Primary election is just nine days away

DOVER — Some notes and reminders between headlines and deadlines ...

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The primary election is just nine days away. We hope readers have benefited from the stories Delaware State News political reporter Matt Bittle has been cranking out in advance of voting day. The statewide ballots will include: •Democratic Party candidates for Congress — Sean Barney, Michael C. Miller Sr., Lisa Blunt Rochester, Bryan Townsend, Scott Walker and Elias J. Weir; •Democratic Party candidates for lieutenant governor — Sherry Dorcy Walker, Bradley S. Eaby, Gregory Fuller Sr., Bethany Hall-Long, Kathleen McGuiness and Ciro Poppiti III; •Democratic Party candidates for insurance commissioner — Trinidad Navarro and incumbent Karen Stewart Weldin; •Republican Party candidates for insurance commissioner — Jeffrey E. Cragg and George Parish; •Republican Party candidates for governor — Colin Bonini and Lacey Lafferty. Over the past two weeks, Mr. Bittle has reported on each of the congressional and lieutenant governor hopefuls in primary races. Today’s edition features the GOP gubernatorial entrants. On Tuesday, the Delaware State News will offer some insight on the insurance commissioner race. Legislative races for Downstate races include Democratic Party incumbent Pete Schwartzkopf vs. Don Peterson in state representative District 14; Morgan Hudson, Charles S. Postles Jr. and Robert Scott competing for the Republicans’ nod for District 33; Republican incumbent David L. Wilson vs. Robert D. Mitchell for the Republican slot in the District 35 race. In Sussex County, there are two Republican primary battles for County Council — Lisa Hudson Briggs vs. incumbent Samuel R. Wilson Jr. in District 2; Kevin E. Burdette, Irwin G. Burton III, Mark G. Schaeffer and Frank Shade for the District 3 spot. Among local elections in the primary, Levy Court third district incumbent Allan Angel has opposition from Keith D. Mumford. Registered voters can select their choices within their parties on primary day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Not registered? You’re too late for the primary. Oct. 15 is the last day to register for the general election.

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If you missed a feature or want to go back and compare candidates in the statewide primary races, visit the 2016 Election page at www.delawarestatenews.net.

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In addition to election coverage, the Delaware State News newsroom is working on four special publications that will appear in September. You’ll not want to miss either of these: •Our annual Henlopen Conference high school football guide will appear in the Thursday, Sept. 8, edition. One of the season’s fun questions to be answered is whether Smyrna High can defend its state championship title. Look for the first of our staff’s Pigskins Picks in the same day’s edition. •“Salute to Delaware Firefighters” will be in the Sunday, Sept. 11, edition in advance of the annual Delaware Volunteer Firefighter Association convention in Dover. Sept. 11 is the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country. We’re planning coverage of two events that day — an observance that has been held annually since then by the Citizens Hose Company and Smyrna, and a gathering at the 9/11 Memorial at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base. •In the Sept. 18 edition, we will have an “extra” special section on the 30th anniversary of the Air Mobility Command Museum’s 30th anniversary. It comes out the weekend before the museum’s three-day Festival of Flight. There is an AMC Museum page at delawarestatenews.net that has some information on the festival and recent feature stories and photos. •And, finally, race fans should be able to find Outside the Oval at select newsstands Sept. 26 in advance of the fall NASCAR weekend at Dover International Speedway. Look for the retiring Tony Stewart’s smiling, unshaven face on the cover.