New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer is the first to formally announce a bid for Governor in 2024.
Meyer announced his plans to run in a video message Tuesday morning - seeking to replace fellow Democrat and current governor John Carney who is term-limited and can’t run again
"I think there's some urgency about tackling the problems in front of us. The problems of our education system, problems in our environment, problems with the rise in cost of our health care. When you talk to a lot of people there's serious concern that what's coming tomorrow will be worse than what we're facing today, and so, I think it takes leadership to make sure that we're heading in the right direction," said Meyer.
Meyer is in his second term as New Castle County executive. He first won that office in 2016, defeating incumbent Tom Gordon in a Democratic primary, then topping Republican Mark Blake in the General election.
Meyer says his experience as County Exec would help him in Dover.
"We need to work together. We can do a better job. Being county executive exposes me to the ability that a county working with governments working, with municipalities, and working together, we can achieve better outcomes," said Meyer.
Meyer believes his time as County Exec will help him if he’s elected, arguing some downstate issues mirror ones he’s faced in New Castle County.
"Many of the challenges in Kent and Sussex are the challenges of growth, are the challenges of - particularly in Sussex at the beach - of climate change. Challenges that we've been facing head on in New Castle County. There are very different aspects to them in Kent and Sussex," said Meyer.
Meyer adds educational achievement and inequities, access to quality doctors, and equity in health outcomes are other issues he tackled in New Castle County that are statewide challenges.
He promises to be on the front lines with solutions, and put the best people in place to execute those solutions.
Meyer’s most recent campaign finance report shows he has raised a little over $1 million dollars to date for his run.
