ON THE ISSUES

PRIORITIES FOR OUR FAMILIES

I hear the big concerns in people’s everyday lives — the economy, education, environment, infrastructure, housing and health — are all interconnected. We need legislators who understand those links and are willing to fight for legislation that does a whole lot more than nibbling around the edges.

Healthcare

When we invest in safety and health, we make our state a place where people thrive.

Healthy communities are stable and sustainable communities. Unfortunately, Delaware is falling short with higher than average rates of cancer, chronic disease, and asthma driven by environmental conditions and socioeconomic disparities. We must adopt a public health approach that prevents disease before it happens and treats it early when it does.

    • Our for-profit healthcare system makes healthcare unaffordable for too many Delawareans. No one should be in debt because they got sick.

      • Continue to expand Medicaid to cover the more than 48,000 Delawareans who still lack health insurance.

      • Create a state-wide insurance plan to cover every Delawarean.

      • Lower the costs of healthcare and prescription medication, including through the adequate funding of the hospital cost review board.

    • Regular preventative care reduces the risk of disease and improves the health of entire communities, but far too few Delawareans get what they need to stay healthy.

      • Remove barriers to early detection of disease by ensuring every Delawarean receives yearly health assessments free of charge.

      • Invest in publicly run grocery stores to counter the soaring prices of groceries and ensure all Delawareans can eat well.

      • Decrease wait times by attracting and retaining more medical professionals to our state, especially in areas already experiencing shortages.

    • When we address disparities in care between the residents of our state, we improve overall health outcomes and benefit everyone.

      • Promote maternal healthcare equity through policies which specifically address Delaware’s increasing Black Maternal Mortality rates.

      • Protect access to gender-affirming care.

      • Adopt an amendment to our state constitution to guarantee the right to abortion services in our state.

    • Over the past decade, rates of both mental health and substance abuse disorders have continued to rise in Delaware. We can decrease these rates through improved socio-economic conditions as well as funding targeted public health programs.

      • Increase critical mental health and substance abuse treatment services.

      • Treat addiction as a health crisis not a carceral issue.

      • Cover substance abuse and addiction treatment through a state-wide insurance plan.

Housing

No one should be priced out of their homes or neighborhoods.

Affordable, stable housing is essential to the health and well-being of our community. I’m committed to fighting for policy that helps keep people housed, addresses the affordability crisis, and puts people over profits.

  • Delaware needs more than 20,000 affordable housing units to meet the needs of low-income families. We have the power to ensure that the public's dollars are used to support homes that working class families can actually afford. 

    • Require public dollars and tax breaks be used for the development of affordable homes, not luxury ones.

    • Remove restrictions to building affordable housing such as:

      • Exclusionary zoning laws, which were originally created to exclude Black and Brown people from living in certain areas.

      • Occupancy restrictions.

      • Single-family zoning.

  • At least 50% of all renters statewide are cost-burdened meaning they are paying more than 30% of their income towards rent. When people cannot afford their rent, they risk eviction and eventually homelessness.  

    • Regulate how high rent can be raised each year through rent stabilization. 

    • Protect renters from unfair, discriminatory, or retaliatory evictions through Just Cause Eviction laws.

    • Create a stronger Landlord-Tenant Code to protect tenants from slumlords who refuse to maintain safe properties.

  • Too many seniors are afraid of losing their homes due to rising costs and limited incomes. Some struggle to maintain repairs. For many young individuals and families, homeownership feels like a pipe dream. 

    • Keep homeowners in their homes through repair programs, tax assistance programs, and restricting sheriff sales for code violations.

    • Help more people become homeowners through the expansion of downpayment and closing assistance programs.

  • There has been a 16% increase in homelessness between 2024 and 2025, the largest on record in Delaware. And that’s not surprising with how high the rents are. In fact, for every $100 increase in rent, there is a 9% increase in the homelessness rate (2020 Government Accountability Office). Housing is simply too expensive, even for families that are working full time. There just aren’t enough shelter beds for everyone, and many people have no choice but to live outside, double up with family or friends, or sleep in their cars.

    • Make it illegal to clear out homeless encampments, if people do not have access to alternative housing.

    • Increase funds for the creation of more emergency shelter beds and permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals.

Economy & Jobs

Every Delawarean deserves a good-paying job with livable wages that can support a family.

We need to guarantee dignity in the workplace and ensure people can afford to live in our state through every stage of their lives.

  • No Delawarean should have to work two and three jobs just to survive. We can ensure one job is enough for our families to thrive.

    • Tie minimum wage to inflation to ensure workers don’t fall behind.

    • Support legislation to drive down the cost of living.

  • I’m proud of my history as a union member from a union family. I directly benefited from the stability and prosperity union jobs bring. Every Delawarean deserves those same protections, benefits, and wages at work.

    • Make it easier for workers to unionize and fight back against “right to work” laws that undermine unions.

    • Expand apprenticeship programs in schools to create real pathways to jobs for youth and students who prefer trades or certifications over college.

    • Ensure our workers and community benefit from major development projects, not just corporations.

  • We can maintain a strong state by ensuring no one gets left behind, especially seniors.

    • Fund services that help seniors continue to live independent lives such as transportation, meal support, housing assistance, senior centers, and community programs.

Education

Strong public schools build strong communities. Every child deserves the chance to succeed no matter their zip code.

I know education is the foundation of opportunity. As a longtime member of the Red Clay School Board, I worked to pass policies that improved outcomes for students and families. But I also saw just how much still needs to be done statewide to deliver equity and results.

  • When children start school ready to learn, they are more likely to have positive academic outcomes later in their education journeys. This academic success improves the overall social, economic, and health outcomes of our entire state.

    • Fully fund universal pre-kindergarten so all children, no matter their income or background, get the best possible start.

    • Expand state funding for early childhood programs, increasing classroom capacity in school districts, and supporting community-based providers so high-quality Pre-K is available in every neighborhood. 

    • Guarantee early educators are paid a living wage, because investing in children also means valuing the professionals who guide their first steps in learning.

  • No student should have to learn on an empty stomach or ever hear the phrase “lunch debt.” At a time when working families are struggling to afford groceries, we can alleviate some of that burden by feeding kids at school.

    • Fund free school meals for every child in Delaware.

    • Secure dedicated state funding and making the most of federal nutrition dollars so districts aren’t left with the bill.

    • Partner with schools to ensure meal programs run smoothly, making healthy food a reliable part of every student’s day.

  • For years, multiple committees, task forces, and judges have told us the way we fund schools is broken. It’s led to a potential $1 billion gap in the funding of our schools statewide. To fix it we need the state legislature to act.

    • Implement an equitable, weighted funding system that meets students where they are and directs more resources to students who need extra support including English learners, children with disabilities, and students from low-income families.

    • Work with educators and families to modernize the state’s outdated formula.

    • Ensure accountability so dollars go directly to the services that help students succeed.

  • Delaware’s educators and school staff give their all every day, yet too often without the pay or respect they deserve. By making education careers sustainable and respected, Delaware can keep great teachers in the classroom and attract new ones to the profession.

    • Guarantee competitive salaries and benefits for teachers, paraprofessionals, and support staff. 

    • Provide more state education funding so districts can raise wages without cutting programs.

    • Work hand-in-hand with educators to make sure their voices drive the solutions.

  • Opportunity doesn’t stop at high school graduation. We must ensure Delaware students are prepared for what comes next, whether it be college or the workforce.

    • Expand funding for colleges, universities, and workforce training so more young people and working adults can pursue their goals.

    • Advocate for greater state investment in higher education.

    • Expand scholarships and tuition assistance for low- and middle-income families.

    • Strengthen partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to create clear paths to apprenticeships and high-demand careers.

Environment & Infrastructure

When we prioritize environmental justice and sustainability in development, we can decrease traffic, fight pollution, and strengthen our communities.

Every Delawarean deserves to live in a state with fresh air, clean water, and strong, connected, and resilient communities. I know reliable roads, safe drinking water, resilient energy systems, and digital access are not luxuries but necessities for working families. Our infrastructure investments must serve people first, not corporate interests, and guarantee every neighborhood the same level of safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

    • Amend the state constitution to affirm that all Delawareans have a right to a clean and healthy environment.

    • Pass state-level Green New Deal legislation, which would seek to address both climate change and economic inequality through a series of policies and actions. Such legislation should include a plan to create green jobs, and also vitally emphasize that as certain types of jobs are eliminated, we will focus on training for workers so they have new careers ahead of them that pay a living wage. On both a local and national level we should be creating jobs that are safe for workers, communities and the environment.

    • Require assessments on industrial projects prior to their start to reduce the risk of deadly air, water and soil pollution which can contaminate communities and workers and impact public health.

  • Delaware must modernize its transportation system to better serve commuters, students, and businesses. 

    • More state investment in road maintenance and public transit, ensuring that residents can move safely and affordably. 

    • Fight for fair state funding, press for federal transportation dollars to be directed equitably, and prioritize projects that improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.

  • Clean water is a basic human right, but right now we don’t ensure all Delawareans have safe drinking water. 

    • Fully fund projects that replace aging water pipes and remove lead contamination.

    • Improve our ability to protect against flooding.

    • Work closely with local governments and community leaders to target resources to the neighborhoods most affected by unsafe water.

    • Hold polluters accountable so that cleanup costs are not passed onto working families.

  • Delaware’s future depends on building an energy system that is clean, reliable, and affordable. 

    • Invest in renewable energy and modernize the power grid.

    • Upgrade infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events.

    • Push for expanded state energy funding.

    • Strengthen partnerships with unions to create good-paying green jobs.

    • Ensure that climate resilience projects benefit the communities most at risk from flooding and rising sea levels.

  • In today’s world, internet access is as essential as electricity. We need to finish the work of expanding broadband to every home and business in Delaware, especially in rural and underserved areas. 

    • Advocate for state and federal investment in broadband infrastructure.

    • Require providers deliver reliable service at fair pricesItem description.