Gov. John Carney endorses former housing authority director Eugene Young for Congress

Delaware Gov. John Carney has announced his support for former Delaware State Housing Authority Director Eugene Young’s run for the state’s sole congressional seat.

The governor’s endorsement of Young came less than 24 hours ahead of state Sen. Sarah McBride’s news conference Thursday announcing additional “major campaign endorsers” to her own campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Carney said he’s seen firsthand the work Young has done to help Delawareans access affordable housing, implement programs that helped residents become homeowners and overseen redevelopment efforts throughout the state.

“Having served as a member of Congress myself, I know Eugene is the type of leader we need – someone who will roll up his sleeves and work together to find real solutions for the people of Delaware,” the governor said in his endorsement. “Born and raised on the east side of Wilmington, Eugene has demonstrated a real commitment to public service. (He) has the skills, judgment, and commitment to service necessary to represent Delawareans well in Congress.”

WHO IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE: Our updated list of Delaware candidates, announcements

Current Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester is running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen. Tom Carper, who decided not to run for reelection, opening the U.S. representative seat.

The endorsement for Young comes about a week after the state Senate confirmed Cynthia Karnai as Delaware's new housing Cabinet secretary and the director of the Delaware State Housing Authority.

Young said he was humbled by the governor's endorsement.

"Growing up on the East Side of Wilmington, I would have never envisioned that one day I would serve in the Governor’s Cabinet, let alone receive his endorsement for my candidacy for U.S. Congress," Young said in a news release announcing the endorsement. "I am campaigning to improve the lives of all communities from Claymont to Selbyville by standing tall to make housing, health care, and the cost of living affordable for all Delawareans.”

Young announced he was stepping down from the position that he’s held since 2021 in February to focus on his run for Congress.

RELATED: State treasurer, a former candidate for Congress, endorses McBride for U.S. representative

Divided Democratic endorsements

While Young has garnered the endorsement of Delaware’s governor, McBride clinched state Treasurer Colleen Davis’ support after the state official ended her campaign for the seat in February due to personal health concerns and the need to care for her father during his ongoing illness.

Earlier this month, McBride also received the endorsement of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 81 union, which has nearly 7,000 members across the state, along with several other labor unions and PACS. She also has the support of state Attorney General Kathy Jennings and state Auditor Lydia York.

McBride earns more support from labor unions

McBride's campaign for Congress on Thursday announced the state senator has received support from the Delaware Building and Construction Trades and 19 other construction craft local union affiliates.

James Maravelias, president of the Delaware Building Trades, said the union was proud to support McBride for Congress given her "100% pro-union voting record."

“Working people across Delaware deserve a member of Congress who has a record of taking on big challenges and delivering for them — Sarah is exactly that leader," he said. "Sarah is a champion for working people, for unions and she’s our candidate for Congress.”

McBride lauded the union leaders, saying that the "backbone of the American middle class is the right to organize and form strong unions.

"As President Biden said, ‘The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class,'" the Democratic congressional contender said in a news release. "For 40 years, far-right extremists have sought to weaken federal protections for workers, undermine the enforcement of national labor laws, and strip workers of their right to organize. To restore the American middle class, we must do more to support unions and empower workers in their right to organize."

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Gov. John Carney endorses ex-housing director for Congress