Treasurer Davis ends congressional campaign

February 28, 2024 6

State Treasurer Colleen Davis. | DBT FILE PHOTO

WILMINGTON — Eight months after announcing her bid for Delaware’s only House of Representatives seat, Delaware State Treasurer Colleen Davis announced that she is ending her campaign.

Davis, who announced a month earlier that she was seeking medical treatment, said Wednesday night that she would drop out of the race so she could focus on her recovery and her family.

In January, the state treasurer shared with the public that recent tests showed genetic mutations put her at a higher risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. She had her ovaries removed and had a double mastectomy performed.

“In recent weeks and months, my family and I have gone through a great deal of difficulty,” Davis said in a prepared statement. “While I’m recovering well, this has all helped clarify my priorities at this time in my life — that family, and our health, always comes first.”

Davis is a rare statewide official from Sussex County who was first elected in 2018, and among her biggest achievements include working to launch the Delaware EARNS program, a state-facilitated, universally available retirement savings plan; increasing banking in underprivileged communities and maintaining the state’s AAA bond rating.

In recent months, she has been meeting with business communities and various chambers of commerce around the state to discuss the Delaware EARNS program and its benefits for employers as well as employees.

Davis believes that Delaware EARNS will eventually help more than 100,000 residents save for the future.

“I will now be able to throw all of my time and energy into the vital operations and programs within my office, including Delaware EARNS,” she added. “I am so grateful for the abundance of support that I have received from all across Delaware, and look forward to continuing to serve our incredible state for years to come. The end of one journey is the beginning of the next.”

With her departure from the race, Delaware’s Democratic primary field for U.S Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware)’s seat now has two contenders: Delaware State Housing Authority Director Eugene Young and State Sen. Sarah McBride (D-Wilmington).

Young has announced earlier this month that he would be stepping down from the cabinet role to focus on the race. The victor of the primary would face Dover veteran and small business owner Donyale Hall (R) in the general election.

According to campaign finance reports, Sen. Sarah McBride raised more than $1.23 million by the end of 2023, bolstered by the national profile as potentially becoming the first transgender member of Congress.

Young had raised $287,300 and Hall had raised $4,661, according to reports.

In the time since she announced her campaign, Davis had raised $145,520 by the end of the year.

Blunt Rochester, who is running for the U.S. Senate soon to be vacated by fellow Democrat Tom Carper, raised $4.4 million – with more than $1 million from previous years.