State Rep. Paul Baumbach (D-Newark) announces his retirement after representing House District 23 for 12 years.

Baumbach was elected in 2012 to represent part of Newark and has touted himself as a supporter of women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, abortion rights and reducing discrimination and gun violence.

He announced his retirement in front of the full House chamber Thursday, receiving praise from both sides of the aisle on his tenure.

“I offer my very best wishes to the individual whom the voters of the 23rd House District choose to represent them going forward – The individual who will be the most fortunate elected official in Delaware next term,” Baumbach said.

Baumbach is chair of the House Revenue and Finance Committee and currently sits on five other bodies in the House.

This year, Baumbach has championed bills advocating for state retiree healthcare benefits.

He has also led efforts to add medical aid-in-dying as an end of life option since 2015 — the latest version of that bill advanced to the state Senate Wednesday.

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In a notable endorsement move, Delaware U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester has thrown her support behind Democratic state Sen. Sarah McBride to fill her seat after her only primary challenger bowed out.

Blunt Rochester, in her bid to succeed the retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, is endorsing McBride’s campaign to secure the state’s at-large U.S. representative seat.

If elected, McBride would make history as the first transgender person ever elected to federal office, shining a national spotlight on the Delaware lawmaker.

“Sarah led the effort to pass paid family and medical leave, helped raise the minimum wage, and passed common sense gun safety laws,” Blunt Rochester said in a statement. “As Delaware’s congresswoman, I know what it takes to deliver for our state and that Sarah will hit the ground running as our state’s lone member of the U.S. House.”

McBride appears to have locked up the primary nomination and currently lacks a Republican challenger in November’s general election. However, there is a chance another candidate could file to compete in the state’s Sept. 10 primary if they file by the July 9 deadline.

Eugene Young, the former State Housing Authority director,  suspended his campaign Wednesday after emailing his supporters Wednesday. He did not give a specific reason for the suspension.

Young was endorsed by Gov. John Carney in March, but had not officially filed his candidacy paperwork.

Baumbach said the bill includes a number of safeguards, including ensuring patients are self-administering the medication, moral objection opt-outs for medical providers, waiting periods and mandatory mental health evaluations.

It received a number of public comments during Wednesday’s hearing, both in support and opposition. Some religious and disability groups have expressed their opposition to the legislation.

Hockessin psychiatrist Neil Kaye, former president of the Psychiatric Society of Delaware, said he opposes the bill because he believes doctors should not be helping people die. Under questioning from Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, about a cluster of 11 youths from Kent and Sussex counties who took their lives in early 2012, Kaye said legalizing physician-assisted suicide could cause a “contagion” where more people try to kill themselves.

“We should not corrupt the medical profession by encouraging doctors to do this,” he said. “Nor should the legislature send a message to teenagers in our state that suicide in any way is acceptable and condoned.”

Wilmington resident Judy Govatos, a supporter, said she’s facing prolonged suffering before death brought on by cancer diagnoses.

“My family and friends have already been through hell and back with me,” she said. “I don’t want to go there again and I don’t want to take them with me.”

The House passed the bill in April, with a 21-16 vote. If it becomes law, Delaware would be the 11th state nationwide to enact an end-of-life provision, joining other states like New Jersey, Vermont and Oregon.