Democrat John Carney wins Delaware governor’s race

Congressman John Carney (WHYY)

Congressman John Carney (WHYY)

Democratic Congressman John Carney has won the Delaware governor’s race, eight years after losing his first bid to become the state’s chief executive.

Taking advantage of voter registration numbers that heavily favor Democrats, Carney defeated Republican state Sen. Colin Bonini of Dover in Tuesday’s gubernatorial contest.

Carney has said job creation and economic development will be among his top priorities, along with improving Delaware’s public education system. At the same time, he has acknowledged that the next governor faces significant challenges, given troubling revenue expectations and escalating costs for Medicaid and state employee health care.

Carney will succeed Jack Markell, who defeated Carney in the 2008 Democratic gubernatorial primary.

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Carney, who served as lieutenant governor under Markell’s predecessor, Ruth Ann Minner, was then elected to Congress in 2010.

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