THE RACE FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 1
Adriana Leela Bohm for State Senate
Democratic Primary · Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Update 8/18/26:
VOTERS SHOULD HEAR STRICTLY ABOUT ADRIANA’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND GOALS
Who Adriana is
Bohm is a longtime Delawarean, a mother, a second-generation Indian American, a sociology professor, and an activist who comes from a union family and is herself a union member. She served for 10 years on the Red Clay School Board (she never missed a board meeting and never missed a vote), where she wrote board policy, organized the community, and fought to pass policies specifically addressing the lack of resources our students and their families experienced. She fought for policies that holistically addressed inequities in our schools and aimed to improve outcomes for students, families, and the people working in the schools. Bohm’s educational background (PhD in Sociology), her 25 year teaching career, and her experience on the board has shown her that the challenges educators and students experience in the classroom do not emanate from the classroom itself, but rather from failed state legislation to improve people’s living conditions.
About Adriana:
Adriana is a trusted progressive with deep local roots.
Adriana grew up in Wilmington’s Northside and attended Warner, Stanton and Dickinson.
Adriana is the daughter of a Vietnam War-era Veteran.
Adriana is the daughter of an Indian (South Asian) immigrant mother.
The district needs a responsive, proactive, and accountable voice willing to fight for legislation that does more than nibble around the edges.
Adriana is a bold fighter for a future where everyone's rights are protected and no one is left behind.
Adriana isn’t accepting any corporate PAC money, meaning her only accountability is to the people of his district.
Adriana's work as a community college professor gives her the independence to put her constituents first, without the competing institutional interests that can come with other outside leadership roles.
Adriana brings the mindset and experience of an organizer: she has a deep commitment to relationship and coalition building and has knocked almost every door in the district herself to hear directly from constituents in SD1.
Adriana has a long track record that tells us that she shares the values of voters in her district, and that she is willing to stand up and fight tough fights:
Wrote the Safe and Inclusive Schools Resolution protecting our immigrant community (Sept 2017)
Helped write and pass Red Clay Board Policy 8005, which protected our transgender and gender fluid students (we were only the second district in the state to have this policy)
Repeatedly raised the concern about school board meeting locations not being accessible to parents across the district; advocated for meetings to be held at more centralized schools on the bus route (March 2015)
Raised the issue of racist outcomes in student discipline (starting in 2013)
Helped write and pass HB 198 – which required Black American History be taught in K-12 as a requirement for graduation
The shape of the race
This is a classic challenger-versus-incumbent primary in a district that is comfortable and moderate by Delaware Democratic standards. Sen. Cruce has held the seat only since the February 2025 special election, so he is a relatively new incumbent rather than a long-entrenched one, which is part of why Bohm sees an opening. Her path runs through consolidating progressive and change-oriented Democrats while making her middle-class affordability and education message land with the district's older, affluent, high-turnout voters.
A candid note for planning: the underlying House districts here have historically been tough terrain for progressive candidates, who have tended to underperform relative to the rest of the county. That makes broadening the message beyond the progressive base, especially on the everyday-affordability and education themes, the central strategic task. This summary does not include any contrast on Sen. Cruce's voting record, because he has a short record.
Advertising
The voter universe is broad: Democrats who voted in any of the 2020, 2022, or 2024 primaries, plus Democrats newly registered in the district since November 2024. The build-to goal is comparatively modest, roughly two to three mail pieces plus Facebook ads. In a high-turnout, high-information district like this, where voters research their choices, a disciplined mail-and-digital program that clearly defines Bohm and her education-and-affordability contrast can go a long way, and additional resources would most usefully expand the mail program and digital reach.