Wilmington City Council member running for state House representative in 2026
Shané Darby represents North Wilmington and the Triangle Neighborhood. She said is running in the Democratic primary in 2026 for state House representative for District 1, which encompasses much of north Wilmington.
She is getting quite a head start. The primary is almost a year and a half away, so there is not a way for Darby to officially file yet, the state Department of Elections said. The Democratic Party has not set its filing fees for 2026, and there is no set date for the primary either.
Darby is in her fifth year on the City Council and, during that time, has fought for housing and criminal justice reform. Her most recent legislation is calling for rent stabilization for some homes and apartments in the city. She is also the founder of Black Mothers in Power, a nonprofit organization that offers support and political advocacy for Black mothers in Delaware.
DARBY'S HOUSING LEGISLATION Can Wilmington become America's next rent-stabilized city?
She wants to be a voice for Wilmington in Dover and strengthen the relationship between the state government and its largest city. If elected, she said she would put her experience with Black Mothers in Power to good use by advocating for statewide health care reform and wants to fight for education changes in the city.
"Wilmington needs a voice," she said. "We don't have a voice at the table."
She is running against state House Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, who has been the district's representative since 2018. He has been an advocate for education and housing reform in the city.
This is Darby's second campaign for the seat. In 2022, she lost the primary to Chukwuocha by only 90 votes. She said this campaign will be more deliberate because her last one was a little rushed. She said she didn't get out into areas like Trolley Square as much as she should have.
"It was like, 'Oh, let's run, let's hit where we know,'" she said. "Now that I came out this early, it has given me time to be strategic and intentional and to really unapologetically talk about some of the things that I think is important as being a state representative."
Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington City Council member running for a seat in Dover in 2026
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