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Legislation directing money toward Delaware’s capital spending projects failed to garner enough support in the state Senate on Thursday, after enough Republicans withheld their approval to sink it. The move sets up a legislative showdown, with the last day of the session Monday.

The state Senate had already approved the $6.5 billion fiscal year 2026 budget and the one-time, $37 million supplemental spending bill before pulling their votes on the over $977 million capital improvement bill, also known as the bond bill. Because it’s an appropriations measure, it requires a three-quarters vote. It failed with 14 yes votes, two no’s and five not voting.

“As we enter the final days of session, there are still outstanding pieces of legislation that require further discussion and negotiation,” Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, said after the vote failed. “We believe the bond bill should be considered only after those discussions have taken place and a path forward has been established.”

Holding budget bills hostage has been a common way in recent years for the minority party to gain leverage over policy when passing legislation in the waning hours of a session. In 2018, the last day of session didn’t conclude until 8:30 a.m. the next day after House Republicans withheld their votes on the bond bill over their opposition to legislation raising the minimum wage, forcing a standoff that lasted for hours.

Pettyjohn said retaining the bill as the final piece of business ensures conversations happen in good faith. But a Senate Republican spokesperson would not say which bills the lawmakers want to have discussions on.

At that time, there were upcoming special elections for the Senate seats  formerly occupied by now Congresswoman Sarah McBride and Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay.

Maron rebuffed Meyer in her own letter, saying state law empowers the committee members of any ballot-qualified party to select the nominee and does not provide for a primary election process.

WHYY News tried to contact current Democratic State Party Chair Evelyn Brady, but was told she was unavailable to comment for this story. The Sussex County Democratic Committee will hold a candidate forum July 3. The committee will then choose a candidate, Committee Chair Jeff Balk said. Attempts to reach Sussex County Republican Committee Chair Daniel Willis were unsuccessful.

Legislation creating a special primary election process was introduced in May by state Rep. Mara Gorman, D-Newark, and has stalled in a House committee. Apparently a hot potato since the controversy has erupted over Parker Selby’s prolonged absence, Gorman declined to talk to WHYY News about her bill. A House spokeswoman initially said Gorman would answer questions about her bill, but then did not respond to subsequent questions, such as when WHYY would get the answers.

House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown did not respond to a question about whether she supported the bill. Balk declined to comment on it.

State Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton, D-Newark, told Coast TV earlier this month that House leadership was so worried about the seat changing parties in a special election, that they decided to not address the lawmaker’s absence in Dover. Wilson-Anton said she had no comment on this story.

Parker Selby won her district, made up of Milton and Lewes, by just 245 votes over Republican candidate Nikki Miller. Miller announced her candidacy again Wednesday. District 20 currently has 8,379 Democrats, 7,652 Republicans and 6,943 registered as “other.”

Minor-Brown arranged for Parker Selby to be privately sworn in in late March, after the president of the Delaware Republican Party and the Sussex County Republican Committee raised concerns earlier in the month in a letter to House leadership and all members about Parker Selby’s prolonged absence and its impact on her constituents.

Balk said he believed Democrats can hang onto the seat, even with the short timeframe voters will have to get to know the candidate and their positions.

“I totally believe that Democrats can control the seat,” he said. “We know how to get the vote out here in Sussex County, and we’ll be able to do it again no matter what time frame we have.”

Balk said he already has eight Democrats interested in the vacancy.

This story was supported by a statehouse coverage grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

• The tax, capped at $50 per student, could generate $2.4 million for the city.
• The University of Delaware acknowledges the city’s financial needs and aims to maintain affordable education.
• The Newark City Council will determine the exact tax rate, considering student-related expenses and inflation.

The city of Newark is now allowed to tax the University of Delaware for every Blue Hen.

Gov. Matt Meyer signed a bill on June 24 amending Newark’s city charter allowing the city to levy a per-student tax on UD, which is by far the largest economic and cultural force in the city. The public university sits on about 40% of the city’s land, but is nontaxable.

Newark’s government has been searching for new revenue streams amid cost and tax increases. Most of the city’s revenue comes from utility payments, which have increased.

The bill was introduced in January by Democratic State Rep. Cyndie Romer, from Newark. It passed both the House and Senate unanimously.

“We’re happy the governor saw this as fit to sign,” Newark Mayor Travis McDermott said.

The law allows the city to tax up to $50 for every student, which could rake in an additional $2.4 million in tax revenue. The city collects around $180,000 annually from UD from deals made in 1965 and 2002. In addition to being a local pillar, UD is responsible for billions of dollars in statewide economic output every year.

In a statement to the News Journal from May, the University of Delaware said it has a shared interest in Newark’s improvements. It remains committed to access to its education.

“We are understanding of and sympathetic to the city’s needs, which — in many ways — reflect ours, due to inflation-induced costs and other financial pressures,” the statement from May 23 reads. “Our goal is and remains centered on providing an accessible and affordable pathway to a UD education for our students — those who contribute social, cultural and economic value to the City of Newark.”

It is now up to the City Council to come up with how much they plan on taxing the institution. The new tax rate might not be at the maximum rate, either. McDermott said the council will find out how much the city is spending on students and then find a rate to reflect that, while leaving room for inflation-related hikes in the future.

Hearings to shape the city’s next annual budget are coming up, and this new revenue stream would need to be factored in. McDermott said he wants a tax rate established by the time budget hearings begin, which should be within the next month.

Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.