Delaware held its primary elections three weeks ago on Sept. 9, months after voters cast ballots for primaries in neighboring states like Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. State law mandates that primary elections in Delaware occur on the second Tuesday of September following the first Monday of the month, with the general election to follow nearly two months later in early November. Some believe that time period is too short and the primary should be scheduled earlier in the year. John Fluharty, the executive director of the state Republican party, said the current schedule makes it difficult for candidates who win their party’s nomination to rally support after contentious primary elections. This year, the party held its convention after the primary and did not endorse either candidate in a heated state treasurer race between Ken Simpler, the eventual winner, and 2010 Lieutenant Governor Candidate Sher Valenzuela. “At the end of the day, we need to have a spring primary and the Republican party supports that,” Fluharty said.
John Daniello, the chairman of the state Democratic committee, said it would be “ideal” if the date for state primaries would coincide with primary elections for president, which are held every four years.
“Having a primary where we could have everyone on the ticket…the public would like that, I think, better and we could certainly save some dollars because the department of elections doesn’t have to put the machines out twice a year,” Daniello said.
However, he said moving the primary election date is not a call for political parties to make and lawmakers would have to take that action.
Full Article: WDEL 1150AM, Wilmington, DE – News Talk Radio.