Republican launches U.S. Senate campaign in Delaware

Nearly two years away from the 2018 election, Republican Chuck Boyce has declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Tom Carper.

Boyce, who lives in Middletown, filed his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission in February.

Boyce describes himself as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He’s also an author who’s published several business books. He’s currently working as chief publisher of the Newark-based Authority Media Group and is the founder of the Brandywine Executive Center.

“Delawareans deserve better than what is currently being delivered in Washington,” Boyce said, in a statement announcing his campaign. “We must end the musical chair mentality that is plaguing what it means to be a public servant.”

Boyce went into more detail in a post on LinkedIn, saying, “While our current elected officials are distracted with party politics, we have an obligation to protect those most at risk and provide opportunities for all Americans to thrive,” Boyce wrote. “We must continue to reward the risk-takers, and provide not just a safety net that entangles families within the system, but instead a springboard that rebounds them toward success.”

Delaware’s senior U.S. Senator Tom Carper has not yet announced whether he will run for reelection in 2018. He’s held the seat since he upset incumbent Senator Bill Roth in 2000. Carper is the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee and also serves on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Finance.

Before being elected to the Senate, Carper served as governor of Delaware for eight years. He also served more than 10 years as Delaware’s lone representative in the U.S. House. He easily won reelection to the Senate in both 2006 and 2012.