Delaware election 2026: These 3 Democrats are hoping to replace Treasurer Colleen Davis

One of Lauzen’s top priorities is protecting the state’s AAA credit rating. That rating is given to states with strong fiscal oversight and stable credit outlooks. Essentially, the higher the rating, the lower the cost to repay bonds. Delaware has maintained its rating for nearly three decades.

Lauzen also wants to “modernize” the state’s debt policy. He told WHYY News that the policy has not been updated since the 1970s. Additionally, Lauzen said he wants to increase transparency in how the state invests taxpayer money.

“Each of those dollars is a hard-earned dollar that someone sacrificed and gave to the state. It’s a dollar that doesn’t go to groceries. It’s a dollar that doesn’t go to gas. It’s a dollar that doesn’t go to the utility bill,” Lauzen said. “The treasurer has the incredible responsibility and obligation and duty to our neighbors to ensure that those are invested well.”

Another priority for Lauzen is expanding access to state financial literacy programs. He used the ABLE plan, a financial literacy plan for individuals with disabilities or families supporting children with disabilities, as an example. Lauzen said it has about 600 accounts under the state treasurer’s office. However, he said that in public schools, about 5,400 families would qualify for the program.

“Families that are working so hard to make ends meet and care for others, the state needs to be proactively identifying, contacting and helping those families move through the bureaucracy of setting up those accounts,” Lauzen said.

Lauzen also believes there’s room for more one-on-one financial consulting for residents through the Stand By Me program and state partnerships.

Lauzen was endorsed by the Delaware Democratic Party earlier this month. Other organizations that have endorsed him include VoteVets Political Action Committee, Gun Sense Voter and Delaware Stonewall Political Action Committee. The latter two organizations have also endorsed Smith.

He’s also received endorsements from Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay, state Auditor Lydia York, State Sens. Laura Sturgeon, Russ Huxtable and state Rep. Sean Lynn, among others.

If elected, Smith said he would prioritize expanding retirement security for Delawareans. He told WHYY News that he supported Delaware EARNS, a program for workers who are not offered retirement plans by employers. Smith said that he would want to expand the program to include gig workers and self-employed individuals.

Smith also would want to reinstate DEFER, a retirement contribution matching program for state employees that was suspended during the Great Recession.

“We’ve been kicking the can down the road for 18, now going on 19 years, promising our state employees that we [will] bring back this match and I believe it is beyond time to make it right,” Smith said.

Making education more attainable through the state’s 529 college savings plans is another priority for Smith. He said he would want to increase the incentive in plans for children under the age of five from $100 to $500. He would also want to expand the Aspire 529 plan, which helps students in foster care save money, to include students who have either been disowned by their family or do not have a parental guardian to contribute to educational expenses.

Additionally, Smith said he would want to implement a baby bonds program for children born into low-income households. He said the state would put money into an account that would grow until the child turns 18.

“When they want to go to college, start a business, buy a home, they have a little bit of a nest egg to help them put down that down payment or get through [those] first few semesters,” he said.

Smith also said he would prioritize defending the state from “attacks by the Trump administration.” To Smith, that means informing the public of federal disruptions to state funding, and ensuring the state is prepared for any funding disruptions.

Smith has been endorsed by the Delaware State Education Association, Delaware State Association of Letter Carriers, Delaware College Democrats, Indivisible: Delaware Diamond Chapter, Gun Sense Voter and Delaware Stonewall Political Action Committee.

Officials who have endorsed Smith include State Sen. Jack Walsh, State Representatives Kim Williams, Stephanie T. Bolden and Sophie Phillips. He has also been endorsed by former State Rep. Paul Baumback and Newark Mayor Travis McDermott.

Similar to Lauzen, Miller said he would prioritize protecting the state’s AAA rating, so Delaware can continue to invest and borrow money from the federal government if needed.

Miller also wants to increase financial literacy programs for Delawareans. He told WHYY News that he wants financial literacy taught in high schools, and would create a one-credit class on the subject as a graduation requirement.

“I want [students] to learn about investing, I want them to learn about stocks, I want them to learn about bonds. I want them to be able to open up a checking account and savings account, how to apply for applications for things, and just let them understand how the money works, how the money grows from investing and so forth,” Miller said.

He also said he would want to create a mobile banking program for the state’s school districts, where a van would partner with local banks to teach students financial skills.

Miller also wants to expand the Delaware EARNS program, which he said could grow “exponentially” from the estimated 10,000 people currently participating. The program currently requires businesses to have five or more employees to be able to opt in, but Miller said he would want it open to businesses with fewer employees.

“If you’re just a general contractor working for yourself, a one-man show,” Miller said. “I want you to be able to invest in it yourself.”

Miller also wants an open-door policy for Delawareans, where people could meet with him one-on-one weekly to discuss their individual financial issues.

Former state Rep. Charles Potter Jr. and former state Treasurer Velda Jones-Potter have endorsed Miller.