The Delaware State Republican Party is turning to a write-in candidate in its effort to retain the 19th district State Senate.
The Sussex County Republican Committee has voted to endorse the write in candidacy of former Georgetown Mayor Brian Pettyjohn.
The state GOP is changing horses after the Republican on the ballot, Eric Bodenweiser, suspended his campaign over the weekend for personal reasons. Bodenwesier's decision comes after reports that Delaware State Police are investigating him for unspecified reasons.
Bodenweiser won the Republican primary in the 19th Senate District in September, unseating incumbent Joe Booth by 181 votes after losing to Booth by just 120 votes in a primary two years ago.
In a written release, the Sussex Republican Committee said it polled its Executive Committee members and that vote indicated that the group felt that "the best course of action, in light of the Committee’s charge to elect Republican candidates in Sussex County, is to support the write-in candidacy of Brian Pettyjohn."
State GOP Party chairman John Sigler called Bodenweiser's decision to leave the race an "unfortunate situation," and leaves "a lot of work to be done" in the race for the 19th district Senate seat. Still, he believes the Republicans can organize voters to write-in Pettyjohn and keep the seat in the GOP column.
"I am optimistic and somewhat confident actually," said Sigler. "The Sussex Republican committee is fully capable of retaining that seat as a Republican seat even with a write in candidate. Write in campaigns are very difficult but the folks down there are extremely dedicated to the concept of having a Republican represent them in the 19th district."
Pettyjohn filed as write-in candidate on October 1st. He is facing Democrat Jane Hovington.
Bodenweiser's name will remain on the ballot because Delaware campaign laws say a candidate's name can only be removed this close to Election day if that candidate is physically or mentally incapacitated.
