Voters in New Hampshire, Delaware, and Rhode Island headed to the polls yesterday to vote in the final round of statewide and congressional primaries.
Delaware
In a major political shake-up, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer won the Democratic gubernatorial primary beating incumbent lieutenant governor Bethany Hall-Long (D) by almost 10 percentage points. The race also included former state environmental chief Collin O’Mara. Hall-Long was saddled with campaign finance mishandling accusations throughout her campaign.
Another significant leadership change occurred yesterday in the legislature: Speaker Val Longhurst (D) lost her primary to Kamela Smith. Smith was supported by the progressive Working Families Party.
Matt Meyer has served as County Executive for New Castle County since 2017. Meyer’s campaign has focused on fully funding public education and increasing teacher pay; expanding access to affordable housing; improving the quality and affordability of healthcare; ensuring the state achieves environmental goals; addressing gun violence and the opioid epidemic; ensuring police accountability; and improving ethical government. Meyer’s campaign reported $596,635.94 on hand in the final financial report before the primary. It is widely expected that Meyer will be the next governor of the Blue Hen State.
On the Republican side, Jerry Price, House Minority Leader Michael Ramone, and Bobby Williamson competed for a spot on the general election ballot. Ramone won the primary with approximately 72% of the vote. Michael Ramone, a current state representative, is running a campaign based on rehabilitating state education, supporting small businesses, ensuring responsible spending, enhancing public safety, supporting veterans, expanding research into alternative energy sources, investing in infrastructure, and improving healthcare.
The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystall Ball both rank the gubernatorial race as solid Democratic.
Lastly, of note, outgoing Governor John Carney (D), first elected in 2017, won the primary for mayor of Wilmington.
New Hampshire
Governor
After eight years on the job, Governor Chris Sununu (R) announced last year that he would not be running for another term. Following his announcement, an array of candidates lined up to take his position in the swing state.
The Republican primary saw former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R) face off with former state Senate President Chuck Morse (R). At the time of this publication, Ayotte has received approximately 63% of the vote and will advance to the general election. Kelly Ayotte is no stranger to public office, having served as the state’s first and only female attorney general from 2004 to 2010 and as a U.S. Senator from 2010 to 2016. (Ayotte lost her U.S. Senate re-election bid in 2016 to Democrat Maggie Hassan by about 1,000 votes.) Her gubernatorial campaign is focused on several priorities, including providing wellness resources for first responders; strengthening the penalties for heroin and fentanyl dealers; passing a Parental Bill of Rights; improving the mental health system; and, stabilizing future energy costs. She has vowed to never allow an income or sales tax to be imposed in New Hampshire and has placed public safety as her number one priority. Ayotte is dominating campaign fundraising, with $1.6 million cash on hand after spending $5.5 million and bringing in $7.3 million.
On the Democratic side of the aisle, two candidates emerged as the frontrunners during the primary, including former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig (D) and New Hampshire Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington (D). Craig came out on top after receiving approximately 48% of the vote. Joyce Craig was the first woman to be elected mayor of Manchester in 2017 after defeating a four-term incumbent Republican. Her campaign has promoted several policies on reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, energy and climate, and housing. If elected, she has vowed to support innovative industries, oppose “right-to-work” legislation, raise minimum wage, increase access to affordable health care, and address the housing crisis. Craig has raised just under $3 million to date and has spent $2.6 million during her competitive primary.
The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball have rated this race as a toss-up. New Hampshire voters have had a tendency to split their votes, favoring Republican governors but electing Democratic Presidents. In 2016 and 2020, voters elected Republican Governor Chris Sununu while also supporting Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.
State Legislatures
New Hampshire
All 400 seats in the New Hampshire House, and all 24 seats in the senate, are on the ballot this year: Both chambers are expected to be competitive. Ninety-two (92) incumbents in the house are retiring. House Republicans lost 12 seats in the 2022 general election, retaining their majority by only two (2) seats. While vacancies have slightly widened their lead, control of the house after November is uncertain. Four senate incumbents, including Senate President Jeb Bradley (R), did not file for reelection this year.
Delaware
All 41 seats in the Delaware House of Representatives, and 10 of 21 senate seats, are up for reelection this year. Five (5) house incumbents did not file for reelection, including Minority Leader Michael Ramone (R). There are no retiring incumbents in the senate. While Democrats are expected to maintain their majorities in both chambers, they will need to elect a new leader in the house.
Rhode Island
All 75 seats in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and all 38 senate seats are on November’s ballot. Five (5) house incumbents are retiring this year along with four (4) senate incumbents. Democrats, who hold supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature, are slated to maintain control.