Delaware election 2024: US House of Representatives candidates debate ahead of primaries

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At a forum in downtown Wilmington on Tuesday, candidates for the First State’s only congressional seat expressed their views on foreign and domestic policy.

State Senator Sarah McBride, businessman Earl Cooper and financier Elias Weir are vying for the Democratic nomination in the Sept. 10 primary. Small business owner and veteran Donyale Hall and John J. Whalen III are competing for the Republican nomination. The seat is being vacated by Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is seeking to succeed Senator Tom Carper, who is not seeking re-election.

All candidates except Whalen participated in the debate, which covered issues such as abortion, immigration, the Gaza war and the US’s relationship with Russia and China.

The candidates all agreed to support Israel in the Gaza war. McBride said the loss of life was heartbreaking.

“That is one of the reasons why I have been so supportive of the US government’s efforts to achieve a long-term ceasefire that secures the release of the hostages and builds a bridge to a permanent and sustainable peace,” she said. “We have to be clear that although this deal is currently on the table, Israel has accepted a version of this deal. Hamas has not accepted this version of the deal.”

In her response, Hall emphasized her and her family’s decades of military experience.

“From that perspective, my family has a lot to lose. I think I have a credible voice in everything we talk about in foreign policy, and I believe in peace through strength,” she said. “That’s why we have a long-standing ally in Israel, whose continuation I support, and I’m making sure we keep that relationship strong in the interest of world peace.”

Cooper said he was in favor of a fresh start with Russia and China, but also used the time during the question to talk about the difference between the minimum wage and the local wage paid to some workers in certain industries, such as construction.

“Fifty dollars an hour can really change a person’s life,” he said. “I have people who work for me and can support their families. And those are the things I want to talk about.”

Hall said she does not support issuing a “blank check” to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in 2022. According to the U.S. State Department, the Biden administration has provided $55.5 billion in military aid since February 2022.

Weir agreed that the US should maintain a tough stance towards China and Russia.

“China wants to be a superpower. Russia wants to be a superpower,” he said. “If these two countries want to work together, this is a critical issue that the United States needs to address.”

The abortion issue has been a source of fierce division. McBride said she was proud of her role as a legislator in developing Delaware into a sanctuary state. She said she would fight any attempts to ban the procedure at the federal level if elected.

“We are not safe from MAGA extremists who want to implement their Texas and Alabama agenda at the federal level,” McBride said. “Look, the far right wing told us they would not overturn Roe. They overturned Roe. Now those same people are telling us they will not implement a nationwide abortion ban. They will. We will not be fooled.”

Cooper also said he was in favor of leaving the decision up to women, while Hall and Weir said they were against abortion.

“It’s a terrible thing and I think the Supreme Court is absolutely right and made the point exactly on Roe versus Wade,” Weir said.