Paul Baumbach
Paul Baumbach (Democratic Party) was a member of the Delaware House of Representatives, representing District 23. He assumed office on November 7, 2012. He left office on November 5, 2024.
Baumbach (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Delaware House of Representatives to represent District 23. He did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on September 10, 2024.
Biography
Baumbach earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Delaware in 1983 and an M.S. in Computer Science from Villanova University in 1988. Baumbach's professional experience includes working as a financial planner, investment advisor and business owner.[1] In 1996, he founded Mallard Advisors, an independent fee-only financial planning firm, in Newark, Delaware.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Baumbach was assigned to the following committees:
- Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee
- Health & Human Development Committee
- Natural Resources Committee
- Revenue & Finance Committee, Chair
- House Technology & Telecommunications Committee
- Transportation/Land Use and Infrastructure Committee
2021-2022
Baumbach was assigned to the following committees:
- Transportation/Land Use and Infrastructure Committee
- Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee
- Health & Human Development Committee
- Revenue & Finance Committee
2019-2020
Baumbach was assigned to the following committees:
- Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee
- Revenue & Finance Committee
- House Technology & Telecommunications Committee
- Transportation/Land Use and Infrastructure Committee
- Health & Social Services Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce |
| • Health & Human Development |
| • Manufactured Housing, Chair |
| • Revenue & Finance |
| • Telecommunication Internet & Technology |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Baumbach served on the following committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce |
| • Housing & Community Affairs |
| • Manufactured Housing, Chair |
| • Revenue & Finance |
| • Telecommunication Internet & Technology |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Baumbach served on the following committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce |
| • Housing & Community Affairs |
| • Manufactured Housing, Chair |
| • Revenue & Finance |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 23
Mara Gorman won election in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 23 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mara Gorman (D) | 100.0 | 7,934 | |
| Total votes: 7,934 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Mara Gorman advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 23.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Paul Baumbach (D)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Baumbach in this election.
2022
See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 23
Incumbent Paul Baumbach defeated Brittany Ramone Gomez in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 23 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Paul Baumbach (D) | 61.5 | 4,823 | |
| Brittany Ramone Gomez (R) | 38.5 | 3,016 | ||
| Total votes: 7,839 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Paul Baumbach advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 23.
2020
See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 23
Incumbent Paul Baumbach won election in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 23 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Paul Baumbach (D) | 100.0 | 6,783 | |
| Total votes: 6,783 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Paul Baumbach advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 23.
2018
General election
General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 23
Incumbent Paul Baumbach won election in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 23 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Paul Baumbach (D) | 100.0 | 5,786 | |
| Total votes: 5,786 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 23
Incumbent Paul Baumbach advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 23 on September 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Paul Baumbach | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Delaware House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was July 12, 2016.
Incumbent Paul Baumbach ran unopposed in the Delaware House of Representatives District 23 general election.[2][3]
| Delaware House of Representatives, District 23 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Paul Baumbach Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 6,550 | |
| Total Votes | 6,550 | |||
| Source: Delaware Department of Elections | ||||
Incumbent Paul Baumbach ran unopposed in the Delaware House of Representatives District 23 Democratic primary.[4][5][2]
| Delaware House of Representatives, District 23 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Paul Baumbach Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Delaware House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 8, 2014. Incumbent Paul Baumbach was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[6][7][8]
2012
Baumbach ran in the 2012 election for Delaware House of Representatives District 23. Baumbach defeated Gerald Grant, Jr. and Claudia Bock in the Democratic primary on September 11, 2012 and defeated Mark Doughty in the general election on November 6, 2012.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Paul Baumbach |
57.3% | 4,770 | |
| Republican | Mark Doughty | 42.7% | 3,559 | |
| Total Votes | 8,329 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Paul Baumbach |
38.9% | 546 |
| Gerald Grant, Jr. | 34.9% | 491 |
| Claudia Bock | 26.2% | 368 |
| Total Votes | 1,405 | |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Paul Baumbach did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Paul Baumbach did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Paul Baumbach did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Paul Baumbach completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Baumbach's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Economic justice, including fair tax policy, EITC reform, support for owners of manufactured homes on leased land Criminal justice reform, streamlined criminal record expungement, elimination of cash bail system and of civil asset forfeiture, ensuring that Delaware does not reinstate the death penalty Public education reform, including fair and sufficient funding for schools with the most at-need students
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I lead legislative efforts to bring Medical Aid in Dying options to Delaware, to help those in their final days to make their own decisions, rather than having doctors and the state make those decisions. I am a leader in bringing adult-use marijuana to Delaware, with regulation, legalization, and taxation. I view this as similar to Prohibition in the last century, another failed policy. Properly done, this can shut down the 'gateway to worse drugs' by shutting down the black market for marijuana. This can also improve public health, by bringing cultivation under regulatory oversight. Adult-use marijuana use, first, already exists broadly, and second, is clearly no worse than adult-use alcohol use.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look to some of our retired/retiring veteran legislators--Bob Gilligan, JJ Johnson, Margaret Rose Henry. These legislators worked hard, were deeply principled, earned respect, and always put the state above their own interests, building consensus with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, always seeking a 'win-win' resolution.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Hard working, accessible, great communicator and great listener, thoughtful and caring.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I have developed a track record of communicating well with constituents, of working hard for our district and for our state.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
You need to be a good legislator, working with colleagues to develop good legislation, drive consensus to get legislation turned into law. You need to serve your constituents well, help them navigate through government, on the local, state, and national level, connecting them with the right people to address their needs.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like for residents of our district to feel that while I was their Representative they felt heard, that their priorities were well represented in Dover, that they knew who their Representative was and that they would not hesitate to reach out to them when they had a problem, and that their streets didn't have potholes.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. I was about 6 years old.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
The summer when I was 14 I worked at a summer camp with my cousins and uncle. I worked maintenance, mowing, stocking pool supplies and food supplies, cleaning toilets, replacing window panes. This lasted all summer.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
My party has a super-majority in the House but not in the Senate. This means that we are unable to pass any legislation with a price tag without the support of Senate Republicans. This prevented us from passing reasonable personal income tax reform in 2017.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
I believe that a mix of experience and fresh perspective is most beneficial.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Left unchanged, our state government's obligations will cost more than our current revenues will support, and we have not been successful in adopting a more financially stable alternative path.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
I would like the Governor to be in regular discussion with legislators, especially legislative leadership, so that issues are known before they become critical. There are two levels to this discussion, just within the party, and just as importantly, among both parties. Superior communication between the Governor and legislature can avert painful episodes.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Absolutely. For most of my legislation, I seek a co-prime sponsor from the other three caucuses, and this requires developing relationships with as many other legislators as possible. This helps strengthens the consensus which helps legislation successfully become law. It also helps bring broader inputs into the legislation-drafting process, so a better law results.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I prefer a rules-based computer driven redistricting process. I believe that something similar was accomplished in Pennsylvania in the last year, as ordered by the courts.
If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?
As healthcare makes up over 25% of state government expenses, I appreciate serving on the Health committee. This has helped me to better advocate for my Medical Aid in Dying law. I appreciate serving on the Revenue & Finance committee, so that I can have more input on proposed fiscal policy changes. I chair the House Manufactured Housing Committee, which involves striving to find middle ground between two 'camps' which are very, very far apart.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
Yes. In whatever role the caucus feels that I can serve them best.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Delaware scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
In 2024, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 9 to June 30.
- Legislators are scored based on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 10 to June 30. |
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 11 to June 30.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 12 to June 30.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 14 to June 30. |
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 8 through June 30.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 9 through June 30.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 10 through June 30. The legislature held a special session on July 2.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 12 through July 1.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 13 through June 30.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 14 through July 1.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 8 through July 1. Ballotpedia staff did not find any state legislative scorecards published for this state in 2013. If you are aware of one, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know. |
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to BP staff via Bio Submission Form
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Delaware.gov, "General election candidates," accessed September 27, 2016 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "glist16" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Delaware Department of Elections, "General Election (Official Results)," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Delaware.gov, "Primary election candidates," accessed July 13, 2016
- ↑ Delaware Department of Elections, Primary Election (Official Returns)," accessed September 22, 2016
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official primary election candidate list," accessed July 10, 2014
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official general election candidate list," accessed July 10, 2014
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ Delaware State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed July 13, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Delaware House of Representatives District 23 2012-2024 |
Succeeded by Mara Gorman (D) |
