National Agenda

David Isenberg is a University of Delaware senior majoring in media communication and minoring in sport management. In "Gun Violence," David says progress isn't possible unless we work together and listen to each other. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

Sara Tideman is a University of Delaware junior majoring in art history. In "Powerlessness and Anger," Sara says young people are denied a voice on issues and policies that affect them. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

Kaitlyn Sill is a University of Delaware freshman majoring in communication. In "Gun Violence and Teens," Kaitlyn describes the fear students must live with each day they decide to go to school. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

Max Sierzenski is a University of Delaware junior majoring in interpersonal communication and biology. In "Algorithms Gone Mad," Max explains how and why media organizations are in the business of stirring up anger. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

Samantha Shey is a University of Delaware junior majoring in communication. In "When My Bubble Burst," Samantha examines economic inequalities in America. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

Richard Plotzker is an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute student at the University of Delaware. In "Anger in Perspective," Richard offers a historical and biological perspective on anger in America. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

Ryan McLoughlin is a University of Delaware senior majoring in international relations and minoring in political communication. In "Globalized Rage," Ryan describes his growing disillusionment with the state of American democracy. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

Ella Lathan is a University of Delaware senior majoring in vocal performance and minoring in journalism. In "I Will Not Be Silenced," Ella shares her painful, personal account of sexual assault. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

Gina Cosenza is a University of Delaware senior majoring in media communication. In "The Cost of Social Media," Gina explores the dark side of social media and its impact on vulnerable populations. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

Stella Chen is a University of Delaware junior majoring in media communication and minoring in journalism. In "Role Switching Between Me and Money," Stella explores her relationship with money and how she can keep it from controlling her. Since 2017, the Voices of UD initiative has been giving students a platform to tell their stories. The 2021 contest invites students to consider "Why is everyone so angry?" The views and opinions expressed by the contest participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the University, its administration, or faculty. Learn more about the CPC's programs and initiatives at www.cpc.udel.edu. Learn more about the contest at www.cpc.udel.edu/voices.

AUGUST 23, 2020― The University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), presents the National Agenda 2020 podcast. “We Are the People” examines the citizen’s role in politics and elections, from campaigns to the voting booth. We consider how people engage—or do not engage—in politics. In this episode, UD CPC Associate Director Lindsay Hoffman and the CPC’s Research Director Paul Brewer join Delaware Public Media News Director Tom Byrne to discuss the fall 2020 speaker series, the changing landscape of 2020 battleground states, and the local races in Delaware. Listen to this podcast on Delaware Public Media's The Green: https://www.delawarepublic.org/programs/green.

MARCH 6, 2020― The University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), presents the first episode of the National Agenda 2020 series. “We Are the People” examines the citizen’s role in politics and elections, from campaigns to the voting booth. We consider how people engage—or do not engage—in politics. In this episode, UD Center for Political Communication Associate Director and Lindsay Hoffman and the CPC’s Research Director Paul Brewer join Delaware Public Media News Director Tom Byrne to discuss the fallout from Super Tuesday and 2020 election news in the First State. Listen to this podcast on Delaware Public Media's The Green: https://www.delawarepublic.org/post/ud-center-political-communication-podcast-post-super-tuesday-landscape.

John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, discussed the results of the latest Youth Poll when he spoke at the University of Delaware on November 20, 2019. The poll, which surveys 18- to 29-year-old voters, has been conducted twice a year since 2000. Della Volpe was the featured guest for the final program of the National Agenda 2019 speaker series, hosted by UD's Center for Political Communication with support from the University Provost and the College of Arts and Sciences. Learn more about the series at www.cpc.udel.edu/nationalagenda.

NOVEMBER 8, 2019―The University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication, in a partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), examines where we’ve been, where we are going, and the current state of democracy in the United States. On this episode, Delaware Public Media news director Tom Byrne is joined by the UDCPC associate director/National Agenda series director Lindsay Hoffman and UD Dept. of Political Science and International Relations chair David Redlawsk, who was in Iowa this fall following the Presidential race. They discuss what Redlawsk is seeing in Iowa, the impact the impeachment inquiry into President Trump could have on voters there and elswhere, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's visit to UD to speak as part of the Direction Democracy National Agenda series. Listen to this podcast on Delaware Public Media's The Green: https://www.delawarepublic.org/post/direction-democracy-podcast-presidential-politics-iowa.

With trademark candor, sharp humor and a palpable pride for his alma mater, former New Jersey governor and presidential hopeful Chris Christie spoke on November 6, 2019, at the University of Delaware's National Agenda Speaker Series on “Deciphering Political Power.” That power, he alluded, resides in the collective will of the American people, whose allegiances seem as polarized as ever. The Center for Political Communication hosts the speaker series with support from the University Provost and the College of Arts and Sciences.

OCTOBER 28, 2019―The University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication, in a partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), examines where we’ve been, where we are going, and the current state of democracy in the United States. On this episode, Delaware Public Media news director Tom Byrne is joined by the UD Associate Professor of Communication and National Agenda series director Dr. Lindsay Hoffman and UD Dept. of Political Science and International Relations Associate Professor Joanne Miller. They discuss the ongoing U.S. House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump and the role conspiracy theories play in that inquiry and politics in general - as well as how politicians, the media and the public deal with these theories. Listen to this podcast on Delaware Public Media's The Green: www.delawarepublic.org/post/direction-democracy-podcast-navigating-political-conspiracy-theories

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019―The University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), examines where we’ve been, where we are going, and the current state of democracy in the United States. On this episode, On this episode, Delaware Public Media news director Tom Byrne is joined by the UD Center for Political Communication Associate Director and National Agenda series director Dr. Lindsay Hoffman and the CPC's Research Director Dr. Paul Brewer. They discuss the current state of the Democratic presidential primary race, including what can be gleaned from current polling. They also examine the results of UD's efforts register students to vote during the 2018 election cycle and the increasing diversity of candidates filing to run for the Delaware General Assembly. Listen to this podcast on Delaware Public Media's The Green: https://www.delawarepublic.org/post/direction-democracy-podcast-state-democratic-presidential-race-local-candidate-diversity.

Tara Setmayer is a CNN political contributor, media commentator, and podcast host. She became a household name for her no-nonsense commentary as an anti-Trump Republican during the 2016 presidential election cycle. Setmayer spoke at the University of Delaware on October 2, 2019. She discussed her perspective as a conservative political analyst, her criticism of President Donald Trump, and the importance of standing up and speaking out. Setmayer was the featured guest for the fourth program of the National Agenda 2019 speaker series, hosted by UD's Center for Political Communication. Learn more about the series at www.cpc.udel.edu/nationalagenda.

New York Times columnist and CBS News political analyst Jamelle Bouie spoke at the University of Delaware on September 25, 2019. He discussed the significance of current and past events in American politics. Topics included the recently announced impeachment inquiry against U.S. President Donald Trump, reparations for slavery, and the Electoral College. Bouie was the featured guest for the third program of the National Agenda 2019 speaker series, hosted by UD's Center for Political Communication. Learn more about the series at www.cpc.udel.edu/nationalagenda.

Political cartoonist Rob Rogers came to the University of Delaware on September 11, 2019, to discuss the legacy and future of political cartoons in the United States. Rogers was fired from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2018 for his anti-Trump cartoons. He is the author of the 2019 book, "Enemy of the People: A Cartoonist's Journey." Rogers was the featured guest for the second program of the National Agenda 2019 speaker series, hosted by the Center for Political Communication. Learn more about the series at www.cpc.udel.edu/nationalagenda.

Delaware native and former Obama campaign communications director Dan Pfeiffer emphasized activism over civility when he spoke at the University of Delaware on September 4, 2019. The co-host of the popular podcast Pod Save America and author of a New York Times best seller discussed the importance of authenticity, activism, and his take on the upcoming election. Pfeiffer was the featured guest for the first event of the National Agenda 2019 speaker series, hosted by the Center for Political Communication.

AUGUST 23, 2019―The University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), examines where we’ve been, where we are going, and the current state of democracy in the United States. On this episode, On this episode, Delaware Public Media news director Tom Byrne is joined by the UD Center for Political Communication Associate Director and National Agenda series director Dr. Lindsay Hoffman. They discuss the debate over guns in the wake of recent mass shootings, what was learned from the first two Democratic presidential debates, and a preview of this fall's Direction Democracy guest speakers at UD. Listen to this podcast on Delaware Public Media's The Green: https://www.delawarepublic.org/post/direction-democracy-podcast-debate-over-guns-and-democratic-presidential-debates.

MAY 24, 2019―The University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), examines where we’ve been, where we are going, and the current state of democracy in the United States. On this episode, Delaware Public Media news director Tom Byrne is joined by the UD Center for Political Communication Associate Director and National Agenda series director Dr. Lindsay Hoffman and the CPC's Research Director Dr. Paul Brewer. They discuss what the Center for Political Communication expects to cover in it is Direction Democracy National Agenda series, what constitutes a Constitutional crisis, Joe Biden and the large number of Democrats running for President, and the role special interests play in our democracy. Listen to this podcast on Delaware Public Media's The Green: https://www.delawarepublic.org/post/direction-democracy-podcast-what-constitutes-constitutional-crisis.

Responding to hate speech is difficult because its definition remains unclear. However, the reiterated theme throughout the University of Delaware's conference on free speech was the importance of positive communication. The title of the third session was “Difficulties of Responding to Hate Speech on Digital Platforms.” Panelists were Emma Llanso, Free Expression Project director at Center for Democracy and Technology; Brittan Heller, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard; and Jessie Daniels, Hunter College and The Graduate Center at CUNY. UD's Communication Department hosted "Speech Limits in Public Life: At the Intersection of Free Speech and Hate" on March 14 to 15, 2019. Legal experts and free speech scholars from around the country discussed how to define hate speech and respond to it both digitally and on college campuses. Read more about the conference at www.cpc.udel.edu/news/Pages/the-speech-divide.aspx.

Responding to hate speech is difficult because its definition remains unclear. However, the reiterated theme throughout the University of Delaware's conference on free speech was the importance of positive communication. The title of the first session was "Are more laws necessary for responding to hate speech?" The guest speakers were Nadine Strossen, the Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law at New York Law School and former president of the American Civil Liberties Union, and john a. powell, director of the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society and a professor of law and ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley. UD's Communication Department hosted "Speech Limits in Public Life: At the Intersection of Free Speech and Hate" on March 14 to 15, 2019. Legal experts and free speech scholars from around the country discussed how to define hate speech and respond to it both digitally and on college campuses. Read more about the conference at https://www.cpc.udel.edu/news/Pages/the-speech-divide.aspx.

Responding to hate speech is difficult because its definition remains unclear. However, the reiterated theme throughout the University of Delaware's conference on free speech was the importance of positive communication. The title of the second session was “Difficulties of Responding to Hate Speech on College and University Campuses.” Panelists were Timothy Shiell, Professor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin – Stout; Rodney Smolla, Dean of Widener Law School; Samantha Harris, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and Vice President of Policy Research; and Keith Whittington, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics, Princeton University. UD's Communication Department hosted "Speech Limits in Public Life: At the Intersection of Free Speech and Hate" on March 14 to 15, 2019. Legal experts and free speech scholars from around the country discussed how to define hate speech and respond to it both digitally and on college campuses. Read more about the conference at www.cpc.udel.edu/news/Pages/the-speech-divide.aspx.

Responding to hate speech is difficult because its definition remains unclear. However, the reiterated theme throughout the University of Delaware's conference on free speech was the importance of positive communication. The title of the fourth session was “Are more laws necessary for responding to hate speech?” The guest speaker was Sara Wachter-Boettcher, author of Technically Wrong: Sexist Apps, Biased Algorithms, and Other Threats of Toxic Tech. UD's Communication Department hosted "Speech Limits in Public Life: At the Intersection of Free Speech and Hate" on March 14 to 15, 2019. Legal experts and free speech scholars from around the country discussed how to define hate speech and respond to it both digitally and on college campuses. Read more about the conference at www.cpc.udel.edu/news/Pages/the-speech-divide.aspx.

Responding to hate speech is difficult because its definition remains unclear. However, the reiterated theme throughout the University of Delaware's conference on free speech was the importance of positive communication. The title of the fifth session was “Non-legal responses to hate speech on college & university campuses.” The panelists were Alex Amend, an independent researcher of the far-right and former research director at the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Intelligence Project; Deb Mashek, Heterodox Academy Executive Director; and Glyn Hughes, University of Richmond, Director of Common Ground. UD's Communication Department hosted "Speech Limits in Public Life: At the Intersection of Free Speech and Hate" on March 14 to 15, 2019. Legal experts and free speech scholars from around the country discussed how to define hate speech and respond to it both digitally and on college campuses. Read more about the conference at www.cpc.udel.edu/news/Pages/the-speech-divide.aspx.

Responding to hate speech is difficult because its definition remains unclear. However, the reiterated theme throughout the University of Delaware's conference on free speech was the importance of positive communication. The title of the sixth session was “Non-legal responses to hate speech on digital platforms.” The panelists were Brandi Collins-Dexter, Media, Democracy & Economic Justice Campaign Director at Color of Change; Carmen Scurato, Senior Policy Counsel, Free Press; Emma Llanso, Free Expression Project director at the Center for Democracy and Technology. UD's Communication Department hosted "Speech Limits in Public Life: At the Intersection of Free Speech and Hate" on March 14 to 15, 2019. Legal experts and free speech scholars from around the country discussed how to define hate speech and respond to it both digitally and on college campuses. Read more about the conference at www.cpc.udel.edu/news/Pages/the-speech-divide.aspx.

The final installment of the National Agenda 2018 speaker series featured award-winning Washington Post journalists Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan on November 14. Their talk focused on the idea that "Facts Matter" as people navigate what some have deemed a "post-truth" world. They spoke at the University of Delaware's Mitchell Hall for an event hosted by the Center for Political Communication.

Comedian, writer, and Ph.D. candidate Amberia Allen examined why "humor matters," especially in this political era, in the October 24, 2018, installment of National Agenda's Midterms Matter speaker series. Allen, who boasts an impressive resume not only as a comedian but also as a Ph.D. candidate studying sociology with a focus on race and gender, said that sometimes you just have to roll with the chaos.

Just 20 days before the 2018 elections, which some political observers see as potentially the most significant midterms in decades, candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives met to debate at the University of Delaware. The pair of debates on Wednesday evening, Oct. 17, in UD’s Mitchell Hall featured the major-party candidates for one of Delaware’s Senate seats and for its only seat in the House. In each race, an incumbent Democrat is seeking re-election against a Republican challenger. U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, a first-term member of Congress, is facing Scott Walker in the House race. In the Senate contest, three-term incumbent Tom Carper is challenged by Rob Arlett. Delaware Debates 2018, a joint initiative of UD’s Center for Political Communication (CPC) and Delaware Public Media, was live-streamed and broadcast live nationally on C-SPAN and in some regional media outlets.

Just 20 days before the 2018 elections, which some political observers see as potentially the most significant midterms in decades, candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives met to debate at the University of Delaware. The pair of debates on Wednesday evening, Oct. 17, in UD’s Mitchell Hall featured the major-party candidates for one of Delaware’s Senate seats and for its only seat in the House. In each race, an incumbent Democrat is seeking re-election against a Republican challenger. U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, a first-term member of Congress, is facing Scott Walker in the House race. In the Senate contest, three-term incumbent Tom Carper is challenged by Rob Arlett. Delaware Debates 2018, a joint initiative of UD’s Center for Political Communication (CPC) and Delaware Public Media, was live-streamed and broadcast live nationally on C-SPAN and in some regional media outlets.

In the third installment of National Agenda's Midterm Matters speakers series, 16-year-old political journalist explained why young voices matter. Fleisher writes Wake Up To Politics, a popular daily political newsletter that began as an email he sent to his mom to update her on what was happening in the world and what was on the schedules of America's political leaders. Fast forward to today and over 50,000 people receive Gabe's daily email.

Lauren Duca kicked off the first event of the National Agenda: Midterm Matters 2018 speaker series, hosted on September 12 by the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication and held at Mitchell Hall Auditorium. Lauren Duca is an award-winning journalist best known for her 2016 Teen Vogue op-ed “Donald Trump is Gaslighting America” and a contentious viral interview with Fox’s Tucker Carlson. Her writing can be found in the New York Times, the New Yorker, and New York magazine, as well as in her ongoing column for Teen Vogue, “Thigh-High Politics.​"

The University of Delaware welcomed back to campus alumnus and 2015 commencement speaker Dave DeWalt (EG ’86), who spoke about cybersecurity as part of the National Agenda's 2018 speaker series, "Midterm Matters." DeWalt is widely considered one of the most influential executives in technology and cybersecurity. He was named one of the 25 most influential executives in high technology by the readers of the industry publication CRN. He has spoken about cybersecurity at the World Economic Forum and was appointed in 2011 by President Barack Obama to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Council. This program was cosponsored by UD's Cybersecurity Initiative.

AUGUST 30, 2018―The University of Delaware Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), explores the national and local issues emerging with the upcoming midterm election. On this episode, Delaware Public Media news director Tom Byrne is joined by the UDCPC's Associate Director and National Agenda series director Dr. Lindsay Hoffman and Eric Hastings, a second-year Masters of Public Administration student at UD. He's also a Research Assistant and Legislative Fellow in UD’s Institute for Public Administration and Co-Creator of the Make It Count Campaign, the student-led initiative under the Biden Institute. They discuss the growing diversity of candidates on the ballot in this midterm election cycle, the possibility of a "blue wave" result handing Democrats control of the U.S. House, the Make It Count Campaign's work to engage student voters at UD and the latest on the upcoming Delaware primary election, including the U.S. Senate primary between Sen. Tom Carper and Kerri Harris.

As part of Delaware Debates 2018, Delaware Public Media presents Candidate Conversations in collaboration with the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. Delaware Public Media is interviewing all candidates who have filed to run in the races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as the races for State Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer. Candidates in each race will answer the same set of questions to allow Delaware voters to get to know them and compare them. In the race for State Auditor, four candidates are running to replace Republican Tom Wagner, who announced he is retiring after three decades in that office. Democrats Kathleen Davies, Kathy McGuiness and Dennis Williams will face off in a September primary to decide who will join Republican James Spadola on the November General Election ballot. Dennis Williams is a former State Representative, representing the 10th District in Northern New Castle County for six years (2009-2015) before losing a 2014 Democratic primary to current State Rep. Sean Matthews. He lost to Matthews again in a 2016 Democratic primary for that seat. Williams also ran twice and lost races Delaware’s U.S House seat in the late 1990s.

As part of Delaware Debates 2018, Delaware Public Media presents Candidate Conversations in collaboration with the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. Delaware Public Media is interviewing all candidates who have filed to run in the races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as the races for State Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer. Candidates in each race will answer the same set of questions to allow Delaware voters to get to know them and compare them. In the race for State Auditor, four candidates are running to replace Republican Tom Wagner, who announced he is retiring after three decades in that office. Democrats Kathleen Davies, Kathy McGuiness and Dennis Williams will face off in a September primary to decide who will join Republican James Spadola on the November General Election ballot. James Spadola is running for statewide office for the first time, but the former Newark police officer previously ran for the 1st District State Senate seat in 2016. He lost to incumbent Democrat Harris McDowell in that North Wilmington district by a 56 to 44 percent margin.

As part of Delaware Debates 2018, Delaware Public Media presents Candidate Conversations in collaboration with the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. Delaware Public Media is interviewing all candidates who have filed to run in the races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as the races for State Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer. Candidates in each race will answer the same set of questions to allow Delaware voters to get to know them and compare them. In the race for Delaware Attorney General, incumbent Democrat Matt Denn chose not to run for another term. That prompted four Democrats to throw their hats in the ring to replace him. Kathy Jennings, Chris Johnson, Tim Mullaney, and LaKresha Roberts will face off in a Democratic primary next month. There is currently no Republican on the ballot after Peggy Marshall Thomas dropped out of the race in mid-August, but state GOP officials say they are looking for someone to step in and run. They have until Sept. 4 to name a new candidate. This is LaKresha Roberts' first run for elected office. She was a Deputy Attorney General under then Attorney General Beau Biden, and has served under current AG Matt Denn as both head of the Family Division and then Chief Deputy Attorney General.

As part of Delaware Debates 2018, Delaware Public Media presents Candidate Conversations in collaboration with the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. Delaware Public Media is interviewing all candidates who have filed to run in the races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as the races for State Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer. Candidates in each race will answer the same set of questions to allow Delaware voters to get to know them and compare them. In the race for Delaware Attorney General, incumbent Democrat Matt Denn chose not to run for another term. That prompted four Democrats to throw their hats in the ring to replace him. Kathy Jennings, Chris Johnson, Tim Mullaney, and LaKresha Roberts will face off in a Democratic primary next month. There is currently no Republican on the ballot after Peggy Marshall Thomas dropped out of the race in mid-August, but state GOP officials say they are looking for someone to step in and run. They have until Sept. 4 to name a new candidate. Tim Mullaney is making his first run for elected office. The former Dover police officer and U.S Marshal spend 8 years working in the state Dept. of Justice under then Atty General Beau Biden, including 3 years as Chief of Staff. He was also New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer during the final year of Tom Gordon’s last term in office.

As part of Delaware Debates 2018, Delaware Public Media presents Candidate Conversations in collaboration with the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. Delaware Public Media is interviewing all candidates who have filed to run in the races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as the races for State Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer. Candidates in each race will answer the same set of questions to allow Delaware voters to get to know them and compare them. In the race for State Auditor, four candidates are running to replace Republican Tom Wagner, who announced he is retiring after three decades in that office. Democrats Kathleen Davies, Kathy McGuiness and Dennis Williams will face off in a September primary to decide who will join Republican James Spadola on the November General Election ballot. Kathy McGuiness is a Rehoboth Beach Commissioner. She previously ran for Lt. Governor in 2016, finishing third in a 6 way primary won by current Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long.

As part of Delaware Debates 2018, Delaware Public Media presents Candidate Conversations in collaboration with the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. Delaware Public Media is interviewing all candidates who have filed to run in the races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as the races for State Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer. Candidates in each race will answer the same set of questions to allow Delaware voters to get to know them and compare them. In the race for Delaware Attorney General, incumbent Democrat Matt Denn chose not to run for another term. That prompted four Democrats to throw their hats in the ring to replace him. Kathy Jennings, Chris Johnson, Tim Mullaney, and LaKresha Roberts will face off in a Democratic primary next month. There is currently no Republican on the ballot after Peggy Marshall Thomas dropped out of the race in mid-August, but state GOP officials say they are looking for someone to step in and run. They have until Sept. 4 to name a new candidate. Chris Johnson is seeking elected office for the first time. He most recently served as Gov. John Carney's deputy legal counsel and counsel for the City of Wilmington’s Law Department. He's currently Vice Chair of the Wilmington Democratic Party and on the board of the Delaware Center for Justice.

As part of Delaware Debates 2018, Delaware Public Media presents Candidate Conversations in collaboration with the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. Delaware Public Media is interviewing all candidates who have filed to run in the races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as the races for State Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer. Candidates in each race will answer the same set of questions to allow Delaware voters to get to know them and compare them. In the race for Delaware Attorney General, incumbent Democrat Matt Denn chose not to run for another term. That prompted four Democrats to throw their hats in the ring to replace him. Kathy Jennings, Chris Johnson, Tim Mullaney, and LaKresha Roberts will face off in a Democratic primary next month. There is currently no Republican on the ballot after Peggy Marshall Thomas dropped out of the race in mid-August, but state GOP officials say they are looking for someone to step in and run. They have until Sept. 4 to name a new candidate. Kathy Jennings is running for elected office for the first time. Jennings has more than 20 years of experience in the state Department of Justice, including stints as state prosecutor and Chief Deputy Attorney General. She prosecuted hundreds of cases, including serial killer Steve Pennell, who tortured and murdered five women in 1988. Most recently, she served as New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer under County Executive Matt Meyer before resigning to run for state Attorney General.

As part of Delaware Debates 2018, Delaware Public Media presents Candidate Conversations in collaboration with the University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication. Delaware Public Media is interviewing all candidates who have filed to run in the races for U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as the races for State Attorney General, State Auditor and State Treasurer. Candidates in each race will answer the same set of questions to allow Delaware voters to get to know them and compare them. In the race for State Auditor, four candidates are running to replace Republican Tom Wagner, who announced he is retiring after three decades in that office. Democrats Kathleen Davies, Kathy McGuiness and Dennis Williams will face off in a September primary to decide who will join Republican James Spadola on the November General Election ballot. Kathleen Davies is making her first bid for elected office. She worked as Chief Administrative Auditor in the State Auditor’s Office for over six years before being dismissed last December―a dismissal that Delaware's Dept. of Labor ruled in June was done without sufficient cause. Another hearing on that matter before Merit Employee Relations Board is scheduled in October.

JULY 20, 2018―The University of Delaware Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), explores the national and local issues emerging with the upcoming midterm election. Host Tom Byrne speaks with University of Delaware political experts Nancy Karibjanian and Lindsay Hoffman about national and local issues. They discuss a recent Center for Political Communication poll on voter anxiety and anger, President Trump's performance during the recent NATO meeting and his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the latest Trump Supreme Court nomination and the increasing focus on Kerri Harris' primary challenge to Sen. Tom Carper. To learn more about the University of Delaware's National Agenda program, please visit www.udel.edu/nationalagenda.

JUNE 1, 2018―The University of Delaware Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media(www.delawarepublic.org), explores the national and local issues emerging with the upcoming midterm election. Host Tom Byrne speaks with University of Delaware political experts Phil Jones and Lindsay Hoffman about national and local issues including recently published UD research on public opinion of transgender people, rights, and candidates. To learn more about the University of Delaware's National Agenda program, please visit www.udel.edu/nationalagenda.

APRIL 20, 2018―The University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), explores the national and local issues emerging with the upcoming midterm election. Host Tom Byrne speaks with CPC Associate Director and National Agenda Director Lindsay Hoffman and Associate Professor of Communication Dannagal Young about national and local issues including a recent national poll exploring opinions along party lines when athletes, celebrities, and late night talk show hosts tackle politically charged issues. To learn more about the University of Delaware's National Agenda program, please visit www.udel.edu/nationalagenda.

MARCH 9, 2018―The University of Delaware's Center for Political Communication, in partnership with Delaware Public Media (www.delawarepublic.org), explores the national and local issues emerging with the upcoming midterm election. Host Tom Byrne speaks with CPC Associate Director Lindsay Hoffman and David Redlawsk, chair of the University of Delaware's Department of Political Science and International Relations. To learn more about the University of Delaware's National Agenda program, please visit www.udel.edu/nationalagenda.

The University of Delaware’s National Agenda 2017 speaker series concluded on November 15 with a conversation about cultural divides with Los Angeles-based comedian and writer Chris Garcia. A son of Cuban refugees, Garcia said that his cultural heritage and his respect for his family shape his identity and connect him to his community. Garcia shared his family's story of surviving Fidel Castro's Communist regime and then settling in California. Chris cut his comedy teeth in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he was named “A Comic To Watch” by the Mercury News in San Jose, California, “One of the 7 Funniest People in San Francisco” by 7×7 Magazine, and a "Rising Comedic Star” by the SF Weekly.

The University of Delaware’s National Agenda 2017 speaker series continued on November 1 with a conversation about past and present political divides with former Michigan Congressman David Bonior and former Delaware Governor and Congressman Mike Castle. The statesmen recalled their challenges and accomplishments while in office and discussed challenges facing America today.