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Carney easily wins governor's office

Megan Pauly
/
Delaware Public Media

There was little drama in the race for governor in Delaware.

Voters gave Democrat John Carney an easy victory over state Sen. Colin Bonini (R-Dover South), with the Associated Press calling the race immediately after polls closed.

The final margin of victory for Carney was 19 percent – with 58 percent casting their ballots for three-term Democratic Congressman.

Carney told supporters in Wilmington last night it bugged him when supporters told him he was going to be their next governor months before the election, warning it was premature.

“At the end of the day, you all didn’t take this for granted. You were out there, you made the calls, you knocked on the doors, you got out the vote, you made those contributions and at the end of the day, I’m smiling,” he said.

Carney faces a potential budget deficit he pegs near $300 million from current spending -- something that will be fought over by state lawmakers come January.

“We’re going to have to have a complete budget reset -- look at the spending side and the revenue side. The best way to deal with a fiscal deficit like that is to have your economy grow out of it.”

He mentioned no specifics as to how to balance Delaware's budget next year.

Carney wins the governor’s office in his second bid for the job.

Current Gov. Jack Markell (D) defeated Carney, then Lt. Gov., in a close primary race eight years ago.  Now, Carney replaces Markell – who leaves after two terms.