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Delaware Democrats prepare for new Trump administration

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Delaware Democrats prepare for new Trump administration


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Democrats in Delaware are seeking answers and preparing for President-elect Donald Trump to take office for another four years. Meanwhile, Republicans are hopeful the former president will enact the promises he made during his campaign.

Emotions ranged from joy to shock at Return Day, held just days after last week’s election. It’s a centuries-old First State tradition where every election cycle, candidates and Delawareans of all political affiliations come together to bury an actual hatchet to show there are no hard feelings — even after a divisive election.

Sussex County Republican Committee Vice Chair Tom Molnar had a booth set on the fairgrounds last week, with a cardboard copy of Trump people took pictures with and a large red hat with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan on it.

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Sussex County Republican Committee Vice Chair Tom Molnar’s booth at Return Day just after the election featuring a life-sized Donald Trump cardboard cutout. (Sarah Mueller/WHYY)

“This is the best week that we’ve had in a long time,” Molnar said. “Trump won, and we had a lot of Republicans win the election.”

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris lost the popular vote and the Electoral College to Trump. Republicans gained control of the U.S. Senate; the House is still undecided to date, but Republicans are inching towards victory there as well.

Former Rep. Debbie Harrington, who unsuccessfully sought the lieutenant governor position in the Democratic primary earlier this year, said she thinks some people were uncomfortable electing a Black woman as president.

“When you talk about the differences in the two of them, it just didn’t cross my mind that he had the ability to win,” she said. “I just didn’t believe that.”

Millville resident Sherrena Williams said she’s worried the rights of Black people will erode under the next Trump administration.

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“I personally grew up during segregation, and I’m starting to have flashbacks,” Williams said. “When we look at the television and he gave his [acceptance] speech, nobody looked like us on that stage.”

Democrats Sherrena Williams and former Rep. Debbie Harrington at Return Day just a couple days after the November election, where political parties bury an actual hatchet after each election cycle. (Sarah Mueller/WHYY)

While Harris carried Delaware, turnout and Trump’s ability to broaden his appeal contributed to his overall win.

Delaware’s turnout was down from 68% four years ago, when President Joe Biden was running to 65% this year, state Department of Elections data shows. That’s similar to results nationally, where overall turnout was 65%, two points lower than in 2020.

Trump also increased his share of votes in the First State this election cycle, garnering 214,184 in 2024 compared with 200,184 in 2020.

Former Rep. Ruth Briggs King, a Republican who lost a bid for lieutenant governor against Democrat Kyle Evans Gay, said she saw more Black and Latino voters support her than in prior races.

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“They like direct speech, not a lot of legalese, not a lot of political jargon,” she said. “They want that real and sincere conversation. And I think that must have resonated with them.”

Williams said the Democratic Party is not doing enough to represent the Black community.

Trump gained support from more Black voters, particularly men, this year than in 2020, according to data from AP VoteCast.

“The Democratic Party has to step up and be more proactive in supporting Black people,” Williams said. “They like us, but they’re not putting forth policy to show that. So that’s very important, and I think that is why Black men voted for the Republican Party. They see the Democratic Party as being friendly towards us as a people, but not friendly towards us with their policies.”

Delaware voters elected Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Tom Carper, making her the state’s first woman and Black candidate elected to that chamber.

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Delaware

U.S. House GOP bans Delaware’s U.S. Rep. from same-sex bathrooms

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U.S. House GOP bans Delaware’s U.S. Rep. from same-sex bathrooms


From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, has introduced legislation that would bar transgender women from using women’s restrooms and other facilities on federal property.

It comes just a few days after she filed a resolution intended to institute a bathroom ban in parts of the U.S. Capitol complex that she said was targeted at Delaware Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride, a Democrat, who First State voters elected to serve as the first openly transgender person in Congress just two weeks ago.

Mace said to reporters Monday that McBride, who she misgendered during her comments, didn’t “belong in women’s spaces, bathrooms and locker rooms.”

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While not specifically mentioning Mace’s bills, House Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement Wednesday dictating that House policy in January would ban transgender women from using facilities — like bathrooms and locker rooms — that do not correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth.

“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” Johnson said in a statement. It was not clear how the policy would be enforced.

“Each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol,” he added.

Mace’s resolution, which she said she wanted to be included in the rules package for the next Congress, requires the House sergeant at arms to enforce the ban.



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Delaware Co. woman charged with DUI after crashing into Pennsylvania state police vehicle

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Delaware Co. woman charged with DUI after crashing into Pennsylvania state police vehicle


Wednesday, November 20, 2024 10:33PM

A Drexel Hill woman has been charged with DUI after investigators say she crashed into a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle on I-476.

RIDLEY TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — A Drexel Hill woman has been charged with DUI after investigators say she crashed into a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle on I-476.

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Police say Sara Lawver crashed into the troopers’ patrol car in Ridley Township just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Troopers were conducting a traffic stop at the time and barely avoided being hit.

No one was injured.

Lawver also faces charges of reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Today in Delaware County history, Nov. 20

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Today in Delaware County history, Nov. 20


100 Years Ago, 1924: From Washington, D.C.: The Census Bureau today made public estimates of the population of cities between 25,000 and 100,000 population as of July 1, 1924. The population of Chester was given as 66,602. These figures were published by the Times last July on special information from the Census Bureau. The last census, taken in 1920, gave Chester a population of 58,030.

75 Years Ago, 1949: Col. Frank K. Hyatt, Pennsylvania Military College president, is likely to remember today — his 64th birthday — a long, long time. At 7:30 a.m. Saturday, the popular prexy was routed from his bed by the din of the college band and the cheering of the students. When Col. Hyatt investigated the excitement at close range, he was presented with a television set and cries of “Happy birthday!”

50 Years Ago, 1974: Approximately 3,000 production and maintenance workers belonging to United Aerospace Workers Local 1069 went on strike early today against Boeing Vertol Co. It was the first walkout at the Ridley Township plant since 1968 when Local 1069 was out for four days. Local 1069 President Robert T. McHugh said today that negotiations had continued past the midnight deadline set by Local members when they voted to go on strike.

25 Years Ago, 1999: Aston police busted an underage drinking party after responding to a complaint early yesterday. Twenty-one arrests were made, with nine revelers from Aston, three from Delaware, four from West Chester, two from Glen Mills, and one from Folcroft, Media and Maryland. According to a report, officers responded to the 2200 block of Bridgewater Road about 2 a.m. They found two kegs of beer in a bathtub and began questioning those at the house. Officers quickly determined their ages were between 18 and 20. One 21-year-old male was also cited for public drunkenness.

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10 Years Ago, 2014: A group of Widener University communications students published a magazine that features stories and photographs about the school’s home city of Chester. The project was undertaken by the five students of Sam Starnes’ magazine journalism course offered in spring. The students produced every aspect of the publication, including conceiving and writing stories, taking photos and helping to design the publication. “The students did all of the reporting and writing,” Starnes said. “We ran the class just like a newsroom.” Unveiled Thursday afternoon, the 28-page magazine includes photos and stories highlighting Chester’s arts community, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Laran Bronze foundry and the locally owned Phatso’s Bakery.

— COLIN AINSWORTH



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