2012 Delaware elections

Delaware's 2012 general elections were held on November 6, 2012. Primary elections were held on September 11, 2012.

Federal

Senate

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tom Carper, who has held the position since 2001, is running for re-election.[1][2] Keith Spanarelli, a businessman, is challenging Carper in the Democratic primary.[3]

Kevin Wade, a businessman, is seeking the Republican nomination.[4]

Andrew Groff, a businessman, is running as the nominee of the Green Party. Groff has also been endorsed by the Libertarian Party.[5][6] Alex Pires, a businessman and attorney, is running as the nominee of the Independent Party of Delaware.[7][8]

House of Representatives

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative John Carney, who has held the position since 2011, is running for re-election.[9]

Rose Izzo, a housewife and unsuccessful Republican primary candidate for the seat in 2010, and Tom Kovach, the president of the New Castle County Council, are seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Carney.[10][11]

Bernie August is running as the nominee of the Green Party.[12] Scott Gesty, an accountant, is running as the nominee of the Libertarian Party. Gesty has also been endorsed by the Independent Party of Delaware.[13]

State

Governor

Incumbent Democratic Governor Jack Markell, who has held the position since 2009, is running for re-election.[14]

Jeff Cragg, a businessman, is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Markell.[15]

Lieutenant Governor

Democratic incumbent Matt Denn, who has held the position of Lieutenant Governor of Delaware since 2009, is running for re-election.[16]

Sher Valenzuela, a businesswoman, is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Denn.[15]

Margie Waite-McKeown is running as the nominee of the Libertarian Party.[6]

Insurance Commissioner

Democratic incumbent Karen Weldin Stewart, who has held the position of Insurance Commissioner of Delaware since 2009, is running for re-election.[17] Mitch Crane, a lawyer, former judge, and former acting director of the Consumer Services and Investigations under Stewart; Paul Gallagher, an insurance agent; and Dennis Spivack, a former Deputy state Attorney General and Democratic nominee for the At-large congressional seat in 2006, are challenging Stewart in the Democratic primary. Crane has received the endorsement of the Delaware Democratic Party.[18][19]

David Eisenhour is running as the nominee of the Libertarian Party.[6]

Senate

Because of redistricting, all 21 members of the Delaware Senate are up for election. The state Senate currently consists of 14 Democrats and 7 Republicans.

Open seats

District 6: Republican incumbent and Minority Whip Liane Sorenson is retiring.[20]

District 20: Democratic incumbent George Bunting is retiring.[21]

House of Representatives

All 41 members of the Delaware House of Representatives are up for election. The state House currently consists of 26 Democrats and 15 Republicans.

Open seats

District 1: Democratic incumbent Dennis P. Williams is running for mayor of Wilmington.[22]

District 11: Republican incumbent and Minority Leader Greg Lavelle is running for the 4th district state Senate seat.[23]

District 19: Democratic incumbent and Speaker of the House Robert Gilligan is retiring.[24]

District 20: This is a new seat, with no current incumbent.[25]

District 23: Democratic incumbent Teresa Schooley is retiring.[26]

District 32: Democratic incumbent E. Bradford "Brad" Bennett is retiring.[27]

District 38: Republican incumbent Gerald Hocker is running for the 20th district state Senate seat.[28]

District 40: Republican incumbent Biff Lee is retiring.[20]

References

1. Catanese, David (November 18, 2010). "Tom Carper to Harry Reid: Pick 2 chairmen". Politico. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
2. "Del. Sen. Carper Files for Re-election". Associated Press. WBOC-TV. May 26, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
3. Nuzback, Kara (August 6, 2012). "Smyrna resident challenges Carper in primary". Cape Gazette. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
4. Armstrong, Mellany (January 3, 2012). "Businessman Kevin Wade to run for U.S. Senate". WDEL. Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
5. "Andrew Groff". Green Party of the United States. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
6. "Delaware Candidates Nominated or Endorsed". Libertarian Party of Delaware. Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
7. Starkey, Jonathan (August 4, 2012). "Independent Pires takes aim at shaking up D.C." The News Journal. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
8. Koch, Andrew (July 17, 2012). "Pires Accepts Unanimous Nomination As IPoD Candidate For U.S. Senate". WGMD. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
9. Hayes, Jennifer (August 8, 2012). "Following the money trail: Delaware congressional candidates off to a slow start". Dover Post. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
10. "Izzo running for U.S. House seat again". The News Journal. October 12, 2011. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
11. Cherry, Amy (October 11, 2011). "NCCo Council President running for Congress". WDEL. Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
12. "GPDE nominates candidates for U.S. Senate, House". Green Party of Delaware. June 8, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
13. "Independent Party of Delaware endorses Scott Gesty for US House". Scott Gesty for U.S. Congress. August 7, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
14. Starkey, Jonathan (August 16, 2012). "Markell off leash in aiding Obama". The News Journal. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
15. Hayes, Jennifer (April 11, 2012). "Cragg, Valenzuela announce bid for gubernatorial ticket". Dover Post. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
16. "Denn announces run for re-election". Cape Gazette. August 25, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
17. Manahan, Kim (August 22, 2012). "Democrats debate Insurance Commissioner position". Middletown Transcript. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
18. Loudell, Allan (July 6, 2011). "State Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin-Stewart draws an early Dem. Primary opponent: A former employee!". WDEL. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
19. Starkey, Jonathan (July 24, 2012). "Mitch Crane gets DSEA endorsement". The News Journal. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
20. Hayes, Jennifer (April 3, 2012). "Sorenson, Lee announce plans to retire from General Assembly". Dover Post. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
21. "Sen. Bunting to retire". Dover Post. March 14, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
22. Min, Shirley (November 17, 2011). "Delaware State Representative running for Wilmington Mayor". WHYY. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
23. Gerace, Frank (June 4, 2012). "House Minority Leader Lavelle announces state Senate bid". WDEL. Archived from the original on 2013-02-05. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
24. Chase, Randall (July 1, 2012). "House Speaker Gilligan stepping down". Associated Press. WDEL. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
25. Bouchat-Friedman, Danielle (August 21, 2012). "County races highlight Hockessin forum". Community News. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
26. Denison, Doug (June 7, 2012). "Newark Rep. Schooley to retire UPDATE: Two Dems file". The News Journal. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
27. Prado, Antonio (June 6, 2012). "State Rep. Brad Bennett will not seek re-election as he continues treatment for alcoholism". Dover Post. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
28. Steele, Kelli (April 13, 2012). "Rep. Hocker Announces Run for Retiring Sen. George Bunting's Seat". WGMD. Retrieved September 2, 2012.

External links

• Division of Elections
• Delaware at Ballotpedia
• Delaware judicial elections, 2012 at Judgepedia
• Delaware 2012 campaign finance data from Follow the Money
• Delaware Congressional Races in 2012 campaign finance data from OpenSecrets.org
• Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation