In the Delaware General Assembly, control of the
state Senate is not in doubt. Control of the state House
of Representatives very much is.
The 21-member Senate currently has 13 Democrats and
eight Republicans. With all 13 Democrats either not up
for election or unopposed, their majority is guaranteed.
It puts the focus on three open seats, all vacated by
Republicans.
The 41-member House has 22 Republicans and 19
Democrats. A combination of open seats and threatened
Republican incumbents, not to mention a political
atmosphere for change, gives the Democrats a decided
opportunity to take over.
|
Office |
Democrats |
Republicans |
Registration |
Rundown |
Outlook |
|
4th Senate |
Dee Durham
Michael Katz |
Richard Abbott
John Clatworthy
Michael Fleming |
Voters:
31,109
Dem: 34%
Rep: 42%
Other: 24% |
The Republicans will always
have Chateau Country. This is one open seat that
still has them smiling, even with a scrambled
primary |
Likely Republican |
|
10th Senate |
Bethany Hall-Long |
Andrea Daley
Jim Weldin |
Voters:
31,480
Dem: 44%
Rep: 31%
Other: 25% |
Although the
Newark-Middletown seat was Republican, Hall-Long
has registration and six years of House
experience on her side |
Likely Democrat |
|
17th Senate |
Brian Bushweller |
James Hutchison |
Voters:
28,031
Dem: 45%
Rep: 30%
Other: 25% |
Bushweller, once a Cabinet
officer, goes for an open seat he nearly won in
'04. "Hutch" counters with name ID as
Dover's ex-mayor |
Tossup |
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7th House |
Bryon Short |
Jim Bowers |
Voters:
14,846
Dem: 38%
Rep: 39%
Other: 23% |
Democrats snatched this
Brandywine Hundred district in an '07 special
election. Both parties desperately need it to
form a majority |
Leans Democrat |
|
8th House |
Quinn Johnson |
Martha Sturtevant |
Voters:
18,244
Dem: 46%
Rep: 30%
Other: 24% |
Democrats not only have a
registration edge, but they got a head start in
finding a candidate for the open
Middletown-Townsend seat |
Likely Democrat |
|
9th House |
Rebecca Walker |
Dick Cathcart |
Voters:
18,026
Dem: 42%
Rep: 34%
Other: 24% |
Cathcart, the majority
leader, faces a candidate hoping to improve in
her second foray for a lower New
Castle County seat |
Likely Republican |
|
18th House |
Mike Barbieri |
Terry Spence |
Voters:
12,399
Dem: 51%
Rep: 25%
Other: 24% |
Although Spence is the
House speaker, this rematch has the Republicans
nervous in a 2-1 Democratic district in
Stanton-Christiana |
Leans Republican |
|
21st House |
Pat Creedon |
Michael Ramone |
Voters:
14,588
Dem: 40%
Rep: 34%
Other: 26% |
Long a Republican seat, the Pike Creek Valley
district is in play due to Rep. Pam Maier's
sudden retirement |
To early to call |
|
27th House |
Earl Jaques |
Vince Lofink |
Voters:
13,821
Dem: 45%
Rep: 31%
Other: 24% |
Jacques came close in '06.
If the Bear-Glasgow voters believe the sins of
Lofink's son should be visited on the father, he
is endangered |
Tossup |
|
31st House |
Darryl Scott |
Nancy Wagner |
Voters:
12,355
Dem: 46%
Rep: 30%
Other: 24% |
Wagner is a fighter,
determined to keep her Dover seat despite
criticism of her family's his-and-her jobs on
the public payroll |
Likely Republican |
|
32nd House |
Brad Bennett |
Donna Stone |
Voters:
11,240
Dem: 44%
Rep: 30%
Other: 26% |
Stone is a national lawmakers' leader, but
Bennett knows politics. Democrats are talking
upset in the Dover seat his dad once had |
Tossup |
|
35th House |
Aaron Chaffinch |
David Wilson |
Voters:
12,101
Dem: 42%
Rep: 37%
Other: 21% |
Name ID is no problem for either Chaffinch, a
state police ex-colonel, or Wilson, a county row
officer, for a conservative Bridgeville-centered
seat |
Leans Republican |
|
41st House |
John Atkins
Barbra Lifflander |
Greg Hastings |
Voters:
14,828
Dem: 42%
Rep: 38%
Other: 20% |
It is all about Atkins in
south central Sussex and whether voters will
give him a new chance in a new party |
Tossup |
