Carper, incumbent U.S. Senator, was challenged in the Democratic primary by Dover activist Kerri Evelyn Harris. Carper previously faced a primary challenge in the 2012 election from businessman Keith Spanarelli. However, Carper defeated Spanarelli by around 70 points. Carper went on to defeat Harris by around 30 points. It was the most competitive Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Delaware in two decades.
The main declared candidates in the Republican primary were Sussex County councilman Rob Arlett and businessman Gene Truono, with a perennial candidacy from businessman Rocky De La Fuente, who also ran for Senate in seven other states.[2] Another candidate withdrew before the primary. Rob Arlett defeated Gene Truono in a landslide to win the Republican nomination.
Claire Sandberg, former deputy campaign manager for El-Sayed gubernatorial campaign and former director of distributed organizing for Sanders presidential campaign[29]
Jea Street, Jr., singer and son of New Castle County Councilman Jea Street
Laura Sturgeon, Democratic nominee for Delaware’s 4th Senate district
Debatesedit
Delaware newspaper The News Journal hosted a 90-minute debate on August 27, 2018 for the Democratic primary between Tom Carper and Kerri Evelyn Harris at Cab Calloway School of the Arts.[29][52]Republican candidate businessman Gene Truono answered questions from panelists before Carper and Harris debated. Sussex County Councilman Rob Arlett was also invited, but declined and claimed he had a scheduling conflict.
Councilman Rob Arlett and businessman Gene Truono had four debates in total. They were normally live streamed on Facebook and uploaded to YouTube. A fifth debate was planned, but Truono withdrew from the debate because he the organizers refused to give him control over what questions could not be asked. Instead organizers held a forum with all the other candidates for the U.S. Senate and other state offices. Five candidates attended that forum.
On August 20, 2018, the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association (GHADA) hosted a 2-hour debate at the Hockessin Memorial Hall between Democratic candidate Kerri Evelyn Harris and Republican candidate Gene Truono. Tom Carper and Rob Arlett were also invited to the debate, but did not attend. Carper was not present because of the U.S. Senate's extended session due to session ceasing early the Thursday prior because of the death of former governor and U.S. Senator of Nevada, Paul Laxalt.[86] Arlett declined and claimed he had a scheduling conflict.[87]
Full video of debate, Facebook August 20, 2018
with Tom Carper and Rob Arlett
The debate gained national attention after Republican candidate Rob Arlett brought up Democratic senator Tom Carper’s past controversy of domestic abuse.
Full video of debate, C-SPAN October 17, 2018
with Tom Carper, Rob Arlett, Nadine Frost, and Demitri Theodoropoulos
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