Delaware Political Weekly: April 27-May 3, 2018

That was quite the sneaky stealth political week.  Here’s what happened while you (we?) weren’t looking:

1. Ernie Lopez Gets A Primary Challenge.  Lynne Eckbold from Lewes filed this week for the 6th Senatorial District race.  She wrote a letter about feral cats once. A good letter. Does anybody have anything else?  I couldn’t find it, but I’m counting on my Sussex spies.  The Democratic candidate for the seat is David Baker.

2. D’s Get Solid Candidate To Challenge Sen. Bryant Richardson. In fact, there’s been some talk that Richardson isn’t wild-eyed-crazy enough for, well, the wild-eyed crazies. This is also a district that elected Bob Venables up until 2014, and he lost primarily b/c he had promised not to run again, but did. This week, Bob Wheatley of Laurel filed for the 21st SD race. Here’s his (still under construction) website.  Small businessman. Served on the Sussex County Planning And Zoning Commission (not necessarily a good thing). Won a primary for a County Council race in 2014, defeating Brad Connor by a 703-462 margin. Yes, he lost to Rob Arlett in the general election, 6849-4502.  But the Senate District is not as heavily R as the County Council district. I can at least envision a scenario where he wins. It includes an R primary, which may not happen.  Or, at least, dissatisfaction with Richardson, which may weaken, if not voter turnout, then down-ballot voting.

3. Stephanie Hansen Gets An R Challenger.  And her running mate is…Jesus.  For the record, the candidate’s name is Christine Metzing.  Her favorite book is the Bible. Her favorite movie is ‘Son Of God’. Her favorite musician is Matt Patti, whose musical genre is ‘Praise & Worship’.  Hey, why should I do all the work? Here’s her Facebook Page.  Look, Metzing has every right to her religious beliefs.  But, when that appears to be your sole reason for running, your appeal will not extend beyond those whose sole reason for voting is the Jesus that they envision.  Which is not  the same as everyone else’s vision of Jesus.

4. Primary In RD 17. NRA champion Mike Mulrooney filed for reelection this week, setting up a D primary with Melissa Minor-Brown, who is not a champion for the NRA. If she can run a credible campaign, she’s got a real shot.

5. Deb Hudson Files. Any Chance Of Forestalling That D Primary?  RD 12, perhaps the only remaining NCC RD with an R plurality. A plurality of under 400 in registraton between R’s and D’s. I think the D’s have a shot, but only if the primary between two good candidates, Rachel Blumenfeld and Krista Griffith, is resolved. Having less than two months for voter outreach to R’s and I’s is simply not enough to give the primary winner a reasonable chance at victory.

6. LaKresha Roberts Files For AG.  Here is her website.  This leaves only Chris Johnson among the announced D candidates yet to file. I hosted a meet-and-greet for Chris in Arden last week. He has what Yogi Berra used to call ‘deep depth’.  I’ll write more about the event–after he files.  I gotta say, this is an excellent field of candidates, Roberts included.

7. Other Filings. State Rep. Rich Collins (R-41st). Kent County Levy Court Commissioner Eric Buckson (R-4th LC Dist.)

That’s it for this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?