By Joseph Edelen

DOVER — Democratic New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer will be Delaware’s next governor.

As of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, he had received 56% of the vote, compared to 44% for Mike Ramone of Newark, the Republican leader of the state House of Representatives.

The county executive will succeed term-limited Gov. John Carney, who, in departing his post, was elected the next mayor of Wilmington.

Also decided Tuesday was the race for lieutenant governor, as Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, D-Talleyville, defeated former Republican Rep. Ruth Briggs King of Georgetown. As of 10:30 p.m. with almost all precincts reported, Sen. Evans Gay had 55% of the vote.

With her win, Sen. Evans Gay will replace term-limited Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in a three-way primary Sept 10. She finished second in that race to Executive Meyer.

Ahead of the polls closing Tuesday, the Daily State News spoke with Executive Meyer at Paul M. Hodgson Vo-Tech High School in Glasgow.

“(I got) into this because I believed things needed to change in Delaware. We built an incredible movement of volunteers across our state and have more support across our state than anyone who’s run for this office in 16 years. We’re proud of where we are,” he said.

“People are looking for answers — working people looking for better public schools, affordable housing, for higher-quality access to health care, to answers to a climate emergency. We’ve developed a vision to do that for us. It’s not promises; it’s plans that we’re going to turn into progress.”

First elected in 2016, Executive Meyer defeated heavily favored three-term incumbent Tom Gordon to secure the post that year.

And, prior to leading the state’s largest county government, he served as a U.S. Army diplomat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, then taught sixth and seventh grade math at Prestige Academy in Wilmington. He has also worked as an attorney and business owner.

As New Castle County government’s leader, Executive Meyer has overseen some of the largest affordable housing and public health investment in its history.

Additionally, he has provided transparency with how taxpayer dollars are spent with an online checkbook and developed the policing initiatives HERO HELP and the Police Mental Health Alliance; the Vacant Spaces to Livable Places plan to reduce delinquent properties; and the Hope Center, an emergency shelter that has served 4,300 individuals.

As governor, Executive Meyer told the Daily State News that he wants to prioritize education, such as redesigning the funding formula to ensure more money gets into the classroom, increasing teacher compensation, improving student outcomes and addressing child care barriers.

He also is focusing on environmental issues, like alternative energy sources, as well as affordable housing and transparency in state government.

“We’re going to do things that excite Delawareans and move our state forward,” he said.

Meantime, Executive Meyer’s victory is significant, as he will become the first governor who has not previously won a statewide office since former Gov. Russell W. Peterson in 1968.

The county leadership position will be taken over by Democrat Marcus Henry, who was uncontested in Tuesday’s election but beat New Castle County Council President Karen Hartley-Nagle in the September primary. He is the son of former state Sen. Margaret Rose Henry.

Rep. Ramone, now defeated for the governor’s post, has also retired from the General Assembly.

His 21st District seat in the state House was won Tuesday by Democrat Frank Burns, who defeated Republican Brenda Mennella. Mr. Burns had 58% of the vote.