Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long files candidacy for governor, the 3rd Democrat to file

Amanda Fries, Delaware News Journal
Updated ·2 min read
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Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long officially filed her candidacy for Delaware governor on Tuesday.

Initially dogged by campaign finance issues when she first announced her intentions to run, Hall-Long now joins Democratic contenders New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and former Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara in the race for Delaware governor.

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long applauds as Gov. John Carney delivers his State of the State Address at Legislative Hall in Dover, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The event was rescheduled from January after Carney fell ill.
Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long applauds as Gov. John Carney delivers his State of the State Address at Legislative Hall in Dover, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The event was rescheduled from January after Carney fell ill.

O'Mara was the first Democratic candidate to file for the state’s gubernatorial race in March, followed by Meyer shortly after.

RECENT: Meyer officially files as a Democratic candidate for Delaware governor

Hall-Long’s campaign touted the lieutenant governor’s “historic investments” in public schools as well as initiatives to promote small business, improve health care access and tackle the opioid epidemic. The elected official is a nurse and has led on many health care issues facing the state.

"I believe in the potential of our state and its people, and I am committed to making Delaware the best place to live, work, and raise a family for generations to come,” Hall-Long said in a news release Tuesday. “I’m proud of my record of innovative ideas like leveraging public-private partnerships to help students in need through the Basic Needs Closet, creating the Behavioral Health Consortium, and managing Delaware’s robust pandemic recovery, and I'm ready to lead on day one."

FUNDRAISING: Meyer leads among Democratic gubernatorial candidates, raising over $675K in donations

If elected, Hall-Long said she would prioritize the state’s workforce, implement universal child care and early education, support sustainable growth, increase access to affordable housing, and protect the environment from climate change and pollution

She has served as lieutenant governor since 2017 after 15 years in the state Senate and House. Hall-Long’s campaign pointed out that she has earned the endorsements from various state officials, including current Gov. John Carney, along with various unions across the region.

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long files candidacy for governor