Talk of anti-establishment sentiment in the 2010 election cycle became much more than talk for a number of Delaware candidates on primary day. Delaware voters walked the talk in three statewide races, and the Delaware Republican Party took the biggest hit. Christine O’Donnell’s win over nine term Congressman Mike Castle in the Republican U.S. Senate race, Glen Urquhart’s win over Michele Rollins in the Republican U.S. House race, and Chip Flowers’ victory over incumbent Velda Jones-Potter in the Democratic State Treasurer’s race are examples of a party endorsed candidate suffering an unexpected defeat.
John Taylor, executive director of the Delaware Public Policy Institute, believes the GOP establishment in Delaware realized too late what was happening, particularly in the O’Donnell race. “There was some complacency on the part of what we’ll call regular Republicans, the conventional Republican Party,” said Taylor. “They had just begun to wake up to the fact that the insurgency candidacy was the real deal. The people that came out and voted for O’Donnell are angry and upset with incumbents, and they vote.”
Delaware Republican Party officials, including state chairman Tom Ross, have declined to comment on the surprising losses, but others within the party admit it’s hard to believe. “To me, the point is that Mike Castle is the most popular politician in the state of Delaware and yet he loses a Republican primary,” observed State Auditor Tom Wagner, the only Republican currently holding statewide office. ”I think it’s just fascinating to me that we’re in a situation where the most popular politician is most vulnerable within a republican primary.”
O’Donnell and Urquhart say this is just the beginning of an assault on what both call professional politicians. “This is about changing the political system in Delaware,” O’Donnell told supporters after her primary win over Congressman Castle. “We need citizen politicians in Dover and in Washington D.C to get our state and our country back on track. That’s what this is all about.”
Urquhart agrees. “We are revitalizing, breathing fresh life into the Republican Party as the people’s Republican Party.”
So far, the anti-establishment backlash seems largely confined to statewide races. Local races for state representative, state senator and other offices went heavily in favor of incumbents and party endorsed candidates. Only two incumbents lost primaries Tuesday. ”In the local elections, it’s local issues. The candidates are the people who live down the street and that makes a difference.” said Taylor.
But local political analysts believe there are lessons from Tuesday’s losses, especially on the GOP side. Taylor says, “Delaware Republicans have a lot of things to think about,” including Delaware’s changing population. “Look where Castle won, in the traditional Republican stronghold [northern New Castle County], O’Donnell won everywhere else,” said Taylor. “Castle really lost in Southern New Castle County. It’s virgin territory with a lot of development. Many of her voters are new to Delaware; they don’t have strong political loyalties.”
Richard Heffron, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, agrees the state GOP needs to take a hard look at itself. ”I think [Tuesday’s results] did a lot of damage. I think they need to take inventory,” said Heffron. “As far as this election I think they need to focus on local elections, state representative races, and the treasurer’s race, which I think they will do. There is damage there. I’m not sure it can be repaired anytime in the immediate future.”
One Republican candidate who claims to be unconcerned about the current atmosphere is State Senator Colin Bonini (R-Dover South), who faces Democrat Chip Flowers in the state treasurer’s race. He calls the sentiment that fueled Tuesday’s primary upsets “a very healthy thing.” Bonini says the key is recognizing the voters’ mindset and having a message that speaks to it. ”The bottom line is there is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and a tremendous amount of participation in Republican politics that we have not had in years,” said Bonini.
But Heffron says the Democrats may be just as enthusiastic about blocking O’Donnell—and that could hurt all republicans. “I think the danger is what will happen now with Christine O’Donnell at the top of the ticket, the Democrats will demonize her. I think that will hurt down ballot.”
