Dave's key priorities for building a Delaware that works for everyone.
AFFORDABILITY
We must tie the minimum wage to the cost of living, oppose data centers that would raise our utility rates, and introduce several new tax brackets with progressive rates that will raise taxes on those who can afford to pay more, while reducing taxes for those in the lower brackets. It's time the wealthiest Delawareans paid their fair share and we ease the burden on those just trying to get by.
EDUCATION
Education is the lifeblood of any community. Every child has the right to receive a strong public school education. We need to support our educators, ensure equitable funding, and fund necessary wrap-around services such as mental health support and free student meals. Students cannot do well if they are hungry, and don't have the needed supports. We must also make sure real opportunity exists for further education, whether via our trade schools, DelTech, or at our four-year institutions.I also support universal childcare for all parents.
HEALTHCARE
Affordable and effective healthcare is a right. We must make quality care, including mental health care, accessible and affordable for all. Women should not face more challenges in finding doctors who take their concerns seriously than do men. Reproductive care is healthcare, and reproductive rights must be guaranteed by the Delaware Constitution.
While many changes to healthcare must come from the federal level, there are some things we can look at doing here in Delaware without federal action, including pursuing a public option healthcare plan to provide an affordable option for businesses, families, and individuals struggling to find affordable coverage in the private marketplace.
THE FUTURE OF NEWARK
As a department chair at the University, I'm in a unique position to bring state, local, and University leadership together to foster a new era of collaboration and cooperation in the pursuit of a prosperous, sustainable, vibrant, and livable Newark for all. We need to take a long view to ensure Newark and the 23rd RD's future, and this requires a true partnership between the city, the University of Delaware, and the state.
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY
The states have sovereign control of running their own elections, and we must stand in defense of that against an Administration looking to rig the 2026 midterms. I support broad access to vote by mail, same-day voter registration, automatic ex-offender re-enfranchisement, and implementing Ranked Choice Voting both in Delaware and federally.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
As the lowest-lying state, Delaware is at high risk of sea level rise due to global climate change. It's vital we restore advocacy for renewable energy, including wind, solar, and new technologies, and maintain Delaware's support for Electric Vehicles (EVs). We must oppose data centers or development that would jeopardize our environment and public health. Any redevelopment of industrial sites must prioritize protections from chemical pollutants, and it's imperative we continue to support the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program. Delaware must do everything in its power to fight the climate crisis.
WORKERS' RIGHTS
A well-paying union job made all the difference in allowing me to go to college without taking on serious debt. I fully and unequivocally support unions and workers' rights to unionize, and I oppose all Right to Work laws that undermine the rights of workers to form a union and collectively bargain.
GUN VIOLENCE
Thanks to the advocacy of a broad representation of Delawareans, organized by Mom's Demand Action, we have been a leading state in implementing constitutionally-sound protections to lessen the risk of gun violence in Delaware.