By Joseph Edelen

BEAR — Former Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control secretary Collin O’Mara announced his bid for governor Wednesday, touring all three counties after officially filing his candidacy.

The current president of the National Wildlife Federation had been weighing a potential gubernatorial run since last December, after launching an exploratory campaign committee, fundraising and participating in a number of candidate forums.

With his race official, Mr. O’Mara joins Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer in the Democratic campaign to replace Gov. John Carney, who is term-limited. Those candidates have yet to file with the Department of Elections but have until July 9 to do so.

Mr. O’Mara outlined an extensive policy platform in his announcement, with priority on improving the public school system, modernizing and boosting the economy by investing in clean energy sources and supporting working families.

“Having a governor that understands what’s happening in different communities and local economies but then can connect it to a bigger vision of where we’re headed is something that folks are searching for,” he said. “There is a desire for a more progressive option that can push further for what is possible with state government.”

In January, a Public Policy Polling survey of prospective Democratic primary voters showed that 30% of participants favored Lt. Gov. Hall-Long and 23% Mr. Meyer, with 47% undecided.

This contributed to Mr. O’Mara’s decision to run, along with the state’s struggling public schools, he said.

One of his top issues is ensuring that students are proficient in reading and math, as well as addressing the public school funding formula.

“This starts with our inequitable funding system; we still have a funding formula from the 1940s, and that’s based on the number of bodies, not based on the needs of the students,” Mr. O’Mara said in reference to the recent independent analysis of Delaware’s educational facilities.

The candidate has also pledged his support for universal pre-K, free school meals, boosting educator pay and removing disincentives from working in historically under-resourced schools.

Additionally, environmental causes are a priority for Mr. O’Mara, who noted that, given Delaware’s vulnerability as the lowest-lying state in the country, “it’s in our interest to be very aggressive in acting on climate, both on reducing emissions and bolstering resilience.”

This includes becoming the first state to produce 100% clean electricity by deploying offshore wind and solar power, as well as achieving net-zero emissions by utilizing green hydrogen and electrification technologies.

Mr. O’Mara said these initiatives can make the state a net exporter of energy instead of relying on neighboring states, which will create “jobs here that are producing energy, creating additional wealth and economic opportunity.”

While Delaware’s adoption of Advanced Clean Car II regulations and consideration of offshore wind has drawn pushback from residents, Mr. O’Mara plans to build bridges with those in opposition, such as intentional outreach efforts.

Further, he said he would have handled zero-emission vehicle regulations differently, by having “hard commitments” on infrastructure and consumer demand.

“At the end of the day, there’s fear, and I think the more that things are done transparently and openly with a lot of discussion, the more support there will be.”

Another key proponent of Mr. O’Mara’s platform is passing constitutional amendments to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or disability and to establish early voting, mail-in voting, same-day registration and permanent no-excuse absentee balloting.

“To make sure there’s no ambiguity, we should codify these in the constitution; that way, there’s never a question ever again,” he said in reference to a recent court ruling striking down Delaware’s expanded voting laws.

“Similarly with the other amendments I’m advocating for, we don’t want a situation where rights that are widely held and supported can be overturned by a single court decision or a single General Assembly. They should be embedded in the constitution.”

Ahead of this fall’s primary election, Mr. O’Mara said he is confident Delawareans “want a more progressive plan. They are ready for a change and an ambitious state government that can address the deep-seated challenges we face.”

Delaware’s primary election is set to take place Sept. 10.

Department of Elections

Staff writer Joseph Edelen
can be reached at jedelen@iniusa.org.
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