In a long anticipated move, U.S. Rep. John Carney announced he will run for governor.
Carney has long sought the post, but saw his hopes dashed with the dramatic primary victory by Gov. Jack Markell. Markell is completing his final term.
Carney issued the following statement in announcing his candidacy;
“I had intended to support Beau Biden as our state’s next Governor and continue my work in Congress. Beau knew there are big challenges facing our state — and he would have been the man to meet them. Like so many across our state, I wish he’d had that chance.
Yet, a season after Beau’s passing, we’re confronted with the fact that those same challenges Beau was ready to face still loom large along our state’s horizon. And someone has to step up to meet them.
After many conversations with my family and the people I represent, and much reflection, I’ve decided to ask the people of Delaware to give me the chance to tackle these challenges as our state’s next governor.”
Democrats have remained low key about the post since the death of Attorney General Beau Biden earlier this year. Biden had not sought another term as AG, citing a decision to make a run for the post.
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) issued the following statement on U.S. Rep. John Carney’s announcement that he will enter the race.
“I was privileged to work closely with John for most of the eight years that I worked as Governor of Delaware. During those terms, John was my Deputy Chief of Staff and then Secretary of Finance, and played an integral role on a great team that partnered with the legislature and citizens throughout the state to do amazing things. We balanced our budgets eight years in a row, cut taxes seven of those eight years, paid down some of the state’s debt, and earned a AAA credit rating for the first time in state history. We also worked together to provide the nurturing environment that created more jobs in those eight years than in any other two terms in Delaware history. Much of the progress we made was because of John’s hard work and leadership.”
“Delaware’s next governor will continue to face many challenges in the years ahead as we seek to grow our economy and state revenues, while finding ways to achieve better results for less money. John Carney is made of the right stuff to lead the people of the First State, and I look forward to supporting his candidacy. I will be proud to work closely with him in the role as our state’s chief executive, should the people of Delaware choose him to serve.”
As a congressman, Carney had staked out a role in the center of the Democratic party, making efforts to work with Republicans who hold a majority.
Carney comes from a blue collar background, growing up in Claymont as part of a large family. He went on to be an Ivy League quarterback at Dartmouth.
No primary rival to Carney has emerged. New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon was reportedly exploring a run for office, but has not made an an announcement.
On the Republican side, State Sen. Colin Bonini and retired state trooper Lacey Lafferty have announced their candidacies. Democrats hold a large advantage in the state in terms of voter registration.
The new governor will face many challenges. Delaware’s economy, while springing back from the recession, has lost higher-paying blue collar jobs. Also, the governor and General Assembly are seeing flat tax and fee revenues aren’t recovery as fast as the economy itself.
In a long anticipated move, U.S. Rep. John Carney announced he will run for governor.
