Snyder-Hall wins 14th District primary

Claire Snyder-Hall said she personally met hundreds of people leading up to her win Sept. 10 in the Democratic primary for the 14th District, a seat held for two decades by retiring Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf.

“I knocked on thousands of doors, and I heard from many people at the polls who said they remembered me,” Snyder-Hall said.

Moving forward to the general election in November where she’ll meet Republican Mike Simpler, Snyder-Hall said she’s going to keep on knocking.

The unofficial counts for the Sept. 10 primary showed Snyder-Hall took about 41% of the vote with 1,898 votes. Marty Rendon finished second with 1,464 votes, while Schwartzkopf-backed Kathy McGuiness garnered 1,238 votes.

In the Sussex County Council Republican primary, both incumbents were beaten by newcomers.

In District 1, council President Mike Vincent was unseated by Matt Lloyd, who took about 58% of the vote with 1,999 votes. Vincent took 1,314 votes, 38% of the vote. Christie Shirey took 145 votes for less than 4% of the vote.

In District 2, newcomer Steve McCarron beat Councilwoman Cindy Green 2,535 to 1,802 for 58% of the vote.

Neither Lloyd nor McCarron have a registered opponent for the general election. They will be sworn in with the winning of District 3 – Republican Mark Schaeffer versus Democrat Jane Gruenebaum – at Sussex County Council’s first meeting in January. 

In possibly the most shocking upset of the night, Speaker of the House Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, lost her primary to newcomer Kamela T. Smith 1,453 to 1,273. Backed by the Working Family Party, Smith took 53% of the vote. The WFP is a national organization that says it is “the grassroots political party of the multiracial working class, fighting for a nation that cares for all of us.”

Delaware Senate leadership issued a statement before 10 p.m. congratulating Democrat winners in the governor, lieutenant governor and congressional primaries. They made no mention of Longhurst, but acknowledged Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long’s public service career.

“Tonight’s results in no way diminish her legacy of leadership in our state, particularly in the areas of public health, behavioral health and as an advocate for working families. We know she will continue to find significant ways to contribute to our state well beyond her successful tenure in public office," the statement reads.

Matt Meyer defeated Hall-Long after a contentious Democrat primary, earning about 47% of the vote, with 40,518 votes. Hall-Long got 36% with 31,588 votes, while Collin O’Mara got 14,142 votes for 16%.

In the weeks leading up to the primary, Meyer had called for a federal investigation into Hall-Long’s campaign over personal reimbursements from her account.

In a press release issued after his win, Meyer said his win was just the beginning of his movement.

“Whether you were with us in this primary or not, if you believe in our state’s great promise and potential, if you believe that our kids deserve the best possible public schools, that families deserve every chance at a job that provides economic security, that our environment demands protections to ensure that Delaware remains a beautiful place for those families to prosper, that housing must be safe and affordable for all – if you believe we in Delaware can do better, welcome aboard,” he said. 

Meyer will now face off against Republican Mike Ramone in the general election. Ramone won the Republican primary decisively with 72% of the vote over Jerry Price and Bobby Williamson. Ramone took 26,414 votes to Price’s 5,971 and Williamson’s 4,153. The House Minority Leader and New Castle businessman said he is focused on bringing balance to the state. 

“Stale leadership and inaction in Dover has created an environment where failing schools, crumbling infrastructure and a declining [gross domestic product] are normal,” Ramone said in a press statement. “Delawareans recognize the need for a fresh perspective and bold ideas to turn Delaware around.”

Current Gov. John Carney, who has reached his term limit, won a primary bid in the race to become the next Wilmington mayor, beating Velda Jones-Potter 5,308 to 4,565.

Here is how other local races played out:

House 20th District

Incumbent Rep. Stell Parker-Selby trounced her opponent Brian Jenkins in the Democrat primary 2,774 to 564. Nikki Miller, who did not have a primary, will represent the Republicans in November. 

House 36th District

Incumbent Rep. Bryan Shupe squeaked by Patrick Smith in the Republican primary 1,157 to 1,145. Shupe will run against Democrat Rony J. Baltazar-Lopez in the general election. 

Senate 18th District

Incumbent Sen. Dave Wilson retained his seat with 76% of the vote over Robert Reed, 3,383 to 1,084. 

Lieutenant governor

Kyle Evans Gay won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor with 48% of the vote, 40,638 votes, over Sherry Dorsey Walker’s 31,035, about 37%, and Debbie Harrington’s 12,640, about 15%. Gay will face off against Sussex County Republican Ruth Briggs King in the general election. 

Congress and Senate

Democrat Sarah McBride trounced her opponents with nearly 80% of the vote, 66,764. Earl Cooper took 13,557 votes, about 16%. Elias Weir took 3,286 votes, less than 4%.

John Whalen III earned the Republican nod with about 56% and 19,880 votes over Donyale Hall‘s 44% and 15,752. 

McBride is seeking the seat of Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Carper. Blunt Rochester will face off with Republican Eric Hansen and Independent Michael Katz in the general election. 

Insurance commissioner

Incumbent Trinidad Navarro won with about 74% of the vote over Kayode Abegunde in the Democrat primary, 61,257 to 21,569.

Ralph Taylor, who did not have a primary, will seek the seat for the Republican Party.