Last Fall the progressive Dems here in Delaware worked hard to elect John Kowalko in the 25th State Rep. District. He had an uphill battle against an 18-year incumbent and he'd lost to her in 2004. But John has courage and tenacity and he won. So he went to Dover and introduced a bill that required former State Reps and Senators to spend one year out of the General Assembly before they could come back as lobbyist. Which set off the dominoes in Delaware.
John's bill caused a reaction in the 7th Rep District, where the incumbent Republican had to resign, since he was entertaining an offer to become a high paid lobbyist for the healthcare industry. He too was a very long-term incumbent and the 7th District has historically been a GOP stronghold here.
Tonight, I'm proud to say that we've just won the Special Election and helped another good Democrat on his way to Dover. Bryon Short beat the R's handpicked heir for this traditionally R seat. The folks in the 7th District will finally get some true, ethical representation in the General Assembly.
And, we pulled off this remarkable victory because DelDems from all over the state worked in unison, rallied the troops, and got out the vote! Hundreds of volunteers phone-banked, door-knocked, flushed voters, worked the polls. All the non-glamourous stuff it takes to win an election. Tonight we're enjoying the glamour of victor.
So you see, elections really do have consequences beyond just who wins the race. And all those volunteer hours begin to produce synergy. This changes the count in the Delaware House to 19D's and 22R's. We've got another Special Election in the 41st District next month, where the incumbent R had to resign after a drunk-driving and wife-beating scandal. We look like winning that one too. Which puts us within one seat of taking back the House here. And there's a rumour going around that, if we win the 41st, one of the R's is going to switch parties and caucus with us. He already votes with us most of the time.
Whoo Hoo! It could be a very good Spring here in The First State. (Caesar Rodney got off his deathbed and rode to Philadelphia to be the first to sign the Constitution for Delaware -- hence, The First State.)