State Rep. Bryon Short (D-Brandywine Hundred) is the second Democrat seeking to replace Congressman John Carney (D-Delaware) in Washington, D.C.
Short announced his campaign to supporters Thursday morning.
He will face state Sen. Bryan Townsend (D-Newark) in next September's primary election.
Like many this election season, Short says he wants to focus on growing a contracting middle class by creating more effective entry points to manufacturing work.
“That kind of training and education pipeline – both bringing people into their first opportunity to work and then giving the opportunity for training and educational changes as they move through that, recognizing the needs that are there in our changing work world – I think is something that can be impacted from Washington."
The Townsend campaign quickly issued an attack statement Tuesday afternoon saying, "We only get one Congressman, and it's critically important that we elect someone with a record of leading on the issues important to all Delawareans - economic fairness, job creation, educational opportunity, and social justice for all."
Short didn't immediately return requests for comment.
The property management company owner previously worked in the Carper administration in the 1990s.
He first won a special election to replace outgoing House Majority Leader Wayne Smith in 2007 and has been re-elected four times since.
Townsend announced his bid for Delaware's lone congressional representative seat one day after Carney launched his campaign for governor last week.
Both men have been silently campaigning for the past two months, attending community events far outside their New Castle County districts to reach voters and Democratic Party donors.
Hans Reigel is the lone candidate seeking the Republican nomination.
