A Seaford-Laurel newspaper publisher and state senator will run against incumbent Gov. John Carney.
Bryant Richardson made the announcement at a religious freedom rally, the Delaware State News reported. Richardson and his wife Carol own Morning Star Publications.
Richardson has been a critic of Gov. John Carney’s emergency order and is one of the state legislators who introduced a bill seeking to limit Carney’s emergency powers.
Richardson has not formally filed for the post with the Board of Elections.
He will face a primary opponent, Neil Shea, an owner of Bellefonte Brewing in the Wilmington area. Shea has formally filed for office. Shea, an ex-Marine has been involved in the Reopen Delaware group that criticized Carney’s actions and held a rally.
Richardson will be the second Republican state senator to run against Carney, who formerly served in Congress. State Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover lost to Carney in 2016.
Richardson will run for governor in a. state where Democrats outnumber Republicans in voter registration figures.
He will also run during a year when former Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime U.S. Senator from Delaware, is expected to face off against President Donald Trump.