Election year brings campaigns to Delaware State Fair

HARRINGTON — 2024 is an election year, and not only is the U.S presidency up for grabs, but also plenty of offices close to home.

That makes the Delaware State Fair, which attracts visitors from across the state, an attractive proposition for candidates looking to get their name out there.

“It’s an incredible place to reach voters. Because when you think about it, Delawareans expect to meet their candidates and their elected officials face to face just like we’re doing here,” Gov. John Carney told Daily State News during Thursday’s Governor’s Day at the fair.

Gov. Carney himself is running for mayor of Wilmington this year.

“And when you’re upstate, like now running for mayor of Wilmington, I’m knocking on doors every night, talking to people on their front porches,” he added.

“But when you’re talking about Kent and Sussex County, the spaces are too large. So, you have to find places and events where people come together, and you can see them, meet them and talk to them.”

The fair’s geographic placement in Delaware is an important factor too, with booth volunteer for Matt Meyer’s gubernatorial campaign Reuben Yarmes saying that the campaign aims to represent itself in all Delaware counties.

Party representation was at the fair as well in the form of the Delaware GOP, promoting over a dozen candidates vying for positions across Delaware.

“You meet people from all over the state or people that have just moved into this state that are interested (and) might not even know who their representatives are or want to learn about their options,” said DE GOP booth volunteer Brett Carpenter.

These booths are getting attention, too. Mr. Carpenter said the fair booth had made over $1,000 from just the sale of Donald Trump signs as of Thursday.

Voter education was at the fair too via the Delaware Department of Elections.

“The department’s participation in the Delaware State Fair is one of the most positive and effective ways the department demonstrates its nonpartisan, state agency’s commitment to transparency and accessibility, providing essential information for all Delaware voters, by engaging with the public, person to person,” wrote department community relations officer Cathleen Hartsky-Carter in a statement to Daily State News.

The department’s booth lets those interested participate in a mock election, register to vote, and sign up volunteers to work as officers throughout the election season.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.