## A Roadmap to Restore Balance in the General Assembly Based off of the strategies outlined in [[Storming The State House]] ### Why Now? The Case for Change For over 50 years, Democrats have held uninterrupted control of the Delaware Senate and 16 years in the House. The result: one-party rule, unchecked spending, rising taxes, and a General Assembly that too often answers to Wilmington insiders rather than the people of Kent and Sussex Counties.  In 2024, Democrats hold **27–14** in the House and **15–6** in the Senate. That’s not balance—it’s dominance.  But the numbers tell a different story:  - **45%** of voters are Democrats  - **26%** are Republicans  - **28%** are independents or unaffiliated That **28%** is the key. They’re frustrated. They’re open. And in 2026, **all 41 House seats and 11 Senate seats** will be on the ballot.  This is our moment. ## Core Objective **Win working majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly by November 2026.** - House: Flip **7 seats** → 21–20 Republican majority  - Senate: Flip **5 seats** → 11–10 Republican majority ## Phase 1: Build the Foundation (Q1–Q2 2025) 1. **Leadership Council** - Appoint a “Campaign Chair” (ideally a current legislator or respected business leader)  - Form a 9-person Strategy Council: 3 from New Castle, 3 from Kent, 3 from Sussex  - Meet monthly; no public announcements until candidate slate is 80% complete 2. **Target List – Priority Districts** Use 2020–2024 election data to rank every district by:  - Margin of victory (<10% = Tier 1)  - Voter registration shift (R+ or IND+)  - Incumbent vulnerability (age, scandals, voting record) **Early Tier 1 Targets (House):** - HD 18 (Bear/Newark – growing suburban R base)  - HD 22 (Middletown – fastest-growing area in state)  - HD 31 (Smyrna – Kent County swing)  - HD 33 (Camden – military families, conservative lean)  - HD 36 (Milford – cross-county, mixed demographics) **Senate Targets:** - SD 7 (Newark suburbs)  - SD 8 (Hockessin)  - SD 14 (Smyrna/Dover)  - SD 15 (Dover South)  - SD 19 (Millsboro/Long Neck – Sussex growth corridor) 3. **Candidate Recruitment – “The 18 by 18” Plan** Goal: Recruit **18 strong candidates** (10 House, 8 Senate) by **December 2025** - Prioritize: small business owners, teachers, veterans, nurses, first responders  - Require: clean record, local roots, willingness to door-knock 3x/week  - Offer: shared fundraising, shared digital ads, centralized mail program ## Phase 2: Fund the Fight (2025–2026) **Goal: Raise $3.8 million** - $1.2M from in-state donors (events in Greenville, Rehoboth, Dover)  - $1.5M from national GOP committees (RSLC, NRSC legislative arm)  - $1.1M from business/community PACs (real estate, healthcare, agriculture) **“Fundraiser-in-Chief” Role** - One person (not the Party Chair) dedicated full-time to donor calls and events  - Host “Delaware First” dinner series: $5K/plate, 4 events per year ## Phase 3: Message That Moves People **Statewide Theme:** > **“50 Years is Long Enough. Let’s Put Delaware Families First.”** **District-Level Messaging:** |Issue|New Castle|Kent|Sussex| |---|---|---|---| |Taxes|Property tax freeze|Farm & small biz relief|Coastal property protection| |Schools|School choice, safety|Teacher pay, trade programs|Local control, no mandates| |Crime|Wilmington violence|Rural drug enforcement|Sheriff funding, beach safety| |Economy|Job growth, tech|Military support, agriculture|Tourism, retiree benefits| **Slogan Variations:** - “One Party. One Voice. Time for Two.”  - “Balance Works. Dominance Doesn’t.” ## Phase 4: Win the Ground Game |Tactic|Timeline|Owner| |---|---|---| |Voter ID canvassing|Jun–Oct 2025|County chairs| |Digital ads (Meta, YouTube)|Jan–Nov 2026|Comms director| |Direct mail (6 waves)|Aug–Nov 2026|Central mail vendor| |Earned media (op-eds, radio)|Ongoing|Candidates + surrogates| |GOTV (doors, calls, texts)|Oct 28–Nov 3, 2026|Field team| **Tech Stack:** - NationBuilder for voter data  - Impactive for peer-to-peer texting  - Shared Slack for real-time coordination ## Phase 5: Deliver Day One (Jan–Feb 2027) If we win, **act fast** to build trust:  1. **Ethics & Transparency Package** – first bill filed  2. **Property Tax Cap for Seniors** – passed in first 30 days  3. **Bipartisan Infrastructure Task Force** – Kent & Sussex co-chairs ## Risks & Countermoves |Risk|Response| |---|---| |Democratic super-majority in New Castle|Focus 80% of resources on Kent + Sussex| |Low GOP registration|Run as “Delaware First” independents in tone| |National headwinds|Localize every message; avoid federal fights| |Incumbent fundraising edge|Pool resources; shared ads/mail| ## Final Note This isn’t about party. It’s about **balance**. Delaware hasn’t had a Republican Speaker since 1975 or Senate President Pro Tem since 1973. One party in power for half a century isn’t democracy—it’s inertia.  **50 years is long enough.** Let’s give Delaware a General Assembly that works for all three counties—not just one.