By Joseph Edelen

DOVER — State Treasurer Colleen Davis has officially endorsed Sen. Sarah McBride in her pursuit for Delaware’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, she announced Monday.

On the steps of Legislative Hall, the two-term treasurer pledged support for the Wilmington Democrat, less than a week after ending her own campaign for Congress amid personal and family health challenges.

“We need leaders in Congress to break through partisanship and deliver for our country. We need Delaware’s servant leadership in Congress,” Ms. Davis said. “That leader is Sarah McBride. Just as she has done here in Legislative Hall, she will help break through a broken Congress to deliver for all of us.”

Ahead of the Sept. 10 Democratic primary, Sen. McBride has been an early fundraising leader in the competitive pursuit for the office — a race that includes outgoing Delaware State Housing Authority director Eugene Young.

Including the treasurer’s backing, the senator has received endorsements from four statewide elected officials. The others are Attorney General Kathy Jennings, Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro and state Auditor Lydia York.

“Democrats are uniting behind a candidate who can hit the ground running as our lone member of Congress and truly deliver for every family, every family across all of Delaware. I’m confident that that person is my friend, Sarah McBride,” Ms. Davis continued.

In the midst of Ms. Davis’ campaign, she announced Jan. 29 that she had been found to have an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer following recent genetic testing she received as a result of her father’s ongoing health trials.

To address her results, Ms. Davis underwent a preventive double mastectomy and had her ovaries removed, causing her to miss time from the treasurer’s office while she recovered.

Ms. Davis said Monday that she owes her father and family “this limited time” and wants to ensure that Delawareans are provided “continued stellar performance” from her agency.

“Colleen Davis wakes up every single day thinking about how she can do right by the people of Delaware and how she can improve the lives of working people in our state,” Sen. McBride said.

“In a small state, it’s not uncommon to run for the same office alongside friends, and that is, without question, the situation that we had because, over the last six years watching Colleen lead, I’ve not only gotten a deeper understanding of her effective leadership and compassionate leadership, but I’ve also gotten to develop a real friendship with her, and I am so honored to have her support in this campaign.”

After praising the accomplishments of the treasurer’s office under Ms. Davis’ leadership, Sen. McBride also applauded her candidness regarding the health challenges she and her family face, and her efforts to prioritize the need “for proactive steps to protect our health.”

“We know that, as elected officials, we should model what all Delawareans should be able to do, which is to not have to choose between their health and their family, between their paycheck and their jobs, and their ability to care for one another,” Sen. McBride added.

Along with her endorsements, the senator has raised more than $1.2 million since launching her campaign for Congress last June, ending 2023 with approximately $850,000 on hand.

Following the launch of Mr. Young’s campaign in July 2023, he raised more than $287,000 to finish out the year and went into 2024 with just under $200,000 in his coffers.

Mr. Young has not yet announced any endorsements but has received support from The Collective Political Action Committee, a group centered on equitable democracy and equal representation in government.

Sen. McBride and Mr. Young are running for the position being vacated by Democratic Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, as she pursues the office of retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Carper.

Dover-based veteran and businessperson Donyale Hall is the lone Republican to launch a bid for the seat.