Delaware
Snyder-Hall thanks lesbian community after winning in Delaware
14th District state House candidate sees 2024 as ‘femininomenon’
Following a close three-way primary race in Delaware’s 14th District, voters chose Claire Snyder-Hall to face Republican Mike Simpler in November for control of the district’s seat in the Delaware House of Representatives.
Snyder-Hall sat down with the Blade after winning the primary to discuss her plans for the general election, her goals moving forward, and why she dubs this election “the year of the woman.”
“I decided to run because I felt really overwhelmed by all of the negative things that are happening in the world,” Snyder-Hall said when asked about why she decided to get involved in local politics. “While I loved my job as the head of Common Cause Delaware and working on democracy agenda in Delaware, there’s a range of other issues I care deeply about, and I just felt like I have to do something.”
For five years, Snyder-Hall led the Delaware office of Common Cause, a non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening democracy across the state. Prior to her work at Common Cause, she taught political science at schools across the country for 20 years, including Princeton University, Rutgers University, Hunter College, Illinois State University, New College of Florida, and most recently George Mason University. She explained that because of her experience she stood out against her opponents.
“The challenge when you’re running in a Democratic primary is to differentiate yourself,” Snyder-Hall said. “I have, because of my five years as the head of Common Cause Delaware. I’ve developed a strong network of good relationships on the ground in Dover.”
Those relationships, she argues, will allow her to make the changes at the state level during a time that has been described — to put it lightly — as politically tumultuous.
“This is the most important election of our lifetime. Choice is on the ballot. LGBTQ+ rights are on the ballot. Democracy is on the ballot,” Snyder-Hall said. “And in eastern Sussex [County] our quality of life is on the ballot. And I just felt like I had to do something positive.”
That positive thing, Snyder-Hall explained, involves her three-part plan to protect rights in Delaware.
“There are three really important components of this job, and I take all of them very seriously. One is advocating for your district. Making sure that our district gets the money we need.”
In June, the Delaware House passed its 2025 Operating Budget of $6.1 billion to support critical programs across the state. If Snyder-Hall wins, she wants to see some of that money going to the state’s neediest residents.
“Things like more long-term care options, more mental health services, drug treatment, wraparound services,” she explained are at the top of her list.
In addition to those services, she highlighted the plight of many trans youth. A recent study of anti-trans legislation from The Williams Institute has found that 93% of transgender youth ages 13-17 in the U.S., (an estimated 280,300 transgender youth) live in states that have passed or proposed banning access to gender-affirming care.
“We have a lot of trans people who are moving to Delaware, fleeing persecution in other states. We want to make sure we have the services that are needed to get them up, going, and situated in the community.” Snyder-Hall said. “First thing, bringing resources back.”
“The second thing,” she continued, “is serving constituents. When constituents have a problem they need to have somebody that can call. Unfortunately, a lot of times it takes a phone call to your elected official to get something going.”
“And then the third thing, and this is one that I think sometimes doesn’t get enough attention, is that I want to be at the table when the laws are made for the state,” Snyder-Hall added. “So as a rep, I’m representing my district, but I’m also a participant in the overall governance of the state, and all three of those components are important for the job.”
In addition to the three components of doing the job properly, Snyder-Hall also pointed out she wants to help change the way campaigns are run in the state following Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long’s finance scandal. Last year, the Associated Press discovered Hall-Long failed to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans in her finance reports.
“Campaign finance reform is a big one, particularly in light of some of the things that have happened recently in Delaware,” Snyder-Hall said. “I’d like to see the creation of an inspector general’s office to look for fraud, waste and abuse, and corruption. It would be a nonpartisan office so it’s not somebody’s political career.”
Snyder-Hall was able to secure the Democratic primary win without the endorsement of longtime incumbent District 14 Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, who has held the seat since 2002. Schwartzkopf has been a longtime LGBTQ ally, supporting marriage equality, non-discrimination protections, and hate crime legislation in the Delaware House. He also served as Speaker of the House.
Schwartzkopf endorsed Kathy McGuiness, who came in third in the primary with 26.91% of votes (1,238 votes) following Marty Rendon in second with 31.83% of the votes (1,464 votes). Snyder-Hall won with 41.26% of votes (1,898 votes).
Snyder-Hall mentioned that this win would not have been possible without the LGBTQ community in Sussex County.
“I want to say that the lesbian community came out extremely strongly to support our campaign,” she said. “We have a very large community here, not just in Rehoboth and my district, but even spreading out to the west and south. They supported me financially, very generously. They volunteered for me. They spread the word. They lifted me up. I’m so appreciative of their strength in that community. And also, it wasn’t just that. I also have a big network of gay male friends and straight friends.”
Snyder-Hall said that the number of votes she got speaks to her community’s aspirations for a leader.
“One reason I think that the women’s community came out so strongly for me, is because they know that I will represent not just the people that live in my district, but I’ll be representing our interests as women, as lesbians, and as Delawareans,” she added.
She also explained that this could be an indication of a “femininomenon” — to use lesbian pop star Chappell Roan’s made-up word — in government offices across the country.
“We’re going to get Kamala Harris as the first woman president. We’re going to get Sarah McBride and LBR (Lisa Blunt Rochester). LBR will be the first woman senator [from Delaware]. And, you know, hopefully Claire Snyder-Hall from the 14th. I’m very proud to be the first woman nominated to be the representative for District 14, and I’m also the first lesbian nominated to represent District 14.”
Blunt Rochester is poised to become Delaware’s first Black person and first woman Senator. Sarah McBride is slated to be the first transgender person elected to Congress.
“Sarah McBride is incredible. She is a star. She has it all. She has the part you can learn and the part you can’t learn,” Snyder-Hall said. “She’s going to be an incredible congressperson. She’s so young, and she’s going to be the first trans congressperson. She’s got it all. She’s super smart, charismatic, just good with people, good with communications. I think it’s really fantastic.”
She added that she was not surprised by this, which is one of the reasons she loves her state.
“Delaware is a very, very pro-LGBTQ+ state, and I think that it’s not a surprise that our first trans congressperson would come from Delaware.”
Delaware’s general election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5. Voters will determine the race for the District 14 seat, the open congressional seat, and the Senate seat. This pivotal day will shape the state’s representation at both the state and national levels. For Snyder-Hall, this fight means more than just the office, but progress for Delawareans. “I knocked on thousands of doors all over the district. And the thing is it’s not one person’s story, but just the connection, being able to look someone in the eye and talk about the district and what we can do to make things better, that’s the thing that keeps me going,” Snyder-Hall said. “Knowing that I can help people.”
Delaware
New LGBTQ visitor center slated for Wilmington, Del.
The Collective to feature gift shop, queer museum, more
During Pride month this year, the Delaware Sexuality and Gender Collective (DSGC) announced plans for The Collective, which will become Delaware’s first LGBTQIA+ visitor center and Wilmington’s first dedicated LGBTQIA+ space in nearly 40 years.
“We’ve been talking about the concept of a brick-and-mortar space for a long time,” said Noah Duckett, co-founder of DSGC.
A licensed clinical social worker, Duckett co-founded DSGC with his mother, Julissa Coriano, in 2018. DSGC is an independent nonprofit organization that provides vital clinical and educational support, social programming and direct-need support to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Some of the programs DSGC offers include a free clothing closet for the trans community, meal support for people recovering from gender-affirming surgery, connections to pro bono legal services, a biannual Pride Market featuring over 100 LGBTQIA+-owned small businesses, and more.
“Our vision for The Collective is a place where our community can come to learn, create, work and be inspired,” said Coriano.
The Collective will feature a visitor center and gift shop highlighting LGBTQIA+-owned businesses in Delaware.
“I think that this is something that’s going to benefit our community so much,” said Duckett.
Some of the LGBTQIA+-owned businesses that DSGC has already partnered with include Stress Induced Art Attack, Moonbeam Art Collaborative, Voce Coffee, Groovy Gemini Co., Scout Cafe, Macaron Social and Huxley and Hiro.
“Specifically in Wilmington, we haven’t had an LGBTQIA+-dedicated space in almost 40 years,” said Duckett.
The Griffin Community Center, which operated from 1986 to 1990, was Delaware’s first LGBTQ+ community center. The Griffin was founded by Ivo Dominguez Jr. and James C. Welch and provided a range of community services during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, including AIDS hotlines, organizational offices and meeting space. The center ultimately closed because of a lack of financial support.
Duckett said DSGC hopes The Collective will carry on The Griffin’s legacy while building a sustainable space for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I think now more than ever, there’s more and more spaces closing their doors. More and more spaces are losing funding, seeing reduced funding and reduced access, especially LGBTQ+ organizations and communities,” said Duckett.
The Collective will also feature Delaware’s first LGBTQ+ history museum, curated by LGBTQ+ historian Carolanne Deal.
“We don’t have any permanent displays in the state about Delaware’s queer history, and we want people to be able to access that history any day of the year, not just during Pride Month,” said Deal.
With a master’s degree in art history for museum professionals, Deal has more than seven years of experience in curatorial work and hands-on collections care.
“It’s mainly going to be a graphic display with photographs, articles and accessible text that draws people in and creates a story for the community,” said Deal.
Although the museum will not initially have an object collection, Deal said she hopes to add physical archival pieces in the future.
“Delaware has been at the forefront of a lot of queer civil rights, and it’ll be really amazing to have that enshrined in a permanent display that’s not only up for Pride Month,” said Deal.
Duckett said DSGC is currently raising funds with the goal of beginning construction this summer and opening by the end of the year.
Duckett told the Blade that fundraising efforts have reached just under $29,000 and that the organization is awaiting several major donations from community partner organizations.
However, he said DSGC continues to be denied many grants tied to federal or state funding because of restrictions on those funds being used for LGBTQ+-serving organizations.
“Private and corporate donations are absolutely vital,” said Duckett.
Anyone interested in supporting the construction and renovation of The Collective can donate online or contact [email protected] for more information.ose funds being used for LGBTQ-serving organizations.
“Private and corporate donations are absolutely vital,” said Duckett.
Anyone interested in supporting the construction of The Collective can donate online or contact [email protected] for more information.
Delaware
Delaware approves amendment protecting same-sex marriage
Measure must pass second vote in next year’s session
The Delaware General Assembly passed Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100 on the last day of the legislative session on Tuesday after being rescinded last week.
Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100 (SB-100) passed with 28 ‘yes’ votes, meeting the two-thirds threshold required for the bill to pass. Tuesday was the last day of the 153rd General Assembly.
The amendment would enshrine the right to same-sex and interracial marriage in the Delaware Constitution.
SB-100 was rescinded last week after it did not receive enough votes to pass. Democrats were short by three votes, with two Democratic members missing from the vote.
Rep. Josue Ortega (D-03) voted ‘no’ on SB-100 and Rep. Medinah Anton-Wilson (D-27) did not vote. However, both members voted ‘yes’ for Senate Substitute 2 for SB-100 on Tuesday.
Prime sponsor of SB 100, Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall (D-14), made the technical decision to change her vote last week from a ‘yes’ to a ‘no’ at the last minute to keep the bill alive.
Additionally, Republican Assemblyman Michael Smith (R-22) joined the Democrats with a ‘yes’ vote after voting ‘no’ on SB-100 last week.
In order for SB 100 to be enshrined into the state Constitution, it must be passed by two consecutive General Assemblies. Thus, the amendment will not be officially added to the Constitution unless it passes in the 154th General Assembly next year.
Rep. Snyder-Hall introduced the measure earlier this week.
“Just one week ago, we failed to pass this legislation. We failed the people of Delaware. But today, on the final day of the legislative session, the 153rd General Assembly affirmed that every Delawarean has the fundamental right to marry the person they love, regardless of race or gender,” said Snyder-Hall.
“Thank you to my colleagues for recognizing that the right to marry is a right worthy of protection and for voting yes on this important constitutional amendment.”
Delaware
Vote to enshrine same-sex marriage in state constitution fails in Delaware
‘General Assembly turned its back on the people of this state’
The Delaware General Assembly on Tuesday failed to pass Senate Bill 100 (SB-100), an amendment that would add protections for same-sex and interracial marriage to the Delaware Constitution.
In order for the bill to pass, 28 out of 41 members needed to vote ‘yes,’ meaning all 27 Democrats and one Republican needed to vote in favor of the bill.
Rep. Eric Morrison (D-27) told the Blade that an anonymous Republican member agreed to vote in favor prior to the vote but ultimately did not follow through on that promise.
“It’s a shame,” said Rep. Morrison, who’s gay. He explained the difficult nature of passing this amendment with only three legislative days remaining in this session.
The bill needs to receive a two-thirds majority vote in two different sessions and the current two-year long session ends on July 1. Thus, if the bill does not pass before July 1, it will take a minimum of three years to pass the amendment.
The bill was introduced by State Sen. Russ Huxtable (D-07) on June 5, 2025.
Rep. Josue Ortega (D-03) was one of two Democrats to not vote in favor of the bill, voting ‘no.’ Rep. Ortega has not responded to the Blade’s request for comment.
Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton (D-27) was the other Democrat missing from the ‘yes’ votes. She did not vote on the bill.
Sponsor of the measure, Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall (D-14), made a technical decision to reverse her vote from a ‘yes’ to a ‘no’ last-minute in order to keep the bill alive.
In a Facebook post, Rep. Snyder-Hall said that, “The General Assembly turned its back on the people of this state.”
“When we had the chance to add an extra layer of protection from attempts to turn back the clock and strip our constituents of the rights that Democrats fought for decades to secure, we failed,” said Snyder-Hall.
However, Snyder-Hall said that the failure to pass this bill is not the end. “There are still three legislative days left in the 153rd General Assembly and I am hopeful that we will be able to get the votes required to pass this incredibly basic — but important — bill.”
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