Delaware state senator running for Congress

Delaware State Senator Bryan Townsend will run for the state’s lone Congressional seat, hoping to represent Delaware in Washington, D.C.

The Newark Democrat announced his campaign on Thursday via email and Facebook, one day after Congressman John Carney officially launched his gubernatorial campaign.

Townsend said his campaign will focus on the economy and creating opportunites across the board. “Economic inequality and economic opportunity are right at the top of the list.”

“I think we’ve experienced many economic shocks at a time when the global economy is getting more and more competitive anyway,” Townsend explained. “And so now we see a situation where Americans have never been working harder, we’ve never had more wealth in our country, but it’s really concentrated just in the hands of a few people…”

Townsend has served three years in the General Assembly where Democrats hold majorities in both houses. When asked about the challenges he could face in a Republican-controlled Congress, Townsend answered, “I am prepared for that pushback. I think that it makes the job very difficult, it can be very frustrating, I think, but I think it’s also an important opportunity to really try to bring a different style of politics and a different voice to the debate.”

Townsend first ran for his seat in the state Senate four years ago, defeating 14-year incumbent Tony DeLuca. 

State Representative Bryon Short, D-Highland Woods, has said he is also considering a Congressional run. Other potential candidates include New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon and Attorney General Matt Denn.