Delaware's governor race gets crowded with 3-way primary for Republicans, Democrats

The race for Delaware’s next governor has become even more crowded with a third Republican candidate filing to run earlier this month, setting the stage for a three-way primary for both Republican and Democratic voters in September.

Lifelong Bridgeville resident Bobby Williamson filed for candidacy on July 2, creating a three-way Republican primary race for Delaware governor with challengers state Rep. Mike Ramone and Jerrold Price.

Williamson, who describes himself as a small businessman, “not a career politician,” said he would advocate for a “reinstitution” of regulations on the construction and small business industry; protect “children and parental rights, the churches’ ability to exist, and a proper education,” according to his campaign website.

He also supports preservation and wants to ensure that Delaware doesn’t become “an annex to California,” his campaign touts.

Democrats in the gubernatorial race also face a three-way primary Sept. 10 made up of Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer, and former state environmental secretary Collin O’Mara.

INDEPENDENT REPORT: Audit finds Hall-Long's campaign finances 'incomplete, inaccurate, misleading'

While there have been two events hosted thus far for gubernatorial candidates to debate issues facing Delawareans and discuss how they would approach leading the First State, much of the discussion around the race for governor has focused on campaign finance issues plaguing Hall-Long's campaign.

The winner of the Republican and Democratic primaries will face off in the general election Nov. 5.

DEBATE: Candidates for Delaware's next governor weigh in on Black maternal health, food deserts

Other statewide races on the ballot in Delaware this year include:

3 Democrats, 1 Republican vie for lieutenant governor

A three-way Democratic Primary is set among state Sen. Kyle Evans Gay, who represents North Wilmington; state Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker, who represents the city of Wilmington; and Debbie Harrington, a retired U.S. Army colonel and state Democratic Party vice-chair.

Gay clinched Delaware’s Democratic Party support for her run for lieutenant governor in mid-July.

Former Delaware Rep. Ruth Briggs King, who resigned from her legislative seat last year after moving across district lines, is seeking the Republican line for the statewide seat.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE: Former GOP lawmaker Ruth Briggs King considers run for Delaware lieutenant governor

The former legislator, who was first elected to the 37th District in September 2009 in a special election to fill the position vacated by former state Rep. Joe Booth, is the only Republican running for lieutenant governor. She will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the general election.

Incumbent, 2 challengers run for insurance commissioner

Democratic incumbent Trinidad Navarro is running for reelection to Delaware’s insurance commissioner, having received the state Democratic Party’s nomination earlier this month.

But he will face Democratic challenger Kayode Abegunde in the primary election. Abegunde unsuccessfully challenged Navarro in 2020 for insurance commissioner.

The winner of the primary race will face off against Republican candidate Ralph Taylor, a Dover resident and former Dover city councilmember.

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Who are the candidates for Delaware governor?