Dem
52
Ties
2
GOP
46
The last primary of primary season is in the books. After nearly 200 days—enough time for the Brits to work their way through two, maybe three PMs—we now know every general election candidate. Here are the results out of Delaware:
Statewide Office: We don't usually write up statewide offices other than governor, but this is where the action (potentially) was yesterday. In the race for state AG, incumbency proved to be a force more powerful than youth or anti-Trump rhetoric, as the 73-year-old moderate incumbent Kathy Jennings (D) easily dispatched the 42-year-old anti-MAGA fanatic Dwayne J. Bensing, 71.2% to 23.7%. Jennings will get another term, as her unopposed Republican opponent, David Graham, largely isn't campaigning, largely isn't fundraising and does not have a law degree.
Meanwhile, in the Democratic primary for state treasurer, Marine Corps vet and financial analyst Ted Lauzen, who is a Johnny-come-lately to the blue team, easily beat the more lefty climate activist Michael A. Smith, 45% to 32%. As we noted on Monday, there was a surprising amount of dark money in this race. The origin of much of that money remains murky, but at least some of it is AI money that went to Smith. Downballot races in small states don't get that much media attention, so we don't know if Smith lost because he's too lefty for moderate Delaware, or if it's because of the AI money, or if it's something else. However, it is certainly possible that it was the data-center cash; those kinds of donations are about as toxic right now as... well, actual data centers. Former state House Minority Leader Mike Ramone (R) was the only candidate on that side of the contest. Given that Delaware is D+8, our prediction is that on election night, Ramone will wanna be sedated.
The only other statewide office up this year, state auditor, had no competitive primaries yesterday. You can bet good money that in November, incumbent Lydia York (D) will ride roughshod over the unknowns who are challenging her. In 2022, she and the two other Democrats running for statewide office all won by identical 8-point margins, 54%-46%.
U.S. Senate: Very little drama here. Sen. Chris Coons (D) got 78% of the vote on that side of the contest; lefty teacher Jeff Appelhans barely broke 10%, and Eric No-Trump Hansen got just 3.8%. So much for (Z)'s plan to change his name to Bears-Suck and to run for governor of Wisconsin. The Republican in the race will be barely-a-Republican former state Senator Michael Katz, who wrecked the true-blue (well, true-red) MAGA man John Shulli, 77.4% to 22.6%. It would seem MAGA doesn't play in Delaware, even with Delaware Republicans. Democratic voters outnumbered Republicans 2-to-1 yesterday, despite a lack of high-profile races, so Coons is safe to sign a 6-year extension on his lease in Washington. Or to buy a 6-year Amtrak pass if he's doing the Joe Biden thing.
DE-AL: Rep. Sarah McBride (D) drew no challengers, so she was just sitting around waiting to find out which Republican she'll dispatch in November. It's going to be academic Joseph Arminio, who is basically a Reagan Republican. That might have gotten it done in 1992, which is the last time Delawareans sent a freshman Republican (Mike Castle) to Washington. It is not likely to get it done in 2026.
And with that, we have no more primaries to write about until 2028. Guess we picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue. (Z)