Delaware Republicans eye majority in state Senate

As Democrat Lt. Governor-elect Bethany Hall Long vacates her seat next month, Delaware Republicans hope to flip the seat and the Senate majority in their favor.

In 2014, Republican John Marino came close to defeating Bethany Hall Long in her re-election bid in the 10th Senate District. Hall Long won by just 267 votes out of more than 12,000 votes cast in the district. Marino’s strong showing was enough for him to be named the Republican candidate in the coming special election in the district.

 

“John Marino knows how to run a top-flight campaign and earn the votes of the people of the 10th District,” said Delaware GOP chairman Charlie Copeland. “We look forward to a fantastic campaign.”

Marino is a retired police officer and currently works as a realtor. “I am honored that the Republican Party has selected our team for this important challenge,” Marino said in a statement. “Delaware deserves much better than we’ve been getting from our state government.”

Republicans made a surprise Senate seat pick up in November when political newcomer Anthony Delcollo upset Sen. Patty Blevins who was the Senate President Pro-tem. That victory left the Democrats with just an 11-10 Senate majority. A win by Marino would put the Republicans in control of the Senate for the first time in more than 40 years.

“The Senate Republicans have been offering consistent solutions for years, only to be shut down entirely by the ruling Democrats,” said Senate Minority Whip Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley. “We’re ready to win this race and show Delaware that balanced government can make a lasting difference for them.”

The candidate announcement comes before the special election has been called. That won’t happen until Hall Long resigns from her Senate seat to be sworn in as Lt. Governor.