Booth (I) vs. Eric Bodenweiser
State Representative District 29 – George Phillips vs. Lincoln Willis [Open Seat – Thornburg is retiring, right?]
State Representative District 33 – Harold Peterman vs. Steven Rust [Robert Walls (D) incumbent]
State Senate District 1 – Harris McDowell is unchallenged
State Senate District 5 – Chris Counihan (D) vs. Cathy Cloutier (R – incumbent)
State Senate District 7 – Patty Blevins (D – incumbent) vs. Fred Cullis (R)
State Senate District 8 – Dave Sokola (D – incumbent) vs. Louis Saindon
State Senate District 9 – Karen Peterson (D – incumbent) is unchallenged
State Senate District 12 – Dori Connor (R – incumbent) is unchallenged
State Senate District 13 – David McBride (D – incumbent) is unchallenged
State Senate District 14 – Bruce Ennis (D – incumbent) vs. John Moritz (R)
State Senate District 15 – David Lawson (R) [Nancy Cook (D) incumbent]
State Senate District 20 – Perry Mitchell (D) [George Bunting (D) incumbent]
State Representative District 3 – Helene Keeley (D) is unchallenged
State Representative District 4 – Gerald Brady (D – incumbent) vs. Richard Carroll (R)
State Representative District 6 – Debra Heffernan (D) [Tom Kovach (R) incumbent]
State Representative District 7 – Bryon Short (D – incumbent) vs. Judith Travis (R)
State Representative District 8 – Kathleen Rokosz (R) [faces winner of Johnson (I) – Jones-Rabb primary]
State Representative District 9 – Richard Griffiths (D) [Richard Cathcart (R) incumbent]
State Representative District 10 – Robert Rhodunda (R) [faces winner of Williams (I) – Dargis primary]
State Representative District 11 – Greg Lavelle (R) is unchallenged
State Representative District 12 – Deborah Hudson (R) is unchallenged
State Representative District 13 – John Mitchell (D) is unchallenged
State Representative District 14 – Christopher Weeks (R) [Schwartzkopf (D) incumbent]
State Representative District 15 – Valerie Longhurst (D – incumbent) vs. James Van Houten (R)
State Representative District 16 – James Johnson (D) is unchallenged
State Representative District 17 – Michael Mulrooney (D) is unchallenged
State Representative District 18 – Mike Barbieri (D – incumbent) vs. Terry Spence (R) [REMATCH!!!]
State Representative District 19 – Bob Gilligan (D) is unchallenged
State Representative District 20 – Francis Swift (D) [Manolakos (R) incumbent]
State Representative District 21 – Mike Ramone (R) is unchallenged
State Representative District 22 – Dave Ellis (D) vs. Joseph Miro (R – incumbent)
State Representative District 23 – Terri Schooley (D) is unchallenged
State Representative District 25 – John Kowalko (D -incumbent) vs. Gordon Winegar (R)
State Representative District 27 – Jay Galloway (R) [faces winner of Jaques (I) – Maravelias primary]
State Representative District 28 – Robert Carson (D) [confused here – incumbent is William J. Carson (D), relative?]
State Representative District 29 – John McCutchan (D) [faces winner of Phillips – Willis primary]
State Representative District 30 – William R. “Bobby” Outten (R) is unchallenged
State Representative District 31 – Ronald Smith (R) [Darryl Scott (D) incumbent]
State Representative District 32 – Brad Bennett (D) vs. Beth Buzzell Miller (R)
State Representative District 33 – Robert Walls (D – incumbent) [faces winner of Peterman – Rust primary]
State Representative District 34 – Jill Fuchs (D) vs. Donald Blakey (R – incumbent)
State Representative District 35 – Jim Westhoff (D) vs. David Wilson (R – incumbent)
State Representative District 36 – Russell McCabe (D) vs. Harvey Kenton (R) [George Carey (R) incumbent – anyone know about this race?]
State Representative District 37 – Frank Shade (D) vs. Ruth Briggs King (R – incumbent)
State Representative District 38 – Gerald Hocker (R) is unchallenged
State Representative District 40 – Clifford “Biff” Lee (R) is unchallenged
We’ll talk about the county offices tomorrow. Which races are of interest to you? I think the open seat races will be interesting (RD-24 and RD-29) are going to be interesting. The primary challenge of Eric Bodenweiser to Joe Booth in SD-19 is also of interest. In the general election race the rematch of Mike Barbieri and Terry Spence in RD-18 should be one to watch. Progressive favorite John Kowalko has a general election challenger in RD-25 with Gordon Winegar. The race in RD-35 of Jim Westhoff (a real progressive) with David Wilson in the heart of lower slower could be exciting.
Have you noticed how many officeholders are unchallenged still? Although there are some incumbents facing primary challenges: Booth in SD-19, Johnson in RD-8, Dennis E. Williams in RD-10 and Jaques in RD-27.
Tags: Delaware, Election 2010
36% of the races have one person running. Have we really earned the right to complain about state Government?
Jason: That’s actually a significant improvement. Most years around 50% have no major party opposition.
Woo Hoo!
I might jump into a race…
O’Donnell and Spencer haven’t filed yet? I wonder if Dover Downs has odds on the likelihood of them filing.
I wonder if Mike Castle will run?
What’s the deal in RD-36? Is George Carey retiring or is he facing a primary opponent?
Keep in mind that parties can fill slots in some of these open races even after July 13. Such candidacies rarely, but occasionally, yield credible challengers.
Geezer is correct that, from a standpoint of competitive races, 2010 so far is better than most previous years, although 2008 had a larger-than-usual number as well. There are some races inexplicably devoid of challengers. For example, there is no earthly excuse for letting Lavelle slide, especially in a year when Brandywine 100 is full of intriguing races.
Once the General Assembly wraps up, I plan to start early next week with a detailed overview of the races for the legislature. I will even lay early odds on prospective upsets. I’ve got lots to say and plenty of people to piss off.
Carey has retired. Russ McCabe would make a GREAT representative. Worthy of some of our shekels.
Speaking of Castle and Rollins, should they file as a ‘team’, as I expect they might, then I implore the Democratic Party to put out this (edited) release, as I asked them to several months ago:
“We welcome Michele Rollins and Mike Castle to the ballot. Michele Rollins and Mike Castle represent Delaware’s wealthiest citizens, and have devoted their careers to amassing and protecting that wealth, respectively. As such, they are ideally suited to head the Republican ticket. By endorsing this Dynastic Duo, the Republican Party has given Delawareans a clear choice.
Chris Coons and John Carney, on the other hand, represent those who truly need representation. In other words, they run to help those who have played by the rules and who, through no fault of their own, find themselves and their families struggling to make ends meet. These are people who could never afford a stay at that fancy Rollins Jamaican spa, but people just looking to keep food on the table for their family. If you share that vision, we look forward to your support this November.”
Interesting to see Jaques has a primary opponent. I wonder if this has something to do with his resistance to join in on the expanded gambling?
Or James Maravelias is a stalking horse for Jay Galloway (?). If it was Mike Barbieri being primaried, I’d totally call shenanigans.
FWIW, This is the highest google hit for James Maravelias.
http://www.local199.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53
based on that picture, his campaign slogan should be, “What the fuck are you looking at?”
Also, FWIW, Jay Galloway appears to be a moron. From his website:
According to Galloway, taxtion is the 2nd most pressing issue facing the state. The most pressing is “THE ECONOMY” which the Galloway plans to fix by getting rid of the Gross Receipt tax.
Where do they find these nutbags?
Jason – so this Laborers local has Muhammed Ali as its Sergeant at Arms (floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee?) and the President looks like he just had surgery on his head? What gives? (and before any of you flame me, I’m a union member).
Quinn Johnson is being primaried by Valerie Jones-Rabb. This is somewhat interesting, since Quinn’s wife just defeated Valerie Jones-Rabb in school board elections.
I suppose there could be bad blood, but honestly, you can barely tell there is a school board election in Appoquinimink. I don’t get it.
I wonder if TNJ is going to have to run a disclaimer with every article on the 32nd House Race – “Candidate Beth Miller is no relation to reporter Beth Miller.”
Kowalko has an opponent Winegar – WDEL covered the story today and Copeland’s blog commenter thought he was tall dark and handsome or some such nonsense http://resolutedetermination.wordpress.com/2010/06/21/the-stricken-john-kowalko-power-grab/#comments
Copeland also goes all jiggly at the thought that the Delaware DEMs are following him on twitter.
Quinn Johnson is being primaried by Valerie Jones-Rabb.
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Maybe Appo people don’t like the fact that Johnson was the only NCC resident who signed onto Wall’s bill to let Artesian build and run water and waste water facilities east of Rte 1 for their farm bureau buddies. They are already building 2 new schools a year to handle the growth and the new schools are crowded.
Also, Johnson was the only person I called about #442 who didn’t bother to call me back.
You forget that Christine has to pay her rent first, then see if there’s anything left over for the filing fee.
Anyone know about RD-34? I thought Blakey was retiring. Jill Fuchs?
“Also, Johnson was the only person I called about #442 who didn’t bother to call me back.”
Maybe he … no, no, too easy.
Quinn Johnson has ALWAYS called me back…and in fact has even called to seek opinion/clarification. I may not always agree w/ his vote, but darn it would hard to find someone working this district the way he does. He’s not only everywhere, he’s very accessible. And as far as Jaques goes–he has got to be one of the nicest reps down there–he hit the track running w/ problems when elected, and I can’t believe his own party has to run a primary for that seat. I’m all for choice–but sometimes you have to leave well enough alone.
Now about that Longhurst woman……..and Blevins…and Schooley
Like Jason I was surprised by the lack of primaries, and general election races. The lack of a General election opponent (even a token opponent) is almost unheard of in Iowa, and usually several candidates run in the primary for the right to oppose an incumbent in the general. In Iowa’s 3 Congressional Districts with Democratic incumbents the GOP had 6 people running in the 1st and 2nd congressional districts to challenge the Democratic incumbent (where the GOP primary winner will lose in the fall), and 8 GOP candidates running to challenge Leonard Boswell. (It will take a 94 election for Boswell to lose). The 4th congressional district had one Democrat run in the primary (and he will lose in the General to the GOP incumbent), in Iowa’s 5th congressional district 2 Democrats ran in the June 8th primary for a chance to lose to Steve King. I’m sure they both recognized the odds, given the registration numbers, and the idiots in the 5th district are overwhelming, but the desire to excise that cancer was great enough
to prompt to Democrats to run.
The recent questions raised regarding how Alvin Greene paid SC’s 10,500-filing fee, made me wonder if Delaware’s lack of competitive races was linked to a high financial hurdle to get on the ballot. Iowa doesn’t have candidate-filing fee, instead candidates must file nomination petitions with a certain number of signatures depending upon the elective office sought. The lowest signature requirement is for State Representative with 50 signatures, and the largest number is for Governor and US Senate with .05% of the state’s GOP or Democratic Presidential election voter turn out. (over 4,000 for the Democratic primary and under 3,500 for the GOP)
Like SC, Delaware requires candidates pay a primary filing fee. Delaware’s filing fees aren’t as high as SC, but unlike SC, Delaware can’t justify its primary candidate-filing fee. The filing fee in SC is paid to the state, and is used to help offset the primary election cost. Delaware doesn’t set or collect the primary filing fee. Reducing the State’s election costs is the only justification for a candidate-filing fee. In Delaware the GOP and Democratic Chairperson’s set the candidate primary filing fees, and the fees go to the political party.
This makes absolutely no sense! A political party can manipulate the filing fee to make it more difficult for grass roots candidates to run, there is no prohibition limiting a state party to raise the filing fee for a particular office in an effort to block a primary challenge against an incumbent, the only limitation on the party chair is they can’t set the filing fee in excess of “1% of the total salary for the term of the office”. An office with a 4-year term at 125,000 a year could require a 5,000-filing fee. It costs twice as much for a Democrat to run in a County Council primary than a Republican (1,633 vs. 816 fee)! The filing fee for the GOP or Democratic primary for Sheriff, Register of Wills, or County Register is more than 4 times the filing fee for State Senate (3,356 vs. 833). I’m a strong Democrat, but neither political party should be allowed to set the filing fee, and any filing fee should go to the government to offset the cost of the election!
Anon I’d never vote for Christine O’Donnell, but a candidate should not have such a huge financial hurdle to get on the primary ballot. And how the state justifies allowing the state party chairs to set the fees, and also allows the political parties to pocket the filing fee is beyond comprehension.
Can anyone explain to me the justification for allowing political parties to set filing fees for political races, or allowing them to keep 100% of the filing fee, while the state picks up the full cost of the primary election?
Iowa Dem,
I’m with you on this one. If the parties want to collect the filing fees, they should pay for the cost of financing the primaries themselves. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden in order for a private group to conduct its business.
ID: I agree, too. But there’s a world of difference in running for Congress vs. running for the state legislature.
I don’t know how many Iowa state legislators run without major party opposition in the general election, but consider these statistics:
In Iowa, each senator represents about 59,500 people and each representative about 29,750 people.
In Delaware, each senator represents an average district of 37,314 people and each representative represents an average district of 19,112 people.
That’s total population, not voting-age population. I know that Iowa apportions it congressional districts by a special panel of judges; does it do the same for its state House and Senate districts? I ask because gerrymandering a high number of uncompetitive districts is another reason Delaware lacks for candidates.
I wonder what the average winning vote total for a state rep race is…? 5 maybe 6,000 ? You basically need your family and your softball team to show up.
ID – when did you get back? Shall we continue where we left off? 😛 I KID! Welcome back.
On a general note to this thread, expect tons o’ filings after today, but probably most July 5 up to the deadline on the 13th. This is typical for waiting until after the session is over. I am hearing there may be a few more primaries as well.
Geezer I assume your math regarding the size of Iowa & Delaware’s legislative districts is correct. It’s rare for an incumbent state legislator not to have a general election opponent. Even in districts where the voter registration overwhelmingly favors one party (i.e. greater than 2-1) someone of the opposing party is almost always on the ballot, even if their entire campaign consists solely of being on the ballot. Occasionally long term incumbents, thought to be safe are upset in the general by their opponent’s strong grass roots campaign. And both party’s favored candidates often loses in the primary.
Every 10 years Iowa’s elective districts (Congressional & state legislature) are redrawn based upon the census. Constitutional and specific statutory requirements effect the redistricting (a county can’t be split into two congressional districts, no state senate district can exceed the population of the least populous district by more than 5%, etc.)
I wouldn’t call the panel that draws the electoral maps “judges”. A nonpartisan commission draws the maps, using computer programs to create compact and contiguous districts without regard to partisanship or incumbency. Then the legislature either approves or disproves the maps on an up or down vote. If the map doesn’t pass, the commission submits a new map. The fear with both parties is subsequent maps will be even less favorable. I recall one year the first map was rejected, and after the second map was drawn, those who opposed the first map wished they hadn’t.
In 2002, after the 2001 redistricting 2 incumbent Congressman (Boswell D & Leach R) had to move from their hometown to avoid running against an incumbent in their own party (Leach), or in a district where the party registration now heavily favored the other party (Boswell). 25 of Iowa’s incumbent state senators were placed in the same district as another incumbent. A couple moved to a new home in a district with no incumbent, but most either ran against the other incumbent in the primary of general election (or retired).
Gerrymandering is constitutionally and statutorily prohibited. Iowa’s 5 congressional and many state legislature districts might look like a gerrymandered district, but it really is a result of complying with the population and other districting requirements. The hope is if Iowa loses a congressional seat after the census, the new districts will put Iowa’s two GOP congressman Tom Latham and Steve King together. However Latham (a Saint next to King) lives in the Eastern most part of the 4th district, and King lives in the very western most part of the 5th district, making it unlikely.
Geezer what is the filing fee for Congress and Senate in Delaware? Are they the same for both parties? Under Delaware law either party could set the filing fee at 3,500 for congress (1% of the salary for the term), and 10,500 for Senate.
Are there any elective offices, other than county council, where the GOP and Democratic Party have a different filing fee?
RSmitty – I stayed longer than planned (not only in Iowa – I went to Minneapolis to see the Twins play the Yankees – Target Field’s nice! And took a couple other mini-trips), but I’ve been back for almost two weeks. I understand you’re joking re: continuing where we left off?
But I did think about the subject last Thursday after the US Supreme Court struck down the “honest-services” statute, which was the sole legal basis of all Connolly’s charges against Gordon. Connolly relied on a different federal statute in the charge against Smith, and in the home mortgage charge against Freebery, all other counts rise or fall with the validity of the “honest-services” statute.
All 9 justices found the “honest-services” statute unconstitutional as applied against Skilling (yes of Enron fame, or infamy). Scalia, Thomas and Kennedy argue the entire “honest-services” statute is unconstitutional because it is vague and therefore a violation of a Defendants due process rights. A Defendant has a right to know in advance whether conduct is illegal, but because the “honest-services” statute doesn’t define what conduct constitutes a violation of the statute a Defendant was at the mercy of the prosecutor’s definition. The other 6 Justices held the “honest-services” statute is constitutional in cases where the alleged conduct involved bribery or kick backs, but was unconstitutional to charges involving any conduct other than bribery or kick backs.
Like Gordon, Skilling’s honest-services charges didn’t involve an allegation of bribery or kickbacks allegations; as a result under the Supreme Courts decision the honest-services charge against Skilling was an unconstitutional violation of his Due Process rights. If Gordon’s case were still pending the Supreme Court’s decision would have resulted in Connolly having to dismiss the case against Gordon (or the judge doing it for him).
Ignoring any feelings anyone has against a particular Defendant it was a good decision. The idea that a federal prosecutor could charge Cyril Wecht (or any other public employee) with 24 separate felony charges (each carrying a 10 year sentence), because 24 times over a 3 year period Wecht sent a fax on a non-county matter from the fax machine in county corner’s office can’t be defended.
Neither the majority or concurring opinion mentioned how Bush appointed US Attorney’s expanded prosecutions far beyond the traditional understanding of the “honest-services” (i.e. bribes or kick backs), instead the Court made it clear the statute applies only to conduct involving bribes or kick backs, and any application beyond bribes or kick backs is unconstitutional.
Nancy, there are approximately 5 different anons that comment here, what the hell makes you think that you have any idea who someone is, let alone their sexual habits?
Honestly, with such a glass house…
Comment by Nancy Willling on 29 June 2010 at 5:43 pm:
Quinn Johnson is being primaried by Valerie Jones-Rabb.
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Maybe Appo people don’t like the fact that Johnson was the only NCC resident who signed onto Wall’s bill to let Artesian build and run water and waste water facilities east of Rte 1 for their farm bureau buddies. They are already building 2 new schools a year to handle the growth and the new schools are crowded.
Also, Johnson was the only person I called about #442 who didn’t bother to call me back.
Well, I can tell someone really knows their stuff. If you would have done your homework before making any comment you would have found that none of the land in #442 is even in the Appo school district it is all in Colonial. and Colonial school district signed off on having enough room in thier schools for any growth.
If your going to comment on something, make sure you have your facts straight, Nancy.
And the new schools aren’t overcrowded…we’re working ahead of the curve, w/ projected numbers. That was so…..3 years ago.
Brent Wangen (L) is also running for US House of Representatives
I was wondering. What are your thoughts on 3rd party candidates.
I don’t see the 3rd party candidates having much of an impact at this point, Libertarian. Who’s filed?
According to the Department of Elections – a site well-publicized here that anyone who’s not too lazy can check; http://elections.delaware.gov/services/candidate/candidate_list.shtml – three Libertarians have filed.
(Search the page for “Libertarin,” because someone at the DOE apparently can’t spell, is too stupid to know the proper name of one of Delaware’s political parties or is too lazy to type the second “a.”)
– William Robert McVay of Dover has filed for the 32nd House seat.
– Jesse Thomas McVay of Dover (same address as William) has filed for Kent Recorder of Deeds.
– Timothy Richard Webb of Dover has filed for Kent Levy Court, 2nd District.
Wangen is supposedly running for Congress, but like Rollins and Castle O’Donnell and Protack and a host of other people who are either (a) lazy or (b) unable to come up with the cash, he hasn’t filed yet.
The IPOD chairman, Wolfgang The Impaler (whoops sorry … I meant Von Baumgart), put out a call for candidates a while back, but no one’s filed yet. A sad, sad commentary on what could have been a solid third party with some interesting planks in its platform.
Hmm. Laziness seems to be a theme today. Must be the heat, no?
Addendum:
James Rash of Dover has filed as a Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate. And Wangen has filed for Congress as well.
Both filed on Friday, but the Department of Elections is apparently too lazy to take five minutes and update the list at the end of the business day. Some filings don’t show up until the next business day.
Still no opponent for Beau Biden.
So far no filing for Castle, O’Donnell, Spencer, Rollins or Protack.
And a half-hour ago, we were precisely one week out. Forget about those petitions, Michelle?