DOVER — Matt Meyer and Kyle Evans Gay took the oath of office Tuesday morning in a ceremony at Delaware State University in an auditorium filled to the brim with lawmakers, education and nonprofit leaders as well as figures from the business sector.
Meyer, Delaware’s new governor, was sworn in by Chief Justice Collins Seitz, Jr. on the stage at DSU’s Education and Humanities Theatre. Just two years earlier, then-President Joe Biden spoke passionately about the Democratic Party as well as his student loan forgiveness plan at the same site.
The inauguration is traditionally held outside of Legislative Hall in Dover, but it was moved indoors because of the below-freezing temperatures.
In his first words as governor, Meyer delivered an inaugural address that focused on serving others over himself, regardless of their political party, while also mentioning the turbulent times he expects to face with President Donald Trump back in the White House. He said that Delaware had instilled in him a sense of purpose as well as the value of “compromise, decency and humility,” and vowed to work to represent those traits while he sits in the governor’s mansion.
“Civility is a word you don’t hear when you watch the national news, but in Delaware, civility is alive and well. It’s truly who we are,” he said during his speech. “At the same time, we cannot shy away from speaking the truth, from taking a stand and from taking a bold step in a new direction. That, I think, is what this moment demands in Delaware and in our country… I extend a hand in partnership. Now is not a time to settle old scores.”
Meyer also said that he is willing to work with Trump and his administration, but he made it clear that he would use the power of the governor’s office to protect Delaware’s residents, including their livelihoods and health care.

“If Washington moves backwards or downwards, we’re not going down with them,” he said.
Yesterday, hours after Trump was sworn into office, the president signed 26 executive orders, ranging from granting Tik Tok an extension before the United States ban, removing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and a slew of immigration policies. Meyer did not make any direct comments about the new federal executive orders during his address.
When asked directly about protections for visa students and workers in Delaware after the ceremony, Meyer said that his administration would “do everything to protect the rights of Americans and the promise of America.”
Meanwhile, Meyer used his speech to focus on core tenants of his gubernatorial campaign like affordable housing and education. He said that teachers, students and schools across the state would have an ally as Delaware contends with a struggling system that independent reports say continues to come in at between $500 million and $1 million behind in funding.
He made a case for Delaware as a state of innovation, citing the highest number of post-doctorate degree holders per capita as proof. Meyer looked at cutting edge technology and the state’s rising life sciences sector as the future, emphasizing that educating the workforce for the jobs of tomorrow would be the way to thrive.
“We can’t fulfill our potential unless we all have a chance to contribute. That will be my focus every day of these next four years. Students aren’t failing, our schools are failing our students,” he said. “I refuse to write off any one of our children because I can see what they can do when they’re given a chance.”
To that end, Meyer signed his first executive order within an hour of being sworn into office. The order creates a working group to study how Delaware can encourage youth apprenticeships and other work-based learning programs. The work group must meet in February per the order and, within 30 days of that first meeting, they are required to present a report identifying state agencies that can include youth apprenticeship programs and any laws and regulations that may serve as roadblocks. The group will also be tasked with drafting legislation as needed.
In a press conference held minutes after the inauguration ceremony, Meyer said that finding career pathways for Delawarean students is one of the most important issues the state faces today.
“There are a lot of employers now that are really looking, high and low, for employees that they can’t find. And our schools need to be training people directly to go to those workplaces,” he said.
Evans Gay echoed much of what the new governor said in her inauguration speech, as she

detailed stories of her time representing her district, which spanned from Claymont to Talleyville and other pieces of the Brandywine Hundred. She recalled a mother slipping her a note in church, worried about her child’s educational journey, as well as a late-night visit from an exhausted father who needed someone to listen.
“The office of the lieutenant governor will focus on advocacy and good governance. We will be a bridge to help find smart solutions that reflect best practices and the input of those who are most affected. We will seek out innovation to address our state’s greatest challenges,” she said.
“We will lead with intention and collaboration, and we will remain steadfast, serving as a catalyst for policy change to make a measurable difference in the lives of the people we serve,” Evans Gay continued.