Delaware Treasurer Colleen Davis

delaware.gov

By Joseph Edelen

DOVER — State Treasurer Colleen Davis has ended her campaign for Delaware’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, she announced on Wednesday.

Ms. Davis had recently undergone medical procedures – a preventative double mastectomy and the removal of her ovaries – after test results showed she had a genetic mutation that put her at risk for cancer.

“In recent weeks and months, my family and I have gone through a great deal of difficulty,” the Democrat wrote in a statement. “While I’m recovering well, this has all helped clarify my priorities at this time in my life - that family, and our health, always comes first. I will therefore be ending my campaign for Congress in Delaware.”

The two-term state treasurer announced Jan. 29 that she would miss impending meetings and events to recover from the preventative mastectomy, which was part of a multi-faceted treatment plan. Ms. Davis had originally undergone testing amidst her father’s battle with an illness, she said.

Late last year, Ms. Davis took a two-day leave to recover from a surgery to remove her ovaries. That was the second part of the treatment plan, which she said went “smoothly.”

After announcing the suspension of her campaign on Wednesday, the treasurer pointed to her personal and professional priorities, referencing ongoing initiatives in her office.

“We are also doing absolutely critical work in the treasurer's office and I will now be able to throw all of my time and energy into the vital operations and programs within my office, including the rollout of the Delaware EARNS program in the coming months, which will eventually help more than 100,000 Delawareans save for a more secure future,” Ms. Davis said.

“I am so grateful for the abundance of support that I have received from all across Delaware, and look forward to continuing to serve our incredible state for years to come. The end of one journey is the beginning of the next.”

The departure of Ms. Davis in the Democratic race for Delaware’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives leaves state Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington; Eugene Young, departing director of the Delaware State Housing Authority; and political newcomers Alexander Geise and Curtis Aiken, who have filed their campaign committees with the Federal Election Commission.

To date, Dover-based veteran and businessperson Donyale Hall is the only Republican candidate to launch a bid for the Congress seat.

Ms. Davis’ second term as treasurer is set to end in 2027.