Delaware Lieutenant Gubernatorial election, 2016
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September 13, 2016 |
November 8, 2016 |
Bethany Hall-Long (D) |
Vacant |
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July 12, 2016 |
September 1, 2016 |
September 13, 2016 |
September 30, 2016 |
November 8, 2016 |
TBD |
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Delaware held an election for lieutenant governor on November 8, 2016. State Sen. Bethany Hall-Long (D) won election to the office.
| HIGHLIGHTS | |
Overview
The lieutenant governor of Delaware is the second ranking officer of the executive branch and served as the president of the Delaware State Senate. The office has been vacant since January 2015, when Matthew Denn (D) left the position with two years remaining on his four-year term after winning election in 2012 to the office of attorney general. Because the Delaware Constitution does not provide for such an occurrence, the seat was to remain vacant until after the next regularly-scheduled election, which took place in 2016. Denn's successor was sworn in January 17, 2017. [1]
Delaware has been under Democratic trifecta control since 2009. The office of lieutenant governor in Delaware has been controlled by Democrats since 1993, and recent general elections for the seat have not often been close, even in open races. Additionally, neither major party has had a competitive primary election for lieutenant governor since 1992. The 2016 primary election marked the first competitive Democratic primary race in over 30 years.
Six candidates competed in the September 13 Democratic primary: state Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, former Sussex County, Del., Register of Wills Greg Fuller, New Castle County, Del., Register of Wills Ciro Poppiti III, Rehoboth Beach, Del., commissioner Kathy McGuiness, Wilmington, Del., councilwoman Sherry Dorsey Walker and Brad Eaby, the Kent County Levy Court commissioner. Hall-Long had earned the most key endorsements heading into the primary election, but McGuiness led in fundraising, reporting almost $150,000 in contributions at the end of 2015. Poppiti and Hall-Long each reported about $90,000. Hall-Long won the nomination on September 13. Financial advisor La Mar Gunn was unopposed in the Republican primary election.
Hall-Long won the general election on November 8, 2016.
Candidates
Bethany Hall-Long (D)
State senator since 2009
La Mar Gunn (R)
Investment banker
| Click [show] to view candidates who were defeated in the primary elections. | |||
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Results
General election
Bethany Hall-Long defeated La Mar Gunn in the Delaware lieutenant governor election.
| Delaware Lieutenant Governor, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Bethany Hall-Long |
59.44% | 248,141 | |
| Republican | La Mar Gunn | 40.56% | 169,291 | |
| Total Votes | 417,432 | |||
| Source: Delaware Secretary of State | ||||
Primary election
The following candidates ran in the Delaware Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.
| Delaware Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Bethany Hall-Long |
29.09% | 18,326 |
| Sherry Dorsey Walker | 21.82% | 13,748 |
| Kathy McGuiness | 17.24% | 10,860 |
| Ciro Poppiti III | 17.21% | 10,835 |
| Greg Fuller | 9.05% | 5,701 |
| Brad Eaby | 5.59% | 3,522 |
| Total Votes | 62,992 | |
| Source: Delaware Department of Elections | ||
Context of the 2016 election
Primary elections
A primary election is an election in which voters select the candidate they believe should represent a political party in a general election. Primaries usually take place several months before a general election. Delaware utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.[2][3][4]
Delaware's primary elections took place on September 13, 2016.
Vacancy
The lieutenant governor's office has been vacant since January 6, 2015, when Democrat Matthew Denn resigned to become state attorney general. Denn was first elected lieutenant governor in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. He was elected attorney general in 2014, replacing retiring incumbent Beau Biden, son of Vice President Joe Biden, who had planned on running for governor in 2016 but died of brain cancer in December 2014. Denn left the lieutenant governor's office halfway into his second term.[5]
Because the Delaware Constitution did not specify how to proceed under these specific conditions, the seat remained vacant until a successor was sworn in on January 17, 2017.[6]
Party control in Delaware
Delaware has been under Democratic trifecta control since 2009. The state's electoral votes have gone to the Democratic presidential candidate every year since 1992; the state went to Republicans in 1980, 1984, and 1988.[7] A Republican has not represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate since William Roth left office in 2001.
The office of lieutenant governor in Delaware has been controlled by Democrats since 1993; the office had previously alternated party control every four to eight years since 1953. The state has a history of electing sitting or former lieutenant governors to the governor's seat: Democrats Ruth Ann Minner (2001-2009) and Elbert Carvel (1949-1953; 1961-1965), and Republican Michael Castle (1985-1992) all served as lieutenant governor at the time of their elections to the governorship; Sherman Tribbitt (1973-1977) had left the lieutenant governor's office four years prior to his election as governor.
Recent general elections for lieutenant governor have not often been close, even in open races: Matthew Denn won 2008's open race by nearly 23 percentage points, John C. Carney Jr. won the open election in 2000 also by 23 percent, and Ruth Ann Minner won 1992's open election by 24 percentage points. Further, the state has not seen a competitive primary race for either major party since 1992's Republican primary election. Ballotpedia was unable to determine when the last Democratic primary for the office took place, as the state Elections Commission does not publish historical primary election results prior to 1988.[8]
Campaigns
Campaign finance
Note: If a candidate does not appear below, he or she did not meet or exceed minimum reporting requirements.
General election
| Bethany Hall-Long Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| 09/25/2015-1/1/2016 | 01/20/2016 | $0 | $93,471.33 | $(8,962.02) | $84,509.31 | ||||
| 01/01/2016-08/14/2016 | 08/17/2016 | $84,509.31 | $122,511.39 | $(101,631.28) | $105,389.42 | ||||
| 08/15/2016-09/05/2016 | 09/20/2016 | $105,814.42 | $52,889.00 | $(94,108.08) | $64,595.34 | ||||
| 09/06/2016-10/09/2016 | $64,150.00 | $81,935.00 | $(105,180.31) | $40,904.69 | |||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $350,806.72 | $(309,881.69) | ||||||||
| La Mar Gunn Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| 04/20/2016-10/09/2016 | 10/13/2016 | $0 | $47,879.29 | $(37,386.85) | $10,492.44 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $47,879.29 | $(37,386.85) | ||||||||
Primary election candidates
| Brad Eaby Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| 1/19/2016 | 01/29/2015-12/31/2016 | $0.00 | $46,181.44 | $(32,058.18) | $14,123.26 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $46,181.44 | $(32,058.18) | ||||||||
| Greg Fuller Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| 1/17/2016 | 03/23/2015-12/31/2015 | $0 | $32,077.28 | $(13,537.77) | $18,539.51 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $32,077.28 | $(13,537.77) | ||||||||
| Kathy McGuiness Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| /1/14/2016 | 05/22/2015-12/31/2015 | $0 | $149,015.00 | $(37,396.86) | $111,618.14 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $149,015 | $(37,396.86) | ||||||||
| Ciro Poppiti Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| 01/20/2016 | 09/09/2015-12/31/2015 | $0 | $92,220.00 | $(15,527.70) | $76,692.30 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $92,220 | $(15,527.7) | ||||||||
| Sherry Dorsey Walker Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| 11/04/2015-12/31/2015 | 01/12/2015 | $0 | $11,814.87 | $(15.79) | $11 799.08 | ||||
| 01/01/2016-08/14/2016 | 08/14/2016 | $11,799.08 | $23,308.00 | $(30 728.49) | $4 378.59 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $35,122.87 | $(Expression error: Unexpected number.) | ||||||||
Endorsements
| Key endorsements, Democratic primary candidates | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany Hall-Long | Kathy McGuiness | ||||||||
| Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats | State House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst (D) | ||||||||
| Delaware State Education Association | Former U.S. Congressman for California Tony Coelho (D) | ||||||||
| Delaware Building Trades Council | State Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf (D) | ||||||||
| New Castle County Democratic Party Executive Committee | |||||||||
| Progressive Democrats of Delaware | |||||||||
| Delaware State Troopers Association | |||||||||
| State Senate Majority Leader David McBride (D) | |||||||||
| What is a key endorsement? | |||||||||
Debates
Democratic primary debate: March 17, 2016
All six Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor debated on March 17, 2016, at Delaware State University. The candidates discussed issues such as capital punishment and the economy; all six candidates expressed opposition to Delaware's death penalty, with state Sen. Bethany Hall-Long asserting that she had only voted against legislation appealing the death penalty to appease voters in her legislative district.
Sherry Dorsey Walker and Kathy McGuiness both stated that they would work as lieutenant governor to help create job opportunities for Delawareans. Brad Eaby cautioned that government could only help foster an environment of job creation, not create jobs directly. Ciro Poppiti said he would focus on youth and revenue generation, while Greg Fuller stated he would be a dedicated public servant.[9]
Democratic primary debate: August 8, 2016
All six Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor debated on August 8, 2016, at WDEL radio station in Dover. Each candidate expressed support for the Delaware Supreme Court's decision to strike down the state's death penalty, though Sherry Dorsey Walker criticized state Sen. Bethany Hall-Long for twice previously voting to uphold it. "Positions evolve and change," said Hall-Long in response.[10]
The candidates also discussed how their backgrounds would serve them while in office, and what their priorities would be if elected. Kathy McGuiness said she would "run this state like a business," pointing to her success as a business owner.[11] Hall-Long cited her career as a state lawmaker, and Greg Fuller said he was interested in serving as lieutenant governor, not in using the office to begin a political career. Brad Eaby and Ciro Poppiti said they would focus on the lieutenant governor's role as a member of the Board of Pardon.[11][10]
Campaign media
Note: If a candidate is not listed below, Ballotpedia staff were unable to locate any campaign media for that candidate. Do you know of any? Tell us!
Democrats
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Republicans
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About the office
The lieutenant governor of the State of Delaware is an elected constitutional officer, the second ranking officer of the executive branch and the first officer in line to succeed the governor of Delaware. The lieutenant governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality.[12] As in many other U.S. state legislatures, the lieutenant governor also serves as the president of the Delaware State Senate, though he or she can only issue a vote if there is a tie on any vote. The lieutenant governor also has a constitutionally provided seat on the Delaware Board of Pardons and has other responsibilities and duties as the governor shall assign.
Prior to the November 2016 general elections, Delaware was one of seven Democratic state government trifectas. As a result of the elections, Delaware was one of six Democratic state government trifectas in the 2017 state legislative sessions.
Incumbent
The office had been vacant since January 6, 2015, when previous Lt. Gov. Matthew Denn resigned to become state attorney general. Denn, a Democrat elected lieutenant governor in 2008 and re-elected in 2012, left office two years before he was scheduled to complete his four-year term.[1] Because the Delaware Constitution does not provide for such an event, the lieutenant governor seat remained vacant until a successor was elected on November 8, 2016, and sworn in January 17, 2017.
Qualifications
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Under Article III, Section 6 of the state constitution, the governor must be at 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for at least 12 years on the day of the election and a resident of Delaware for at least six years on the same date.
Authority
The state constitution addresses the office of the lieutenant governor in Article III, the Executive Department.
Delaware Constitution, Article III, Section 19
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A Lieutenant-Governor shall be chosen at the same time, in the same manner, for the same term, and subject to the same provisions as the Governor... |
Past elections
2012
| Lieutenant Governor of Delaware General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Matthew Denn Incumbent |
61.6% | 238,959 | |
| Republican | Sher Valenzuela | 37.1% | 143,978 | |
| Libertarian | Margie Waite-McKeown | 1.3% | 5,206 | |
| Total Votes | 388,143 | |||
| Election results via Delaware State Board of Elections | ||||
2008
| Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Matthew Denn |
61.3% | 236,744 | |
| Republican | Charles Copeland | 38.7% | 149,223 | |
| Blue Enigma Party | Peter Cullen | 0% | 92 | |
| Total Votes | 386,059 | |||
| Election results via Delaware Elections Commission | ||||
2004
| Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | John C. Carney, Jr. Incumbent |
62.1% | 218,272 | |
| Republican | James Ursomarso | 36.3% | 127,425 | |
| Independent | Michael Dore | 1.2% | 4,130 | |
| Libertarian | John Reda | 0.5% | 1,646 | |
| Total Votes | 351,473 | |||
| Election results via Delaware Elections Commission | ||||
2000
| Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, 2000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | John C. Carney, Jr. |
61.7% | 193,348 | |
| Republican | Dennis Rochford | 38.3% | 119,943 | |
| Total Votes | 313,291 | |||
| Election results via Delaware Elections Commission | ||||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Delaware state Governor election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
State profile
| Demographic data for Delaware | ||
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 944,076 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 1,949 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 69.4% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 21.6% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 3.6% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.7% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 8.7% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 88.4% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 30% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $60,509 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 13.9% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Delaware. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Delaware
Delaware voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Delaware, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[13] As of May 2017, eight state House districts and five state Senate districts intersected with a Pivot County in Delaware. The state has one at-large congressional district.
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Delaware had one Boomerang Pivot County, 4.00% of all Boomerang Pivot Counties.
More Delaware coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Delaware
- United States congressional delegations from Delaware
- Public policy in Delaware
- Endorsers in Delaware
- Delaware fact checks
- More...
See also
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Delaware government: |
Previous elections: |
Ballotpedia exclusives: |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Office of the Delaware Lt. Governor, "Homepage," January 6, 2015
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures Website, "State Primary Election Types," accessed January 6, 2014
- ↑ Fair Vote, "Congressional and Presidential Primaries: Open, Closed, Semi-Closed, and 'Top Two,'" accessed January 6, 2014
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ Office of the Delaware Lt. Governor, "Homepage," January 6, 2015
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Constitution," accessed September 13, 2015
- ↑ National Archives and Records Administration, "Historical Elections Results," accessed August 11, 2016
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Election results archive," accessed August 13, 2016
- ↑ Delaware State News, "Lt governor candidate stump at forum," March 17, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 WDEL 101.7 FM, "6 Democratic lieutenant governor candidates square off in WDEL debate," August 9, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Delaware State News, "Lieutenant governor candidates struggle to stand out in debate," August 8, 2016
- ↑ Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, "About the Lieutenant Governor's Office," accessed December 5, 2013
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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