By Craig Anderson

DOVER — What’s been known for nearly seven months is now official.

Republican Julianne Murray, 52, filed as a candidate Monday for the state attorney general position in the November election, following her public announcement to do so Sept. 16, 2021.

The race will include one less contender, as well. Citing health concern related to diabetes, fellow Republican and former Court of Common Pleas Judge Chuck Welch withdrew his candidacy last week.

Current AG Kathy Jennings, a Democrat, has not publicly announced whether she’ll seek reelection.

According to Ms. Murray, “Our current AG is light on prosecution in some cases, particularly gun crimes up until now, and I think that we have to clamp down on that and send the message that we’re going to prosecute.”

When making her candidacy official, Ms. Murray pledged to:

• Support law enforcement and oppose all attempts to defund and abolish the police.
• Restore public safety in Delaware and treat lawbreakers equally.
• Obey the Constitution and uphold the rule of law.
• Prosecute, especially for gun crimes.
• Keep politics out of the job.
• Ensure justice is blind and nonpartisan.

While Ms. Murray filed as a Republican candidate, she believes the AG should function from a neutral, nonpolitical place, which, in her opinion, isn’t currently the case.

“I don’t want people to have a preconceived notion when they think, ‘She’s a Republican,’ and then think they have an idea of what my goals are,” she said.

“So I firmly believe that, in this election, there are issues that affect everybody (from) all walks of life.”

More information is available here.

Ms. Murray, who lost the 2020 governor’s election to incumbent John Carney, is an attorney with the Law Offices of Murray, Phillips & Gay in Georgetown.

The general election is Nov. 8, with a July 12 deadline to file. Primaries will be held Sept. 13.

Besides an attorney general, a state auditor and treasurer will be voted on. All come with four-year terms.

Additionally, Delaware’s U.S. House of Representatives seat, with a two-year term, is up for grabs. Various state legislators and county officials will be elected, as well.