Eugene Young, state housing director, announces bid for Delaware's congressional seat

Eugene Young, director of the Delaware State Housing Authority, announced Monday that he is running for Delaware’s at-large U.S. congressional seat.

Young, who made the announcement in a campaign email, has been viewed as a rising star in Delaware politics for years. If elected, Young would be the first Black man to represent Delaware in Washington, D.C.

“I have a deep, abiding sense of commitment to the state and the people of this state because the state's done so much for me,” Young said in an interview. “So for me, it's about how I serve those men and women and families that make up this wonderful state.”

He will face off against state Sen. Sarah McBride and state Treasurer Colleen Davis. Earlier this summer, 40-year-old Young announced he was interested in the congressional seat.

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester is vying for the U.S. Senate, following Tom Carper’s retirement announcement. The congresswoman has not said if she will endorse a primary candidate.

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Young's history in politics

In 2016, Young narrowly lost the Democratic Wilmington mayoral primary by 234 votes. The loss considerably raised his political profile. Following the election, he became CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, a position Blunt Rochester held before being elected to Congress.

Young’s father died of cancer not long after the 2016 mayoral race. He said the death of his father put the challenges of healthcare access into greater perspective. He said he believes in universal health care.

Young also founded the grassroots advocacy group Network Delaware. In 2023, Gov. John Carney nominated him to be a member of his cabinet. In his campaign email, Young said he led the push to “grow our state’s investment in affordable housing from $10 million to $122 million.”

The Democrat said his 20 years of experience gives him “a unique opportunity to talk about the issues that are facing everyday people throughout our state.” He also noted that he believes he will have the most diverse campaign in the race.

"I'm just here to fight for the people of the state point blank, period," Young said. "And do whatever needs to be done to serve them and not just certain areas, but from Claymont to Selbyville."

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eugene Young, Delaware housing director, announces race for Congress