A retired Kent County judge looks to become Delaware’s next Attorney General.
Republican Charles Welch kicked off the 2022 race for Attorney General.
Welch recently retired as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas. Prior to serving as a judge, Welch was a state representative, serving the 29th district, located Northwest of Dover — during his tenure, the Republican Party was in control of the General Assembly.
Now he’s looking to challenge Incumbent Kathy Jennings for AG.
“Watching the opioid crisis, what’s going on with gun crimes it’s like, I just can’t believe how it’s been going on,” he said. “We just decided that it’s time to get skin in the game and to run.”
Welch says Jennings is too lenient on criminals and drug dealers.
“A judge's worst nightmare is that someone they have released will commit another violent crime and hurt someone,” said Welch. “The Attorney General’s office should be our voice in court, arguing to keep violent offenders in custody — and I will be that voice.”
Welch argues Jennings’ efforts to reform the bail system have only caused more violence on Delaware streets.
He says his sole focus is on the AG’s office, and he has no higher political aspirations. His priorities include a crackdown on violent criminals and addressing the opioid epidemic.
Welch likely faces a GOP primary first. Julianne Murray, who unsuccessfully ran for governor last year, has indicted she will announce a run later this month.
But Welch says his focus will remain on Jennings, and he’ll let voters decide who the most qualified Republican candidate to challenge her is.
Jennings has yet to announce her re-election plans, and no other Democratic challengers have come forward.
Roman Battaglia is a corps member withReport for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.
