It's time to get out and vote

Delaware’s long-awaited primary election is set to thin the field of candidates Tuesday, Sept. 10. Voters will finally know who will represent each party in the gubernatorial race. The Democrats have had a particularly nasty campaign the last few weeks. 

Many of the grievances have been aired out in the pages of our Viewpoints section. Since July 1, the Cape Gazette has received and published more than 70 letters to the editor about the primary election.

While the biggest statewide election is for the gubernatorial candidates of each party, the most spirited local race has been for the District 14 seat, where Kathy McGuiness, Claire Synder-Hall and Marty Rendon are seeking to be the Democrats’ nominee against Republican Mike Simpler to replace retiring Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf. Each candidate has received a lot of support in our pages, and now it’s up to the district voters to make the choice. 

Other local primary races of interest include Rep. Stell Parker Selby against Brian Jenkins in the Democratic race for District 20 in the Milton area, and Rep. Bryan Shupe versus Patrick Smith in the Republican race for District 36, which comprises Milford but also dips south to the Lincoln area. 

At the county level, Sussex County Council President Mike Vincent faces challenges from Christie Shirey and Matt Lloyd, while incumbent Councilwoman Cindy Green tries to retain her seat against fellow Republican Steve McCarron. 

Local elections are important, because those elected are the people who represent you either at Legislative Hall in Dover or at county council in Georgetown. In a time when it’s common for people to say politicians are out of touch with their constituency, now is the time to vote for the person who best represents your beliefs. 

With early voting and permanent absentee voting back for the 2024 elections, there are plenty of opportunities to cast a vote. Leading up to the Tuesday, Sept. 10 primary, five early voting locations have been made available for Sussex Countians. Each is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On primary day, polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is no excuse to not vote. Get out there and do your civic duty.