Two out candidates last week won their primary elections in Delaware and are one step closer to becoming the state’s first openly LGBT state lawmakers.
Andrew Staton and Marie Mayor won their respective Democratic primaries Tuesday and in November will vie against Republican contenders in their respective races. The state has never elected an openly LGBT person to the state legislature.
“This is a great opportunity for us,” said Peter Schott, vice president for political activity at the Barbara Gittings Delaware Stonewall Democrats. “There’s so much education that needs to be done about how our community is no different from anyone else. Having someone at the table would be very, very helpful in that regard.”
Staton is a Realtor operating out of Rehoboth Beach and is running for the 6th District seat in the Delaware Senate. The newly created district is comprised of Rehoboth, Dewey Beach, Milton and Lewes.
Staton finished first of three Democrats last week, capturing nearly 60 percent of the vote. He will face Republican Ernie Lopez in the fall.
Mayor is running to represent the 20th District in the House, also a newly created district. Mayor is a Delaware farm owner who has worked extensively on agricultural-development issues in the state. She is also a former educator and school administrator.
She won about 65 percent of the votes and will come up against Republican Stephen Smyk and Libertarian Valerie Valeska in November.
Both candidates were endorsed by the Victory Fund, as well as by the local Stonewall Democrats.
Equality Delaware did not endorse candidates in the election but its Political Activities Committee issued a slate of candidates it advised its members to contribute to, which included Staton and Mayor.
Equality Delaware board president Lisa Goodman said both candidates have been public about their orientation, which would make their election even more of a success.
“They have been totally open throughout their campaigns,” she said. “They are both amazing candidates and would make great legislators. I believe they are going to get elected, and that would be just further evidence of how open and welcoming the Delaware electorate is.”
Schott said that both districts are leaning Democratic, but not entirely.
The context of the election could help them, he added.
“Our governor is running this election, and he is a very strong governor with a lot of backing from Democrats,” Schott said. “And we also have [former U.S. Senator from Delaware] Joe Biden for vice president so I think there will be a big Democratic vote coming out. If that happens, I think we have a good chance of winning both of these.”
