Delaware election officials won't say if Hall-Long's possible finance issues under review

The Delaware Department of Elections has declined to say whether it will investigate possible issues relating to Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long’s campaign finance reports.

Hall-Long, the perceived frontrunner for the 2024 gubernatorial race, announced Thursday evening that she is conducting an audit of her past campaign finance reports after possible issues have been raised.

Is her campaign suspended?

Though she has not suspended her campaign, Hall-Long is not currently taking donations. Hall-Long is working with independent campaign finance experts and forensic accountants to audit the finances.

This news came just two weeks after she first made her campaign announcement. Gov. John Carney chose to endorse her over her opponent New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer.

WHAT HAPPENED: Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long reviewing campaign finance reports amid possible 'issues'

What finance reports are under review?

Hall-Long’s campaign has not specified what years are under review and when an audit will be completed. Regardless of the outcome, it will likely cast a shadow over her campaign – particularly since her husband Dana Long once served as her campaign treasurer.

He has created political headaches for his wife in the past, most notably when he was caught in 2014 stealing Republican political signs.

What role could the Department of Elections play?

As of now, it’s unclear if any campaign finance violations have occurred. The Department of Elections is the regulatory authority in the event there are violations.

But a report in 2021 found the department had, at the time, often failed to take action against political candidates and committees for not filing required campaign finance reports. In the 2020 election cycle, candidates owed more than $600,000 in fines.

Election officials did little other than periodically notifying candidates and committees about the reporting requirements.

The Delaware General Assembly in 2021 passed legislation that would help these parties avoid paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. It modifies the daily $50 fine by now capping it at 100 days. Training would also be mandated.

THE RACE: Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long announces 2024 run for governor, will face Matt Meyer in primary

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware election officials won't say if investigating Hall-Long