Candidate Name:
Mike Ramone

Office you are seeking: Governor

Party: Republican

Age: 63 years old

Hometown: Wilmington, DE

Political experience: State Representative (2008-present), House Minority Leader
(2023-present)

Professional experience: Entrepreneur (1983-present)

What uniquely qualifies you for this office?

For the last 16 years, I have had the privilege of serving in the Delaware House of epresentatives. As Minority Leader, I am in a unique position to serve and represent Delaware voters throughout our state, not just my district. I am also a small business owner and employ more than 200 hardworking Delawareans throughout our state. In my legislative district, Democrats and Independents far outnumber Republicans, and I have been able to win election after election because I understand the issues that matter most to our community. As both a legislator and an entrepreneur, I am a collaborator and a commonsense problem-solver. That is what I will do as Governor. I am not beholden to this party or that party; I am beholden to Delaware, and I will work every day to deliver for our state.

What are the top three issues for this office in your view?

As I talk to voters across the state, the same three issues keep coming up: our struggling economy, our failing schools, and rising crime rates. These are the issues impacting every single Delaware family. As Governor, I will focus my efforts on working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to promote commonsense legislation that addresses these issues. To fix our crime rates, we need to fix our economy, and to fix our economy, we need to fix our schools and provide our students with the tools and resources necessary to succeed.

What would be your top priority if elected?

My top priority will be fixing our broken schools that have failed Delaware children for too long. Despite having some of the highest per capita spending per student, Delaware ranks near the bottom in educational outcomes. This is unacceptable. To address this, we must increase performance-based incentives for Delaware teachers, eliminate Common Core, discourage social promotion and encourage merit-based promotion, and expand access to quality schools for all Delaware children, regardless of their zip code.

If you could change or protect one state policy or law, what would it be?

Earlier this year, there was much conversation about whether or not the state of Delaware should regulate hospitals throughout the state. I was a leading voice in opposition to this idea because more regulation would hinder the quality of care and raise healthcare costs for hardworking Delaware families. I was proud to stand up for our hospitals, medical professionals, and those seeking medical care. Unfortunately, after shutting down discussion in the legislature, Democrats were still able to pass this legislation despite bipartisan opposition. This is the sixth time during this General Assembly that passed legislation has been challenged in court using taxpayer dollars. In the five previous cases, the bills were overturned. As governor, I will always honor the legislative process, encourage thoughtful discussion, and ensure that the voices of everyday Delawareans are heard. Delaware families from Sussex to New Castle deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare without the influence of the state, and HB350 inhibits that.

What can Delaware do about its workforce issues?

As a small business owner and founder of the Small Business Caucus in the Delaware House of Representatives, I understand the issues that are important to Main Street and what it is like to sign the front of a paycheck. To encourage companies to move back to Delaware, we need to simplify Delaware’s tax code, eliminate the gross receipts tax, and consolidate Delaware’s tax brackets from seven to three. This will allow Delwareans to keep more of their hard-earned money and encourage businesses to expand and invest in our communities.

How would you protect or change state employee benefits?

Protecting state benefits was a top priority of mine this year. As Minority Leader, I worked with legislators on both sides of the aisle in both chambers to ensure state benefits would be protected. As Governor, I will continue this work to ensure that hardworking state employees, from our public school teachers to Department of Transportation workers, receive the benefits they were promised and have earned.

What would you do to improve the quality of education in the First State?

Our schools are failing Delaware students and setting them up for failure. We must eliminate common core curriculum and the one-size-fits-all approach that fails to meet the needs of our students. As Governor, I will expand teacher benefits to recruit and maintain quality teachers and to ensure that our tax dollars are going directly to the classroom. I will reconfigure our school districts where needed, reducing administrative overhead and increasing the amount of money going directly to students and classrooms.

What issues do you strongly support and would not compromise?

As a small business owner, I have a unique understanding of what makes our economy work and what does not. Creating a strong middle class that allows families and entrepreneurs to stay in Delaware and provide better futures for our children and grandchildren will always be one of my top priorities. We must simplify our personal income tax by consolidating our state tax brackets, and expand tax credits to low-income and minority entrepreneurs. I will always champion Delaware’s entrepreneurs and middle class.

How do you improve civility and thoughtful dialog in Delaware politics?

After 32 years of single-party rule, much of our state has been left behind. On day one, I will work with legislators on both sides of the aisle to increase prosperity for all Delawareans. At the end of the day, our government should work for every single one of us. I have always done what is right for Delaware, not what was politically expedient. I believe wholeheartedly that bringing varying viewpoints to the table fosters thoughtful discussion and helps to mitigate the unintended consequences of one-sided legislation. As our next governor, I will lead with that same commitment to balance and bipartisanship, and I will build a diversified cabinet based on expertise that brings many voices into the conversation.

How do you perceive the “Delaware way” today?

I believe many in Dover have forgotten what it means to live the “Delaware Way.” When I introduce myself to people, I explain that I am not scarlet red or deep blue — I am Delaware yellow. The Delaware Way is throwing aside partisanship and working through differences to find common ground and solutions to the issues impacting our families.