WILMINGTON – Delaware gubernatorial candidates are gearing up for an exciting election season by signing leases or opening campaign offices across the state.
New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer (D) cut the ribbon on his headquarters in the heart of Wilmington last week. The Meyer campaign signed a short-term lease for office space on the second floor of the Nemours Building at 1007 Orange St. The building is currently under renovations as part of the Buccini/Pollin Group’s $150 million project to rebrand it as Market West with retail, apartments and office space.
Meyer campaign representatives told the Delaware Business Times that the space is leased “through the election” and the campaign has nearly 1,000 volunteers signed up so far. The campaign plans to open additional offices in Kent and Sussex County.
“This campaign is about more than just an election; it’s about building a better Delaware for everyone,” Meyer said in a prepared statement.
Wilmington is no stranger to campaign events and the draw of volunteers and staffers that it may bring. President Joe Biden has placed his re-election campaign headquarters in the business district, bringing scores of staffers to dine and visit Delaware’s largest city. However, a governor’s campaign headquarters may not attract the same large crowd of staffers, it does serve as a central hub of activity for the politicians.
Meyer is running against fellow democratic candidates Collin O’Mara and Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long. In the Republican primary, the ballot includes candidates Jerrold A. Price, a retired New York Police officer who lives in Rehoboth Beach, and state Rep. Mike Ramone.
Hall Long’s Communication Director Dan McCormick and O’Mara’s campaign manager Andrew Donnelly both confirmed leased space for their efforts, as well, for the duration of the current election season.
Roughly 780 people have volunteered for Hall Long’s campaign, not including others who might be involved with interest groups endorsing the current lieutenant governor. Her campaign office is located at 136 S. Main St. in Newark, less than a mile from the popular row of restaurants and bars downtown.
Hall Long’s office is also steps away from the University of Delaware campus where she is also a professor – and where thousands of students
The O’Mara campaign did not comment further as of press time.
Price told DBT that he is not leasing any space and volunteers for his campaign include himself and close family. Ramone did not return a call for comments.
