Democrat John Carney running for governor

U.S. Rep. John Carney announced Sept. 16 that he is running for governor in 2016. The decision came as no surprise to Mitch Crane, Sussex County Democratic Committee chair.

“Once Beau passed, [Carney] became the logical person to take his place,” said Crane of former Attorney General Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer in May. “He is a sitting United States Congressman, but it’s tough to pass up an opportunity to be the top executive of the state.”

Carney, a Democrat who has represented Delaware in Congress since 2011, announced his candidacy in a prepared statement. He said Delaware faces major challenges, and he hopes to take them on as the state’s next governor.

“Through my three decades working in federal, county, and state government, I've seen how government works and learned how to make it work better,” he said. “I've learned that you don't get anything done by fighting or demonizing your opponents. I've learned that Delawareans want their public officials to be honest and straightforward. I've learned that to be an effective leader, you need to stay true to those who elected you to lead.”

Crane said Carney had told him last week he was going to announce soon, but, said Crane, Carney was waiting to get the blessing of Vice President Joe Biden before officially announcing.

Carney acknowledged Beau in his statement.

“I had intended to support Beau Biden as our state's next governor and continue my work in Congress,” said Carney. “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,” Carney said.

Delaware’s U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, both Democrats, quickly released statements supporting Carney.

Coons said he’s known Carney for more than two decades and will wholeheartedly support Carney’s candidacy any way he can.

Carper, who served two terms as the state’s governor in the 1990s, said, “John Carney is made of the right stuff to lead the people of the First State, and I look forward to supporting his candidacy.”

Carney, whose 2008 bid for governor ended when he lost to now Gov. Jack Markell in the Democratic primary, joins two Republicans in the gubernatorial race – Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover South, and Lacey Lafferty, a Sussex County native.

Bonini announced his candidacy days after winning a November 2014 re-election campaign. Lafferty is a Cape Henlopen High School graduate and retired Delaware trooper.

Charlie Copeland, Delaware Republican Party chairman, released a short, much less enthusiastic, statement regarding Carney’s announcement.

“If you like wasteful government spending, higher taxes, and Ruth Ann Minner then you'll love John Carney,” he said.

Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, said he was little disappointed with Copeland’s “kneejerk” reaction.

Lopez said as a legislator he deals with the congressman’s office on a regular basis and they’ve always been responsive issues. He said comments like Copeland’s can be expected from party-line people, but, he continued, it wasn’t his style.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Congressman Carney. I don’t have anything positive or negative to say about his candidacy,” he said. “I just wish him well, and I’m sure there will be a healthy debate.”

Crane said neither Republican candidate has demonstrated they’re a better candidate than Carney.

Carney said until next year, he intends to focus on issues in Congress, but he announced his intention to run for governor by officially filing a campaign committee.

Less than 24 hours after the Carney announcement, Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, announced his candidacy for the soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat.

Crane said he expected another New Castle County legislator – Rep. Bryon Short, D-Highland Woods – to enter the race. Townsend was elected in 2012. Short has been a representative since 2007.

Townsend and Short would join Republican Hans Reigle, former Kent County GOP chairman, as congressional candidates.