Working Families Party Drives Progressive Wave in Delaware As Insurgent Candidates Larry Lambert, Eric Morrison, Madinah Wilson-Anton, Marie Pinkney, and Shané Darby, Notch Primary Wins 

For the first time, the Working Families Party committed its resources and decades of political campaign knowledge to support Delaware down-ballot primaries 

Wilmington, Del. — WFP candidates Larry Lambert (State House, District 7), Eric Morrison (State House, District 27), Madinah Wilson-Anton (State House, District 26), Marie Pinkney (State Senate, District 13) and Shané Darby (Wilmington City Council, District 2) have shaken up the political status quo in Delaware Tuesday night with a series of primary wins. 

“Today Delaware voters rejected the go-along-to-get-along status quo and elected leaders who will be accountable to the people,” said Vanessa Clifford, Mid-Atlantic Political Director at the Working Families Party. “This is a big step towards a Delaware that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well connected. We are also grateful for Jess Scarane’s bold primary run and were proud to stand with her in a tough fight. It’s a new day in Delaware, and we’re just getting started.” 

WFP worked with the candidates to adapt to physically distanced electoral organizing. Volunteers sent 7,000 texts to voters across the state ahead of the primary, and since the lockdown began, WFP hosted a weekly campaign meeting with candidates and their staff to provide strategic support.

“Voters today sent a clear message that they want progressive leadership in the statehouse, and I look forward to fighting for the working people of the 7th District,” said Larry Lambert, State House District 7 Democratic Nominee. “I would also like to thank the Working Families Party for their crucial support of my campaign.”

“I am grateful for the Working Families Party’s support in helping our campaign succeed,” said Shané Darby, Wilmington City Council, District 2 Democratic Nominee. “It’s going to take all of us working together to change things here in Wilmington. I look forward to helping pave the way for a progressive future for our city.” 

“Today, voters sent a clear message that progressive values trump divisive attacks,” said Madinah Wilson-Anton, State House District 26 Democratic Nominee. “I look forward to serving as the first Muslim elected to represent Delaware in the state house, and I’d like to thank the Working Families Party for its support throughout my campaign. I look forward to working with them to make this state work for all of us.”

“As a social worker and foster mom, I am committed to advocating for our communities’ most vulnerable,” said Marie Pinkney, State Senate District 13 Democratic Nominee. “I was proud to receive the endorsement and support of the Working Families Party, and am excited to work with them to advance a progressive agenda in Delaware.” 

The Working Families Party is a grassroots progressive political party that recruits, trains, and elects the next generation of progressive leaders to office. The WFP is driving a progressive wave in elections across America. This year the WFP helped elect progressive champions Jamaal Bowman and Mondaire Jones to Congress in New York, ousted five conservative Democratic state senators in New Mexico, helped D.C. Council Member-elect Janeese Lewis George beat back scaremongering attacks about defunding the police department, helped three progressive district attorneys in Colorado triumph in their primaries and won a slew of elections throughout Pennsylvania. 

Last year the WFP made history by electing Kendra Brooks to Philadelphia’s City Council, swelled the ranks of Chicago city council progressive caucus, put public education champions on the school board in Milwaukee, helped make Stephen Mason the first Black mayor of Cedar Hill, Texas, helped insurgent Latinx LGBTQ activist Candi CdeBaca oust a longtime incumbent on the Denver City Council, and elected other council members from Morgantown, W.Va., to Phoenix, Ariz. 

The WFP has also played a critical role in winning a $15 minimum wage in states and cities across the country, including Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Denver, with active campaigns in Rhode Island and New Mexico.