PRESS RELEASE
Dave Redlawsk Announces Candidacy to Represent Delaware’s 23rd RD
Progressive Democrat running for the State House
NEWARK – Today, April 8, 2026, Newark resident David Redlawsk announced his candidacy for the Delaware State House in the 23rd Representative District. Dave is running because this is a moment in America unlike any other we’ve seen.
"We’re facing an unprecedented assault on affordability, opportunity, and even the very foundations of democracy. In this unparalleled moment in America, Delaware needs leaders with deep expertise and practical experience to step forward and fight for the future of democracy and progressive values.”
A lifelong scholar and educator, Dave Redlawsk is the James R. Soles Professor and current Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware. His research has made him one of the world’s leading experts on political psychology and the health of democratic institutions. Dave’s students have gone on to be nationally recognized journalists, policy advocates, and elected officials making a difference in their communities.
“When it's hard to have hope, I look to my students. I see them worry about their futures, but I also see a persistent optimism as they develop the tools, knowledge, and passion to make things better. I teach them, but I also learn from them, and they've inspired me to take that hope to Dover."
Dave hasn’t just studied elections - he’s won them. At 37, he beat a Republican electoral machine in New Jersey when he was the first Democrat elected to Hillsborough Township Committee in 13 years. In 2006, he served as Treasurer for a US House of Representatives campaign that defeated a 30-year Republican incumbent who had been labeled “unbeatable”. Now in Newark, Dave has been a committed civic leader over the past decade:
Treasurer of the 23rd Representative District Democratic Committee
Member of the Newark Board of Elections
Vice Chair of Rank the Vote Delaware
Treasurer for the Friends of the University of Delaware Library
Member of Delaware Civic Engagement Coalition
The Issues
Dave’s campaign intends to focus on the key issues impacting the 23rd RD:
The Affordability Crisis: everything from housing and healthcare to daily living expenses, including the potential impact of the proposed data center on utility rates.
Healthcare & Constitutional Protections for Abortion Rights
Education Cost, Access (especially Pre-K to 12) & Student Debt
University-Newark Relations and the future of Newark as a vibrant, livable community
Voting Rights, Civil Rights, & Immigrant Rights
Environmental Justice & Climate Action
Labor & Economic Justice
More details will soon be available on Dave’s campaign website: www.davefor23.com
Dave Redlawsk is uniquely qualified to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. “The whole of my life’s work has led me to this point. It gives me the knowledge and experience to be our voice for the 23rd RD in Dover, and it gives me the understanding that I am here to listen, to learn, to hear every different perspective, and to build a bridge in service of a progressive, affordable, and inclusive Delaware. This is a moment unlike any other, and it’s critical we stand to meet it.”
About Dave
In addition to his political and civic pursuits, Dave and his wife Aletia Morgan have raised two sons in a home filled with love, hard work, and a commitment to community. He and his son Andrew are both Eagle Scouts, and Dave spent nearly 20 years in adult leadership roles in Scouting. He also coached his sons’ baseball teams, and served as a board member for the Middlesex County (NJ) Court Appointed Special Advocates, supporting children in foster care.
About the Campaign
To learn more about Dave’s campaign, please visit www.davefor23.com
Facebook: facebook.com/daveforthe23rd
Instagram: instagram.com/davidredlawsk
The primary election will be held on September 15, 2026
The last day to change your party affiliation is May 29, 2026.
The last day to register to vote in the primary is August 22.
About the District
The 23rd Representative District includes the City of Newark north and west of Main Street, and the Corner Ketch and lower Pike Creek areas.