Kent County Today

Steve Washington enters the campaign on the Republican side in the state Senate race to fill the seat held for the last 44 years by Sen. Harris McDowell who is retiring.

Washington, a native of Wilmington, filed to run last month. Sarah McBride, 29 and also of Wilmington, is the Democratic candidate.

Washington, 56, is a special education teacher at Talley Middle School in Brandywine, a deacon at Mt. Zion Greater Harvest Ministries in Wilmington, on the Delaware Board of Parole and the executive secretary of the Wilmington Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

McBride is the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign. Four years ago, she was the first openly transgender person to speak at the Democratic National Convention.

Washington’s last run for public office was in 2016. He ran as an independent and lost, with 7 percent of the vote, for mayor of Wilmington.