Delaware’s 148th General Assembly includes six new lawmakers

 (file/NewsWorks)

(file/NewsWorks)

There will be several new faces in Legislative Hall come January.

Following Tuesday night’s elections, six new legislators picked up seats in both the House and the Senate.

While Delaware Republicans gained a few seats, they remain a minority in both chambers.

In the state Senate, newcomer Bryant Richardson upset longtime Senator Robert Venables, to serve the conservative Seaford area.

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The change will shift one seat over to Republicans, bringing the number to nine Republicans, 12 Democrats in the Senate.

In the state House, Republicans added two seats. Rich Collins defeated incumbent Democrat Rep. John Atkins to win the 41st District, representing the Millsboro-Selbyville area.

Kevin Hensley won the 9th District seat over Democrat Jason Hortiz. The seat was previously held by Democrat Rep. Rebecca Walker, who did not seek a third term in office.

Newcomer Lyndon Yearick is also a new addition for House Republicans. Yearick will represent the 34th District which covers the Camden-Wyoming area. Yearick won the Republican nomination over Rep. Donald Blakey in the September primary.

House Democrats will welcome Sean Matthews and Sean Lynn. Matthews defeated Republican Judy Travis for the 10th District seat. The seat, which serves the Brandywine Hundred area, was previously held by Rep. Dennis E. Williams. Matthews upset Williams in the primary.

In Dover, Lynn is filling the District 31 seat previously held by Rep. Darryl Scott. Scott decided not to run for a third term in office. Victory did not come easily, however, for Lynn who narrowly beat out Republican challenger, Sam Chick, with 2,609 votes to Chick’s 2,286 votes.

Incumbents stay seated

Most Delaware lawmakers seeking re-election this year were able to win back their seats with ease.

The biggest percentage win of the night went to Rep. Daniel Short, R-District 39, who won with 93 percent of the votes in the Seaford area.

The closest re-election bid was between Senator Bethany Hall-Long and Republican challenger John Marino. Hall-Long secured 6,230 votes over Marino’s 5,963 to keep her seat in the 10th District.

Just days before the election, Hall-Long was mixed up in election drama after her husband, Dana Long, was arrested for stealing Republican campaign signs. Election analysts predicted that Hall-Long could lose some ground in her district as a result of those actions.

The 148th Delaware General Assembly will begin in January.

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