GOP dominates Sussex races

With Republican Ernie Lopez easily defeating Andy Staton in Senate District 6, and Republican Stephen Smyk winning the race against Marie Mayor for Representative District 20, Sussex County Republicans swept the two new legislative districts.

Republican Brian Pettyjohn also defeated Democrat Jane Hovington in Senate District 19 with 9,817 votes to 6,605, while Republican Ruth Briggs King retained her seat over Democratic challenger Beth McGinn. Pettyjohn told supporters he's celebrating by going to Disney World.

Briggs King said it's people who helped her get re-elected. She said she's getting to know the constituents in her newly drawn district and building relationships with them.

In Senate District 20, Republican Gerald Hocker won 68 percent of the vote to Rick Eakle's 32 percent.

In RD 38, Hocker's vacated seat, Republican Robert Gray easily defeated Democrat Shirley Price.

Rehoboth's Pete Schwartzkopf easily won re-election, one of the rare bright spots for Democrats.  Incumbent Rep. John Atkins narrowly defeated first-timer Rich Collins in Representative District  41, with 4421 votes to Collin's 4,352. Atkins won 50.4 percent of the vote to Collins' 49.6 percent.

Incumbent Sussex County Councilwoman Joan Deaver, the lone Democrat on council, retained her seat, defeating Donald Ayotte, 11,400 to 9,182. Republican incumbent Sam Wilson also retained his seat, easily defeating Democrat Gary Wolfe and Libertarian Ronnie Fitzgerald Jr.

In voting for clerk of the peace, Democrat John Brady won with  46,411 votes to Brooks Witzke's 37,780 and Libertarian David Eisenhour's 2,452.

Meanwhile, in statewide races, Gov. Jack Markell easily won a second term, and Sen. Tom Carper and Rep. John Carney, both Democrats, have retained their seats.