A deeper Election 2024 dive: Lieutenant Governor and Insurance Commissioner

The third of what will be a series of several posts as we approach Election Day 2024, with Delaware's primary coming September 10.

Photo by Tiffany Tertipes on Unsplash

You may not think too much about these positions, but unlike other states Delaware elects its Lieutenant Governor separately (not as a ticket with the Governor) and is one of eleven that votes for someone to handle the insurance companies doing business with the state. While the Republicans have just one aspirant for each position, I’ll put them in the hopper now as well as concentrate on the Democrats who are fighting it out for November.

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 Democrats. Because this is pre-primary, I may update this later after the primary if a minor-party candidate enters the race. (If none enter, I’ll still repost a condensed version with updated info.)

And as always for my readers, most of whom live outside Delaware: consider this a template for covering your local and state races.

It’s been four decades since Delaware elected a Lieutenant Governor of a different party than the Governor, but there’s always the chance it could happen again. Prior to 1984, this happened three times in twelve years. Only the Democrats have a contested primary, while the Republicans will put up a familiar local face. And it’s ladies first, last, and always as no men are currently seeking the position.

Ruth Briggs King

Age at Election Day: 68.

Political/background: RBK was in the Delaware House of Representatives from 2009-23, resigning because she was moving out of her district. She was also an unsuccessful House candidate in the 2000 election. Website.

RBK stresses education, as she was a former educator herself. I liked the openness in revealing her answers to the DSEA survey; as expected she didn’t get the endorsement despite being the only educator in the field. Best line: “I would focus on the allocation of funds and ensure that money follows the student.” Include parochial schools and homeschooling in that and I might be led to stroke a check. She also wants to make it easier for “non-traditional” teachers.

As far as business goes, she notes: “Small Businesses cannot develop because they lack the appropriate infrastructure. As a legislator, Ruth fought to reduce government regulation and ease the burden on entrepreneurs. Recognizing the growing popularity of vocational education, she believes that trade work is a key contributor to helping businesses grow on a local level.”

Delaware ranks last in the nation for GDP growth. By removing regulatory roadblocks, Ruth will push legislation that allows businesses to flourish.

While she also emphasizes safety and wants to address the crisis in healthcare for our veterans, she’s also an advocate for our farmers: “A fifth-generation farming family, Ruth grew up in rural Sussex County. Ruth understands the hard work and value the agricultural community has for Delaware’s economy. As Lieutenant Governor, Ruth will fight to preserve Delaware’s farmland and protect our environment.” The only ask I have is that farmers have the flexibility to restore land to a developable state on a generational basis (20-25 years.) Some farmers survive lean years on selling their outlots.

She also makes a good point about healthcare: “Migration and retirement from other states have put a tremendous strain on Delaware’s healthcare system. Ruth has observed hospitals struggling to bring in specialties and expand to meet the growing needs of the population. As Lieutenant Governor, Ruth will push legislation that supports the expansion of primary and emergency care for communities throughout Delaware.”

On this one I have a bone to pick with her, though: “Delaware was losing business and impacting the qualify of life with the lack of rural broadband services. Her first steps in the legislature were to bring this issue to the forefront for rural areas, increasing the potential for economic growth and personal communication. Because of Ruth’s leadership, Delaware is prepared to install fiber and increase access throughout the state.” No, ma’am, they’ve actually sloughed it off on the federal government after a half-assed attempt.

My thoughts: Not having a primary works to RBK’s advantage. She is the only candidate from Sussex County, so with their GOP vote pretty much sewn up she can take her moderate approach to independent voters sick of the other candidates trying to out-left each other.

As for the Democrats, they have three running as all try to climb the ladder to a statewide elected office - one is a statewide party officer, but not elected.

Sherry Dorsey Walker

Age at Election Day: 50.

Political/background: A member of the Delaware House from 2018-24, previously served on Wilmington City Council 2012-18. Website.

She has a very light platform, but what’s notable to me is what’s there and what’s not there. Not many Democrats would lead off their issues page by saying, “I have worked with colleagues creating meaningful bipartisan legislation to benefit farmers throughout the state. I shall continue being an advocate for the Agricultural Community.” Yes, agriculture starts with an A, but so does another pet issue for most Democrat women.

Most of her platform is an extension of the legislation she’s backed: body-worn cameras, eliminating chokeholds, affordable housing, adding black history to the state’s school curriculum, and an interesting job creation tactic: “Partnering with the City of Wilmington, Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center and Bethel AME Church we are getting Constituents skilled and trained in forklift simulation. Thus, helping to fill the need for over 20,000 fork lift operators in the state.” There’s that many in Delaware?

But it’s worth mentioning to me that many of SDW’s social media posts involve her church, which intrigues me and perhaps explains some omissions from her platform. As she says, “I believe in equity and equality for all people and I work diligently to make a difference in the lives of those, with whom I come in contact.”

My thoughts: Unfortunately, she’s not the only POC in the race nor is she the only one from her area. But I think our side could work with her if she wins, as she doesn’t appear to be too unreasonable based on her faith and actual familiarity with agriculture.

Kyle Evans Gay

Age at Election Day: 38, give or take based on available information.

Political/background: State Senator since 2021. Like her fellow Senator, Sarah McBride, KEG is “running from cover” as her State Senate seat is not on the 2024 ballot. She is a practicing attorney who “focuses her practice on litigation and government law,” according to her employer. Website.

A lot of what you need to know about KEG is on her “Meet Kyle” page: “In Dover and through my work with Delaware’s abortion fund, I worked closely with legislative leaders and advocates to ensure Delawareans seeking reproductive care were protected from the ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Whomever Delaware elects in 2024 must be willing to do whatever it takes to protect and expand reproductive rights in our state, and I’m proud of my record on this foundational issue.” The snippet of her page is definitely the focus of her campaign, as she otherwise doesn’t have a true platform, simply stating her work to “reform” the child care and criminal justice systems.

As covered by Delaware Public Media, “In a video announcing her run, Evans Gay focuses on making things easier for Delaware families, touting her votes to raise the minimum wage, provide security for seniors, and expand access to childcare and abortion rights.” Yep, there’s that other A word again.

Per her social media, she’s also been recently endorsed by Brady PAC, Moms Demand Action anti-gun group, the state AFL-CIO, DSEA teachers’ union, Delaware Building Trades union, and the state Democrat Party.

My thoughts: An “Abortion Barbie” straight out of Democrat Central Casting. I doubt she has an independent thought in her head. Maybe she should have been named Karen instead of Kyle.

Debbie Harrington

Age at Election Day: Just guessing, but based on the length of her military career and post-retirement activities, probably late 50s.

Political/background: Debbie ran for State Representative in 2020, but has more recently served as a vice-chair in the Delaware Democrat Party. She is retired Army (a veteran of Desert Storm) after 25 years of service, retiring as a Colonel. Website.

Her first priority is crime, stating, “Delawareans deserve a modern and robust criminal justice system that holds criminals accountable to the law while rehabilitating those individuals who deserve a second chance. We need a correctional system that practices restorative justice and especially allows non-violent offenders to repay their debts to society in community service.”

Next up is creating wealth, as she notes: “We must change our thinking around wealth from a focus on poverty to how individuals and businesses create wealth through earning, investing and saving money, through equitable contracting for work and through financial planning.” She wants to “consider the timing and amount” to raise the minimum wage as well as encourage more community banking and investment in low- and moderate-income areas.

On the other hand, she says, “Fossil fuel consumption is not sustainable and its pollutants and gases that trap heat are harmful to our habitat. Our focus must be on renewable and clean energy technologies and solutions, including offshore wind farms, electric charging station, and solar powered energy solutions.” Yes, she has swallowed the narrative about global warming.

For her fellow veterans, she wants to “(create) an Office of Veteran Services that is fully staffed in size and talent and has viable capacity to answer homelessness, unemployment, lack of education and poor health.”

Regarding housing, “I would insist upon a Housing Health Consortium that brings together homeowners, tenants, landlords, bankers, builders, developers, non-profits and labor unions to manage policies and practices that are equitable and ensure affordable housing, home ownership, and fair leasing.

Let’s incentivize developers to include affordable housing units in new construction. It is important to create a state-level rehabilitation and preservation fund that can support only those companies that are already renovating existing affordable housing units and preventing conversion to market-rate housing. In order to get people off the streets we must increase funding for homeless shelters and supportive services to address immediate needs and facilitate the transition to permanent housing.”

Her other priorities are to address the teacher shortage, mental health, and people with disabilities - the latter in large part because she has a disabled child.

My thoughts: A very interesting background for a Democrat who sounds rather centrist aside from the belief in manmade climate change and the need for “green” energy. Although it’s not to the extent of SDW above, there are probably areas where we could find common ground. Unfortunately, the two minority candidates will likely cannibalize each others’ votes, allowing Abortion Barbie to win.

As the Democrat primary goes:

Who should win: As a woman of faith, Sherry Dorsey Walker.

Who will win: Kyle Evans Gay.

Insurance Commissioner

The Insurance Commissioner race is pretty simple.

Ralph Taylor is on the ballot as the Republican, but there’s no website or other information about him aside from the fact he lives in Dover.

The Democrats in the primary are incumbent Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro, who has been in office since 2017, and his challenger for the second straight election, Kayode Abegunde.

Navarro won by 28 points in 2020, and I don’t see anything to suggest he won’t win again. But what I would like to see is some advocacy to bring in another health insurer as well as overtures to federal officials to promote competition by allowing us to buy insurance from other states. Work with the legislature to decrease the number of mandates on coverage and allow more of an a la carte system. I don’t need maternity coverage!

In the next installment in one week, I’ll cover local races with a primary on one side or the other. There’s a possibility that the primary will decide things in some of our local races.

Until my next election focus, remember you can Buy Me a Coffee since I have a page there.