Two Delaware Republican lawmakers decide not to run for re-election

Two veteran lawmakers, including the longest-serving member of the GOP in the House, have decided to step down after the November election.

State Senator Liane Sorenson announced Tuesday that she would not run for re-election to the Hockessin-area sixth district, which she has represented since 1995.  The sixth district was moved to southern Delaware as part of the redistricting process.  She would have had to run against Democratic Senator David Sokola in the redrawn eighth district. Sorenson was a co-sponsor of last year’s landmark legislation that legalized same-sex civil unions.

State Representative Biff Lee also announced that he would step down after representing southern Delaware’s 40th district for 22 years.  Lee stepped in to run in 1990 when his father, Representative Clifford Lee, was killed in a car accident during the campaign.  “For 22 years I have put constituents ahead of family and friends, and now I think it’s time that changed,” Lee said. 

Heading into this election year, Democrats control the House 26-15 and maintain a 14-7 edge in the State Senate.