With Carper retiring, every Delaware politico is asking 'Who's next?': The Press Room

Welcome to The Press Room, a weekly roundup of the major stories and happenings of the 2023 Delaware legislative year.

This week’s edition focuses on the aftermath of Tom Carper’s announcement, the death of one of the president’s earliest supporters and an update about the state budget.

As always, send story tips, feedback, ideas or gossip to me at mnewman@delawareonline.com.

Follow me on Twitter at @MereNewman.

What’s next?

Last week, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper announced he will retire at the end of this term, shifting the Delaware political landscape that he helped establish over the course of nearly 50 years.

The politician has been in statewide politics since 1977, serving as Delaware treasurer, congressman, governor and senator. He’s one of the key architects in Delaware Democrats’ now longstanding ideology of socially liberal but centered on economic and fiscal issues.

He’s also the mayor of “Carper Town,” the tangled web that connects nearly every Delaware politician to Carper in some way.

And as a result of this announcement, Delaware politicos are all asking each other: Who’s next?

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, who once interned for Carper, is seen as the clear heir apparent. Carper in his speech last week acknowledged that the Delaware congresswoman has been waiting in the wings.

She also has not been shy about her interest in the role. It would be shocking if anyone notable challenged her in the primary.

"Like I’ve said before, should the seat become available, I’m interested," Blunt Rochester said in a brief interview with NBC News. "I’m still interested. And for me, I usually have a process of: I think about it, I pray about it and then I plan."

If elected, she would be the first Black Delawarean and woman representing Delaware in the U.S. Senate. She would be just the third Black woman elected to the chamber in the country’s history.

THE DELAWARE WAY: U.S. Sen. Tom Carper to retire from politics after nearly 50 years in office

This past week, from the conversations I’ve had, everyone is buzzing about who will then run for the open U.S. House seat. Among the names being dropped, state Sen. Sarah McBride has consistently been the first mentioned.

McBride likely has the highest profile of any lawmaker in Delaware. She was the legislator behind the paid family leave act that passed last session. If she runs and is elected, she would make history as the first trans lawmaker in Congress. She already made history as the first transgender state senator in the country’s history.

There will also be a new governor, lieutenant governor and New Castle County executive next year.

For the first time in at least a decade (maybe even longer?), Delaware will likely see multiple competitive primaries in 2024.

The death of longtime Biden supporter

Gilbert Sloan, a well-known Democratic activist who was among one of President Joe Biden’s first supporters, died last week, his sons confirmed to The News Journal. He was 94.

He and his wife, Sonia, who died in 2019, were incredibly influential in Democratic politics. For about 50 years, the couple raised thousands of dollars for campaigns and millions for nonprofits throughout the state. Gil, as he was known, and Sonny, as she was known, were also founding members of the ACLU Delaware chapter.

Gil, who was a chemist, met his wife in the early 1950s through the Young Democrats of Northern New Castle County. He recalled that she pursued him.

They both worked at DuPont. Sonia later left to raise their two sons. When they realized none of the thousands of employees were Black, they “agitated within the limits of keeping our jobs” to advocate for the hiring of people of color, he said in an interview published on ACLU’s YouTube page.

They became vocal activists, particularly in the anti-Vietnam War movement. He and Sonia, Gil said in the video, were “made for each other.”

"The only thing that we were in conflict over in our 62 years was that I loved and she hated German language and German vocal music," Gil Sloan told The News Journal in 2019. “For the rest, we were in accord."

The Sloans met Biden when he was a charming New Castle County councilman with a toothy smile. Gil Sloan recalled to The News Journal the moment when Biden told Sonia he was going to run for U.S. Senate in 1972.

You didn't say no to Sonia: Delawareans remember lasting influence of Democratic activist

“You’re crazy,” Gil Sloan remembered his wife saying. Biden replied: “I may be crazy, but will you help me?”

Sonia Sloan helped raise his first significant campaign contribution of $25,000 – which was nearly a quarter of his total campaign. Since then, the couple worked for and helped raise money for every one of his campaigns.

JFC adds $120 million to state recommended budget

Last week, the General Assembly Joint Finance Committee added $124.5 million to the governor’s proposed operating budget.

The committee, which is charged with writing the state’s budget, added the money to the $5.48 billion spending plan. The fiscal year begins July 1.

INSIDE LEG HALL: Delaware legislative committee adds more than $120M to governor's proposed budget

The changes included adding $48.6 million to the operating budget for the state’s group health insurance plan in order to address a deficit. There was also an increase of $48.7 million for growing Medicaid costs. Other revisions included $8 million for home health care workers and $5 million for skilled nursing facilities.

The committee also, expectedly, approved Gov. John Carney’s recommendation to give raises ranging from 3% to 9% to state employees. Teachers, as well as school counselors and librarians, will see an increase of 9%.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Tom Carper retiring prompts Delaware politics to ask: Who's next?