DOVER — In less than two months, Delawareans across the state will hit the ballot box to vote in the primary elections for their respective political party.
Candidates for seats in the U.S. Congress, Delaware’s House of Representatives and Senate, county councils, levy court and more had until noon July 12 to enter their name in the race for their desired seat.

For the 361,394 registered Democrats and the 209,208 registered Republican voters in the state, the primary election is about selecting which candidate is right for their party, but for members of the recently created Non-Partisan Delaware, the same cannot be said, as their candidates are locked in for the general election on Nov. 8.

On June 19, Delawareans gathered in Dover for the creation of Non-Partisan Delaware, an officially registered political party that aims to promote an open dialogue between residents to solve the issues the state is facing. The party seeks to solve these issues through “cultural and political activism,” and their top policy priorities are criminal justice reform, education and environmental protection.

As of July 1, the Non-Partisan Delaware party had amassed 1,163 registered members, which ranks fifth in members per political party in the state, trailing behind the Democratic, Republican, Independent and Libertarian parties.
The party has endorsed numerous candidates for a variety of seats in the state, including David Rogers for representative in Congress, William McVay for state representative of District 34, and Aarika Nelson for Kent County sheriff.

Since its creation, the party has appointed a 13-member governing board to approve party documents, which includes the aforementioned candidates for state seats. One of the board’s first acts since the party’s inception was creating an online Discord server for community members to join for campaign updates, party activities and news regarding Non-Partisan Delaware.

Packed field in 14th Senate District

In the most crowded primary election, five candidates are vying for the seat of retiring-Sen. Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, who served 40 years in Delaware’s House of Representatives and Senate.

The candidates consist of Robert Sebastiano, Sam Noel, Kyra Hoffner, Kevin Musto and Michael “Tater” Hill-Shaner, all Democrats in the 14th Senate District.

Mr. Sebastiano is an employee with the state of Delaware and has previously worked for the Delaware General Assembly. After growing up in a union household, Mr. Sebastiano is a supporter of collective bargaining for better pay and treatment in the workplace. He is running on a progressive platform with a “common-sense approach,” where he has prioritized inflation, taxes, affordable health care and a variety of educational issues.

Mr. Noel is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, who at the conclusion of his tour, settled in Smyrna and began a career as a carpenter. Currently, Mr. Noel is a council representative and delegate for Local 255 and is the head of the union’s political activities. He is the current chair of Delaware’s 28th District Democratic committee and sits on the executive board for Kent County’s Democratic Party. His platform places a priority on fighting for affordable housing, school safety and taking care of working families.

Ms. Hoffner has been working and volunteering with a variety of statewide organizations for more than a decade, including current work as a lobbyist with the League of Women Voters and as co-chair of the People Powered Fair Maps Redistricting Team. Ms. Hoffner’s past work includes organizations such as the Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. She is running on a platform of upholding women’s rights, reproductive justice, environmental prioritization, and tackling racial and civil rights.

Mr. Musto is the owner and president of Smyrna-based pharmacy Atlantic Apothecary and a compounding pharmacy in Camden, Atlantic Apothecary Camden. Throughout his career, Mr. Musto has received numerous honors for his work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was tasked with training pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in administering the coronavirus vaccines. Mr. Musto’s campaign issues include health care access and a variety of environmental and educational issues.

Mr. Hill-Shaner is a state leader in education and previously served as a doctoral intern with Sen. Ennis. His nickname, “Tater,” comes from growing up in baseball and softball, as the name is synonymous with a home run. He comes from a small business family, known for Smyrna’s Main Street Market, and currently works in the Smyrna School District as a special education coordinator. Mr. Hill-Shaner’s platform puts an emphasis on addressing residential concerns and improving areas in education.

Auditor of Accounts

Perhaps overshadowed by the lingering convictions of current state Auditor Kathy McGuiness, the seat will now have a primary election after fellow Democratic candidate Lydia York entered the race June 27.

On July 1, following the guilty verdict on three misdemeanors related to her time in office, Ms. McGuiness reiterated her stance to remain in the race and has since ignored calls for her resignation and removal. Only a few days from the launch of her campaign, Ms. York condemned the auditor’s actions and stated that she would “bring back transparency, accountability and leadership” to Delaware.

“Today we saw the wheels of justice turn in the right direction. I will restore accountability and transparency to the auditor’s office. The people of Delaware deserve excellent public servants and I will not let them down,” Ms. York said.
Ms. York has received support from a variety of Democratic lawmakers since launching her campaign, including Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax, Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, D-Newark, and Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport.

The Republican candidate for state auditor is Janice Lorrah, the New Castle County mother who made headlines earlier this year for suing Gov. John Carney because of his extension of the COVID-19 mask mandate in schools and daycares.