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By Tyler Micik
The 153rd General Assembly gaveled into session on Tuesday, signaling the start of a new legislative year. This week was mostly ceremonial – legislators were sworn into office, and they took care of some housekeeping items. In the Delaware House of Representatives, six freshman legislators were sworn into office: • Claire Snyder-Hall (D) – Representative District 14 • Frank Burns (D) – Representative District 21 • Josue Ortega (D) – Representative District 3 • Kamela Smith (D) - Representative District 15 • Mara Gorman (D) – Representative District 23 • Melanie Ross Levin (D) – Representative District 10 Additionally, the House confirmed new leadership. Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown was sworn in as Speaker of the House, making her Delaware’s first Black Speaker. Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris and Rep. Ed Osienski moved up in their roles as Majority Leader and Majority Whip, respectively. Rep. Tim Dukes stepped into the Minority Leader role and Rep. Jeff Spiegelman became Minority Whip. Business should return to normal next week. The General Assembly will be in session through January 30, at which point they’ll go on Joint Finance Committee (JFC) break and return on March 11. This year, we expect to see some bills reintroduced that did not make it through the legislative process last year, like paid sick and safety leave, in addition to newer ones like a potential increase in the minimum wage, among others. Governor-elect Matt Meyer will be sworn into office next week on Tuesday, January 21. Please note the location for his swearing in ceremony has been moved from Legislative Mall to the William B. DeLauder Education and Humanities Theatre at Delaware State University due to the frigid weather forecast. You can find out more and register here.
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 By Tyler Micik
Delaware’s general election results are in! Matt Meyer (D) won the Governor’s race, beating Mike Ramone (R). Kyle Evans Gay (D) secured the Lt. Governor’s seat, defeating Ruth Briggs King (R). In the federal races Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) will succeed Tom Carper as Delaware's next U.S. Senator and Sarah McBride (D) will serve as our next lone representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. There were several key seats in the Delaware General Assembly up for grabs. The results of those races are:
The results in districts with open seats are:
So, what do these results mean? The Delaware State Senate will largely look the same next year aside from the departure of Senators McBride and Gay. A special election will have to be held to fill their seats. If those two districts elect a Democrat, the balance of power in the Senate will remain 15 to 6 in favor of the Democrats. In the House, all the incumbents won their races, but the Democrats picked up one seat with Frank Burns’ win over Brenda Mennella in the 21st district, bringing their total to 27 and thereby increasing their decision-making power. In the weeks leading up to the 153rd General Assembly convening on January 14, House leadership positions will be announced and committee assignments will take place—giving us a better understanding of what’s in store for next year. Similarly, we’ll know who Matt Meyer appoints to serve on his cabinet. These decisions, like the elections, will influence the future of our state. We will keep you updated as things move forward, and we look forward to working with all those elected to advocate for Delaware’s business community. By Helana Rodriguez Each year, Delaware Principal for a Day (PFAD) brings together local business leaders and schools to foster understanding and create meaningful connections between education and the workforce. Designed to provide business leaders with a firsthand look at the educational landscape, PFAD gives them a chance to understand the needs and strengths of today’s students and explore ways to support their journey toward career readiness. This year, 47 high schools were paired with more than 70 business leaders from 53 different businesses and organizations. Through classroom visits, hands-on activities, and in-depth discussions, participants gained insights into the diverse pathways offered by Delaware schools and discovered opportunities for collaboration. At John Dickinson High School, for example, students learned about engineering and trades careers from M. Davis & Sons, who further extended the experience by inviting students to tour their fabrication facility, giving them a real-world view of career opportunities in construction and engineering. Experiences like these allow students to envision their futures beyond the classroom and help educators and industry leaders identify specific ways to support work-based learning and mentorships. Many schools are now exploring similar collaborations, particularly in STEM, healthcare, banking, and skilled trades, with the hope of creating ongoing connections with Delaware’s business community. One principal reflected on the impact of PFAD, saying, “Our Principal for a Day brought such energy and insight. It’s clear that building these partnerships enriches the educational experience and inspires students in powerful ways.” The PFAD program underscores the value of these transformative partnerships, offering both students and educators a deeper understanding of career possibilities and essential skills for today’s and tomorrow's workforce. We thank everyone who participated this year! Those involved are helping strengthen Delaware’s educational and business communities alike, paving the way for a more connected and prepared workforce that will build a brighter future for the state.  The Delaware State Chamber is excited to welcome our newest team member, Danielle Blake, who will serve as our vice president of member engagement. She joins us with over 10 years of chamber of commerce experience, most recently working with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
Danielle is just shy of $1 million in career membership sales and has won the 2024 "Excellence in Membership and Development" award from the National Association of State Chambers of Commerce. She also won two awards in 2022 from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives: First Place in Total New Sales and Second Place in Total Dollar Value in the National Sales Winner (500k-2M Category). A native of Joliet, Illinois (think Blues Brothers), Danielle has a 5-year-old daughter, Megan, with her husband Mark, and an 11-year-old King Charles Cavalier named Payton, named after the legendary Walter Payton. A few fun facts about Danielle:
The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce (DSCC) has endorsed the following candidates for the 153rd General Assembly ahead of Delaware’s general election on November 5:
The Delaware State Chamber urges all Delawareans to play a role in shaping the First State’s future by voting on November 5. Early voting is open from October 25 to November 3 at designated sites in each county. Polls are open on Election Day from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. View a full list of candidates and races > Find your polling place > General election information > By Tyler Micik The General Election is on Tuesday, November 5th. Below is an overview of the statewide and State House and Senate races, which you’ll see on the ballot. All Delaware’s statewide races have two or more candidates running for office. As for the State House and Senate races, only two Senate Districts (2 and 6), are ones in which the incumbents have an opponent. They are Democratic Senators Brown and Huxtable. In the House there are 21 seats up for grabs. Six incumbent Republicans are facing a Democrat opponent, twelve incumbent Democrats are facing a Republican opponent, and there’s three open seats (10, 14, and 21). It’s important to note that if all incumbents in the House of Representatives, on both sides of the aisle, hold onto their seats and Democrats pick up the three open seats, that would bring their total to 27. This would be an increase in one seat from their current count of 26. Therefore, this increases their decision-making power, which is important for bills or actions that require a specific number of votes. For example, a 3/5 bill requires 25 votes. Those bills include things like overriding a Governor’s veto and imposing or increasing a tax. A 2/3 bill requires 28 votes and includes actions like amending the Constitution or enacting corporation law and municipal charters. A 3/4 bill requires 31 votes and usually includes things like creating debts and appropriations outside the government. Seats marked with an asterisk represent an open seat. Seats up for grabs are marked in red. STATEWIDE
STATE SENATE
STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
NEW CASTLE COUNTY New Castle County Executive*
By Tyler Micik
More than 120,000 Delawareans voted in Delaware’s Primary Election this past Tuesday. The full list of results can be found here. The stage is now set for the General Election on November 5th. The policymakers Delawareans elect and the decisions that follow will impact the business community and future of our state. Of note, NCC Executive Matt Meyer beat Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long by around 9,000 votes to secure the Democratic Primary for Governor. Rep. Mike Ramone won the Republican Primary handedly with nearly 73% of the vote. In the Democratic Primary for Lt. Governor, Sen. Kyle Evans Gay defeated Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker and Debbie Harrington. She will face former Rep. Ruth Briggs King in the General Election. In the race for Delaware’s lone U.S. House Seat, Sen. Sarah McBride won the Democratic Primary with 66,764 votes or approx. 80% of the vote. John Whalen III won the Republican Primary. Out of the incumbent State Representatives and Senators who had a primary opponent (Reps. Bolden, Parker Selby, Morrison, Bush, and Sen. Wilson) all of them held onto their seats except for Speaker of the House Val Longhurst who lost to newcomer Kamela Smith. Rep. Bryan Shupe narrowly defeated Patrick Smith by 12 votes. There were several open seats in the House. The results of those primaries are:
Joseu Ortega and Mara Gorman ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary and have no Republican opponent. Ortega will represent the 3rd District (Dorsey Walker’s seat) and Gorman will represent the 23rd District (Baumbach’s seat). Other races:
Many incumbents won their primary but have a General Election opponent in November. And it’s possible there could be two open Senate seats after the General which need to be filled by a special election if Senators McBride and Gay win their races. *This post was updated on September 16 to relfect that Carter Hill withdrew from the race for New Castle County Executive. The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce (DSCC) has endorsed the following candidates ahead of Delaware’s primary election on September 10:
After the primary, DSCC plans to make additional endorsements leading up to the general election on November 5. The Delaware State Chamber urges all Delawareans to play a role in shaping the First State’s future by voting on September 10 and November 5. The deadline to vote in the primary election is Saturday, August 17 at 11:59 pm. Early primary voting—at designated early voting sites in each county—begins August 28. View Primary voter registration information here and more election information like polling locations here. By Tyler Micik
You heard me describe 152nd Session of the General Assembly as unprecedented. It was characterized by a high volume of bills, accelerated decision-making, and significant policy shifts. The General Assembly introduced 438 bills between January 9 and June 30 (this count includes 84 substitutes). Twenty-four of those bills were pre-filed in December before session began. This high volume of bills, the speed with which they moved through the legislative process, and the number of committee meetings held, made it difficult for both legislators and stakeholders to fully discuss the proposals and understand their potential impacts. Two highly controversial bills were among the 438--HS2 for HB350 and SB313. Both impact two of Delaware’s largest industries—hospitals and corporate law, respectively—and signify extraordinary steps by the General Assembly. These decisions come at a time when we’re entering uncertain and uncharted economic territory. In good economic times, policy decisions can afford to be “roughly right” but with national real GDP growth rates shrinking, policy decisions need to be more accurate now than ever before. This includes decisions like the ones mentioned above as well as the State’s budget, which some claim is growing unsustainably. It is very important for policymakers to understand the implications of individual bills under consideration, and the connected nature those decisions will have on existing laws and regulations. We worry that the hectic pace of the hearings and legislative actions we witnessed this year will create a fertile ground for unintended consequences to emerge. In coming years, we hope the General Assembly will act more deliberately and spend an equal amount of time reviewing existing laws and regulations, while taking measure of their relevance and impact. The makeup of the General Assembly will be determined this fall, especially in the primaries this September 10. After the filing deadline in mid-July, only one state senator, David Wilson (R) is facing a primary opponent. In the House, five Democrat incumbents (Bolden, Longhurst, Parker Selby, Morrison, and Bush) and one Republican (Shupe) have primary opponents. Also, there are five open seats in the House due to retirements or decisions to run for another office (Schwartzkopf, Baumbach, Matthews, Ramone, and Dorsey Walker). Of these five, there’s a three-way Democratic primary for three of them, two-way Democratic primary for House District 21 (Ramone’s former seat), and Mara Gorman (D) is running unopposed for House District 23 (Baumbach’s former seat). The upcoming political landscape will shape the future direction of the state. No matter the outcome of the elections this fall, it’s our goal to work with those elected to support our members and provide businesses with the predictability they are looking for so that Delaware can thrive. By Tyler Micik
The 152nd Session of the General Assembly concluded last night. This wraps up a busy session in which hundreds of bills were introduced. Many of these bills impact businesses, including our members and the 60,000-plus licensed businesses across the state. If I could describe this session in one word, it would be unprecedented. First, due to the volume of bills introduced and the speed with which they moved through the legislative process, it was challenging for legislators and stakeholders alike to fully discuss the proposals and understand their potential impacts. Second, more committee meetings are being scheduled than ever before, many of which conflict with one another. Lastly, and most notably, the General Assembly passed some highly controversial bills like HS2 for HB350 and SB313. Both bills impact two of Delaware’s largest industries—hospitals and corporate law, respectively—and signify unprecedented steps by the General Assembly. These decisions come at a time when we’re entering uncertain and uncharted economic territory. In good economic times, policy decisions can afford to be “roughly right” but with national Real GDP growth rates shrinking, policy decisions need to be more accurate now than ever before. This includes decisions like the ones mentioned above as well as the state’s budget. Once again, the General Assembly passed the largest budget in state history. The $6.1 billion operating budget (SB325) for FY25 represents approximately a 9% year-over-year growth. Three Republican members of the House opposed the bill, noting that state spending has repeatedly outpaced revenues and claimed this level of growth is unsustainable. The General Assembly also passed a $168 million supplemental budget (SB326) in one-time measures and contingency funds. None of these decisions happen in isolation. It’s our hope that the General Assembly considers the impacts of their policy decisions on businesses collectively so that Delaware businesses can succeed. Their success is important for a state that receives nearly half of its revenues from businesses through things like franchise fees, corporate income tax, and other similar taxes, which in turn saves Delaware taxpayers money among other benefits. Unprecedented policy decisions lack certainty and predictability—things businesses highly value. An overview of the bills that passed :
Other bills headed to the Governor for signature:
Bills that didn’t make it through this year:
WHAT HAPPENS NOW? Any bills that did not make it through this year are considered “dead” and will have to be reintroduced next session if the sponsor intends to work them. Although session is over, the State Chamber’s work continues as we enter a period of political uncertainty ahead of the upcoming elections this fall. While the outcomes of the future elections are to be determined, one thing is for sure—there will be new faces in the 153rd General Assembly with 10 of 21 Senate seats and all 41 House seats up for grabs. We’ll see new people in at least five House seats because several representatives have already announced plans to retire or run for another office. They include Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf (RD14), retiring; Rep. Paul Baumbach (RD23), retiring; Rep. Sean Matthews (RD10), retiring; Rep. Mike Ramone (RD21), Republican candidate for Governor; and Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker (RD3), Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor. With so much change lingering, it’s more important for businesses to get engaged now than ever before. Building relationships with members of the General Assembly is essential to ensuring the interests of your business are heard in Dover. Like customer relationships, establishing and maintaining relationships with elected officials is vital because it helps create a better understanding for all parties and leads to better policy decisions. A great way to do this is by participating in the State Chamber’s Member-to-Member program. The program brings policymakers to your place of business so you can show how your company operates, share your compliments and concerns, and discuss the impact policy proposals—like the ones mentioned above—have on your business and employees. These conversations should highlight important legislation that will likely be reintroduced again next year such as:
The General Assembly will be on recess until January 2025. The State Chamber will continue to do our part to help bridge all sides and advocate for Delaware employers and their employees. To help create a better understanding and shared vision for Delaware's future, please consider participating in our Member-to-Member program, joining a State Chamber policy committee, or attending our events this fall. A seat at the table is waiting for you. |
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