Delaware's primary election on Sept. 10 will feature pivotal races in the state's largest city. This year multiple candidates are competing for the top elected positions in city government, creating several contested races.
In October, Mayor Mike Purzyckiannounced he would not seek a third term, citing his age and desire to spend more time with family. The mayoral race will be a faceoff between Purzycki's former political opponent, former city treasurer Velda Jones-Potter, and his political ally, Gov. John Carney. The primary ballot is also set with candidates running for five out of the city's eight council district seats and four at-large council seats.
Under Delaware's closed primary system, only voters registered with a major political party can vote in that party's primary. The outcome of the September primary will significantly influence the November general election, possibly signaling Wilmington's future direction. A Democratic stronghold, Wilmington's primary often determines the city's next mayor.
The Nov. 5 general election ballot will include winners from the September primary, along with minor party candidates, unaffiliated candidates and declared write-in candidates. The deadline to register to vote is the fourth Saturday before a primary and general election.
Delaware Online/The News Journal offers this list to provide Wilmington residents with information about primary candidates in contested races before they head to the polls.
Candidates for Wilmington mayor
Velda Jones-Potter
Velda Jones-Potter, the city treasurer during Purzycki's first term, announced her candidacy for Wilmington mayor in March 2023. Founder of a financial services and consulting company, she has also held executive positions with DuPont and MBNA. Her campaign focuses on improving neighborhood safety, empowering residents through education, and promoting homeownership, social justice and economic equity.
During her time as city treasurer, Jones-Potter criticized Purzycki's plan to assist a nonprofit organization pay off its debts to contractors. The disagreement sparked legal disputes between Jones-Potter and the city's administration, setting the stage for a contentious mayoral election in 2020. Jones-Potter lost her bid for the mayoral seat in the Democratic primary's three-person race, losing to incumbent Purzycki.
In 2009, Jones-Potter made history as Delaware's first African American state treasurer. During her tenure, she navigated a significant fiscal crisis and gained national recognition for her financial education and empowerment initiatives, according to her campaign.
Jones-Potter grew up in Wilmington’s Riverside neighborhood. She is married to former state representative Charles Potter. They have two adult sons.
John C. Carney Jr.
Gov. John Carney is completing his second term in Delaware's highest office. Unable to run for a third term due to term limits, he announced his candidacy for Wilmington mayor in April 2023. In a statement declaring his candidacy, Carney explained that Wilmington's success is necessary for Delaware's prosperity.
Carney's campaign pledges to create safe and clean neighborhoods, strengthen city public schools, protect taxpayer funds, support small businesses and improve the quality of life in Wilmington.
According to his campaign, Carney's achievements as governor include creating job opportunities, building Wilmington's first new school in over 50 years, securing the state's largest housing investment and transforming the state's $400 million budget deficit into a $500 million surplus.
Before becoming governor in 2016, Carney represented Delaware for three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served two terms as Delaware’s lieutenant governor and was the state's finance secretary. Carney and his wife, Tracey, have lived in Wilmington for nearly 40 years and raised two sons.
Candidates for Wilmington City Council District 1
Vincent M. White
Vincent White, a real estate broker, was chosen to fill the 1st District council seat following the unexpected death of council member Linda M. Gray in 2022. A website for White's campaign is not listed on the State Board of Elections candidate webpage. In a statement provided by his campaign to be elected to the seat, White stated he would continue to prioritize quality of life issues, including initiatives that promote affordable housing, increase resources for community development and personal growth, introduce new job and economic programs and ensure the delivery of essential city services.
According to his biography on the City Council's website, White grew up in Wilmington's East Side and Southbridge neighborhoods. He is a member of the Northwest Civic Association and the First District Planning Council.
Thea Lopez
Thea Lopez is a Wilmington native and a lifelong resident of the 1st District. Her campaign pledges to expand youth development programs, support senior community members in the first district, revive civic groups, advocate for North Market Street reinvestment and lead initiatives to address climate change.
Coby Owens
According to a statement provided by his campaign, as 1st District representative, Coby Owens would advocate for community violence prevention programming, address the affordable housing crisis, improve the district's parks and playgrounds, promote the availability of fresh produce inside neighborhood stores, support workforce development, address zoning issues and curb unfair development practices.
Owens grew up in the 1st District and has over 10 years of experience in Democratic politics, civil rights causes and nonprofit work.
Candidates for Wilmington City Council District 2
Shané Nicole Darby
Shané Nicole Darby was first elected in 2020 and is running for reelection for a second term. Her campaign promises include efforts to empower tenants, stabilize rents, establish a housing trust and push for zoning laws to increase affordable housing. She also intends to support the development of North Market Street, art spaces and community gardens, as well as improve alleyways and garages.
Early in her first term, Darby rankled city leaders and members of law enforcement by sharing a since-deleted Facebook post, likening the police to the KKK. Darby's first term continued to be marked by clashes with council members who had more cooperative relationships with the city administration.
John Johnson Jr.
John Johnson Jr.'s campaign vows to prioritize transparency, responsiveness and collaboration. According to his campaign website, Johnson has worked 30 years at SEPTA and raised his family in Wilmington. He promises to focus on supporting local businesses, tackling gun violence and advocating for affordable housing. His campaign pledges to identify areas for beautification projects and collaborate with the Wilmington Police Department and the Wilmington Fire Department to address safety concerns.
Johnson previously ran for the at-large council seat left vacant by Loretta Walsh's resignation in 2022.
Candidates for Wilmington City Council District 3
Zanthia Oliver
Incumbent Zanthia Oliver is a native of Wilmington and a lifelong resident who has represented the 3rd District since 2016. No campaign website is listed on the State Board of Elections candidate webpage.According to her official council member biography, Oliver is committed to serving as an advocate of quality education, workforce development and jobs for underserved populations, as well as services for seniors and youth.
In recent years, Oliver has faced ethical concerns. She was twice issued a "public reprimand" by the Wilmington Ethics Commission. Attorneys found the council member violated code of conduct rules, including voting in favor of a grant for her brother’s nonprofit and mishandling a city check intended for a community event.
Don Farrell
Don Farrell is a native of Wilmington who was born and raised in the 3rd District. According to his campaign website, Farrell intends to advocate for tenant rights, promote homeownership, support early intervention programs to reduce youth crime, address environmental justice concerns and restore neighborhood block committees.
A former laboratory technician for Dupont, Farrell states he is currently a landlord. He previously made a bid for the at-large council seat left vacant by Loretta Walsh's resignation in 2022.
Candidates for Wilmington City Council District 5
Bregetta A. Fields
Bregetta A. Fields, the incumbent 5th District council member, does not have a campaign website listed on the State Board of Elections candidate webpage. According to her official council member profile, Fields is committed to collaborating with 5th District community leaders to ensure community input. She aims to partner with local and state agencies to improve affordable housing, foster economic growth, raise community awareness and prioritize public safety. Fields plans to propose effective solutions by working closely and productively with other city and state governmental bodies.
In 2020, Fields,the daughter of the late West Center City "matriarch" Mercedes Fields, narrowly defeated activist Christian Willauer by 23 votes in the September primary. She later won against Alexander Hackett, an Independent candidate, in the November general election.
Christian Willauer
Activist Christian Willauer will once again run against Bregetta A. Fields, who was elected to the 5th District council seat in 2020. According to her campaign website, Willauer has resided and worked in the 5th District for over 15 years and has more than 25 years of experience in housing and community development.
Willauer pledges to address pressing issues such as homelessness, vacant properties, addiction, and crime. A critic of Purzycki's housing strategies, she promises to push for fair and effective policies to address affordable housing, improve neighborhood parks and ensure safer streets.
Candidates for Wilmington City Council District 7
Chris Johnson
Incumbent Chris Johnson was appointed to the City Council in 2019 to serve the 7th District. A native of Philadelphia, Johnson and his wife, Kate, reside in Union Park Gardens. Describing himself as a progressive Democrat, Johnson said he has spearheaded initiatives for community policing, protecting immigrant communities and overseeing the revitalization of underserved areas.
Prior to his role on the council, he served as deputy legal counsel for Gov. John Carney and volunteered for the Obama for America Legal Protection Team.
Peggy A. Brooks
According to her campaign website, Brooks has resided in the 7th District for over 20 years. She worked as a deputy city clerk at the Wilmington City Council's office before becoming the office manager at the mayor's office under Mayor James M. Baker.
Brooks promises to restore essential city services and address concerns that impact quality of life.
James Dahlke
Delaware-born James Dahlke is a recent transplant to Wilmington. According to Dahlke's campaign website, he was born at Christiana Hospital but raised in Los Angeles, California. He moved to Wilmington’s Little Italy neighborhood in 2020, began working in the banking industry and became involved in politics.
Dahlke is the 7th Ward committee chair and a member of the Delaware Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Working Families Party. His campaign promises that he will work to bolster trust and transparency within city government, reform the city’s fines and fees structure, address the affordable housing crisis and ensure a fiscally sound budget.
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Candidates for Wilmington at-large council seats
Latisha “Tish” Bracy
Bracy was appointed by Wilmington City Council to fill a seat left vacant by the death of Loretta Walsh in 2022. She is now running to be elected to the position. Her campaign focuses on strategic investments in emerging industries, supporting small businesses and promoting equity and diversity. She prioritizes addressing issues such as gun violence, mental health concerns and the opioid crisis.
Bracy owns a small public relations and project management firm and works with a nonprofit, leading their equitable entrepreneurship training and support. She served 15 years as a staffer for U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester and U.S. Sens. Carper, Biden and Kaufman.
Maria D. Cabrera
Maria D. Cabrera is an incumbent at-large council member. In a statement provided by her campaign, Cabrera said she is seeking re-election to implement community-led public safety initiatives, rebuild trust in law enforcement, support small businesses and the arts, expand workforce training, address vacant and deteriorated properties, promote homeownership and advocate for environmental justice reforms.
Cabrera, a mother of four and grandmother of three, has been a Wilmington resident for over 36 years. She is a business owner and previously worked for Wilmington’s Office of Cultural Affairs under former Mayor James H. Sills Jr. She served her first term on the Wilmington City Council from 2013 to 2017, making history as the first Hispanic woman elected to office in Delaware and the first to run for mayor of Wilmington.
Danielle Covington
According to her campaign website, Covington has been a resident of the 1st District for 15 years, living with her husband and four children. A small business owner, Covington also runs Higher Place Outreach, a nonprofit organization, and serves as a pastor.
Her campaign promises that she'd focus on providing young people with alternatives to violence and substance abuse. She is also committing to "aggressively" pursuing federal and state grants to support housing initiatives. Her website notes that there are many existing resources available to address the community's needs, and she pledges to ensure that Wilmington residents are well-informed about the help available to them.
Waynna Dobson
Dobson, a Wilmington native, is focusing her campaign on creating safer communities, promoting business growth, enhancing neighborhoods, investing in workforce development and affordable housing, improving infrastructure, increasing educational opportunities, establishing mentorship programs and expanding recreational activities.
Alexander Hackett
Wilmington native Alexander Hackett describes himself as a public servant and community advocate who works as a "confidential adviser for the economic development administration." His campaign for an at-large seat focuses on securing funding for healthcare, supporting community policing, advancing criminal justice reform, enhancing infrastructure, improving education, promoting job training, and supporting small businesses. Additionally, he intends to increase affordable housing and expand green spaces.
Hackett unsuccessfully ran against Bregetta Fields for the 5th District council seat in 2020.
You cancontact reporter Anitra Johnson atajohnson@delawareonline.com.
