A deeper Election 2024 dive: Delaware's U.S. House seat (updated)
The second of what will be a series of several posts as we approach Election Day 2024.
The post for Delaware’s lone Congressional seat is second in line. What follows will be a capsule of each campaign from information I have gleaned through the study of their social media, campaign websites, and biographical information where available. I’ll work through the Republican candidate first, then the Democrat.
And as always for my readers, most of whom live outside Delaware: consider this a template for covering your local and state races.
This is updated to reflect the primary results, only one of which was a surprise. The Republican goes first.
I was as shocked as anyone to see John Whalen III win the Republican primary. The last-minute entry was sufficient to eliminate two-time statewide candidate Donyale Hall, giving Whalen a big race to run against the steep odds of a race made national.
I still don’t know how old Whalen is (although subsequent information puts him at around 74 years of age) but I know John is a retired Delaware State Police officer and construction company owner. Website.
He has a basic platform: immigration and the economy.
“Illegal immigration through our southern border is at a historic high. We cannot afford to let more than 8 million illegals into our country in less than four years without doing harm to our economy and national security.
Bidens failure to enforce U.S. Immigration laws has had ramifications that extends far beyond our borders. His negligence has ‘fundamentally’ changed hundreds of American communities into border towns, leaving them vulnerable to those who take advantage of his unlawful policies.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle often opine ‘our immigration system is broken.’ Therein lies the problem, is our system ‘broken,’ or is it political speak for government's failure to enforce our immigration laws.
Biden's ‘catch and release’ policy is in direct violation of 8 USC 1225 which requires the detention of all illegal aliens.
Congress should insist that the Executive Branch enforce our laws. It's a matter of national security.”
That reference should probably now be Harris/Biden given the position of our “border czar,” but regardless, John’s other main issue is the economy.
“Biden tells us that his economic policies are working, while average Americans watch their family budgets shrink as the federal budget grows. His war on fossil fuels has unnecessarily burdened families with higher electric bills, higher fuel cost for those traveling back and forth to work, and higher grocery cost, while lining the pockets of foreign entities that produce the solar panels and windmills for his climate agenda.
The federal debt is now $34.8 trillion. The cost to service the debt for FY 2024 is projected to be $870 billion, surpassing our defense budget of $822 billion. If deficit spending continues at its current pace, our Republic as we know it today, will cease to exist.
Its time for Congress to start asking the tough questions: Why are Americans being asked to borrow money to support foreign wars. Why are we supporting institutions of higher learning that are sitting on millions of dollars in endowments. Why do we continue to spend billions of dollars funding government agencies that have failed to perform the duties for which they were formed. Why did Congress remove the self-imposed ‘debt ceiling.’ Why are Americans being asked to spend billions to support illegal aliens.”
He closes this page with a prudent quote from Thomas Jefferson: "To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt .... I am for a government rigorously frugal and simple."
Since my initial post I have read that Whalen is pro-life and believes schools should concentrate on the basic subjects and leave the moral and religious education to the parents.
Also: “The veterans that are out there sleeping on the streets,” Whalen stressed. “They’re pretty much pushed aside when it comes to being offered free housing, for example, for the illegals, that we’re paying for.”
And: “Stop flooding the economy with government dollars, number one,” Whalen said. “The more money that you pump into the economy, that the government pumps into the economy, worsens inflation.”
As he told me, “I am a conservative republican who believes in ‘making America great again.’”
He’s already term-limited himself to two terms. I’d just like to see him win the first, since his opponent already has a job.
I was only shocked that Tim Sarah McBride got less than 80% of the vote - my thinking was at least 85% against two no-name opponents. It’s a definite contrast as McBride is a full four decades younger than Whalen.
Sarah has been a State Senator since 2021 and is “running from cover” as that State Senate seat is not on the 2024 ballot. As the Victory Fund describes it, “Sarah has been an advocate for most of her life, working for Delaware officials including former Governor Jack Markell and the late Attorney General Beau Biden, as a White House intern during the Obama Administration, and as a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ equal rights organization.” Website.
Endorsed by the Democrat Party and a host of unions and other special interests, Sarah is a standard-grade Communist-wannabe who has always worked in the (at least quasi-) public sector and is advocating for several pet overwhelming federal government issues:
On health care, it would be “the ultimate goal of universal coverage.” Expanding Medicare, lowering the age of eligibility, and providing a “public option” (which would soon be the only option) are the steps in getting there.
On abortion, Sarah is downright in-your-face: “As MAGA extremists continue to criminalize abortion, I will fight to protect the private relationship between a patient and their physician. In my time in the State Senate, I proudly worked to make Delaware a safe haven for reproductive care. I’ve supported and co-sponsored every pro-choice bill that has come before me and been a champion of bills expanding access to reproductive care in Delaware.” Since Sarah can’t have kids, why should anyone else?
Sarah is for a federal minimum wage of $15 per hour, indexed to inflation. S/he (and I use the term loosely) would would also work to restore what “Build Back Better” cut out, such as “paid family and medical leave, universal childcare, and investments in housing and elder care.” Sarah is also for the PRO Act, which is basically a gift to unions.
Another gift to unions and lump of coal to ratepayers: “I’ll fight to increase investment in renewable energy, make green technologies affordable and accessible for consumers and businesses, and ensure that the sustainable industries of the future employ a local and unionized workforce.”
Also, “I’ll vote to end mass incarceration, legalize marijuana and expunge convictions, and help to reimagine a system that prioritizes reentry and prevents recidivism.”
Sarah is for an “assault weapons” ban and stricter background checks.
On the financial front: “By embracing fintech, blockchain technology, and crypto innovation, we have the opportunity to cultivate a more inclusive economy that reaches every corner of our nation – and sets Delaware’s economy up for long term success.” I like cash myself. It’s not traceable.
Sarah also wants to, “combat the issues compromising the integrity of our electoral system such as dark money politics, election denialism, and gerrymandering. In Congress, I will be a champion of free and fair elections and work to strengthen our Democracy.” (Kid, we live in a republic.)
You know, having had one “first” representative who did little while in office besides try and use the same shtick for higher office, we’re poised to elect two in a row. Considering Sarah has $1.6 million in the campaign bank and the Democrat field got cleared, there’s not much else to say. Now we go beyond skin color and actually vote for someone with gender dysphoria, a latent mental disorder. (The American Psychiatric Association’s definition, not mine.) Delaware is not that far left of a state, but unless Whalen can pull off an electoral miracle - or Delaware comes to its senses, which at this time has the same slim odds, they’re going to elect someone who would fit perfectly into The Squad.
Writing on the race ahead, McBride said on election night:
While we celebrate our primary victory, we recognize that our work is far from over. This election year, we face critical stakes with MAGA extremists on the November ballot.
If Trump wins and Republicans gain full control of Congress, their Project 2025 Agenda threatens to gut Social Security and Medicare, defund public schools and child care, and ban access to reproductive health care. Our rights, freedoms, dignity, and democracy hang in the balance. Yet, this election isn't just about what's at risk—it's about what's possible.
Together, we can build a government that truly sees and respects all of us, guaranteeing quality healthcare, affordable child care and housing, rebuilding the middle class, protecting reproductive freedom, and ending gun violence. Our love for this state and our country drives us forward, as we strive for a better tomorrow!
Ms. McBride, those are not the jobs of government - at least not the federal version. Arguably many of those tasks aren’t suitable for state government, either.
But while McBride has all those endorsements, it doesn’t have the Michael Swartz one. Let some other state elect the first transgender member of Congress.
Next up in a week or so will be the other statewide posts on the ballot: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Insurance Commissioner.
Until my next election focus, remember you can Buy Me a Coffee since I have a page there.
Thanks for your expertise. This tranny stuff is getting old.