James Welsh (Delaware)
From Ballotpedia
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James Welsh (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Delaware State Senate to represent District 12. He did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on September 13, 2022.
Welsh completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
James Welsh was born in Newark, Delaware. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware in 2010 and a graduate degree from Queens College, City University of New York in 2012. His career experience includes working as a business controls specialist.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Delaware State Senate District 12
Incumbent Nicole Poore defeated Bill Alexander in the general election for Delaware State Senate District 12 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Nicole Poore (D) | 62.1 | 10,226 |
 | Bill Alexander (R)  | 37.9 | 6,228 | |
| Total votes: 16,454 | |||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Nicole Poore advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware State Senate District 12.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- James Welsh (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Bill Alexander advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware State Senate District 12.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
James Welsh completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Welsh's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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James Welsh is running on a platform of investment in ordinary people. Having suffered with a speech impediment when he was younger, James found his life changed for the better when he was enrolled in a state program for children with speech and developmental disorders. It was a program that came close to being shuttered, as the state government at the time was looking to save money by cutting back on programs. It was only through the loud protests of advocates that the program had its funding saved in the state budget. James is looking to bring that same spirit of advocacy to Dover, where he hopes to invest in and safeguard the dignity and potential of not just his community but Delawareans overall.
James was born and raised in Delaware. He has worked for over nine years in the banking industry, serving in various roles. He currently lives in New Castle with his adopted pointer dog, Norah.
- I want our government not only to work for your vote but for your trust as well - I strongly support efforts to make our government, from the local level to the state, more transparent and accountable. This means everything from expanding our Freedom of Information Act laws to prohibiting lawmakers from voting on conflicts of interest.
- If our government has to be anywhere, then I want it to be behind you, pushing you towards your goals - I support scholarships for those students interested in medical and engineering fields as well as reforms to improve our Workforce Development Boards.
- We must invest more in our children - I support increasing mental health support to all students, protecting programs for those with learning and developmental disorders, and putting a stop to bullying in our schools through innovative and proven methods.
While I'm intensely interested in any area of public policy where I can invest in someone's dignity and potential, I'm especially drawn to solving issues that are dragging down Delaware's democracy. Problems like government records being hidden, politicians voting on conflicts of interest, local governments operating without oversight, and an overall lack of accountability for misdeeds - all of this saps the enthusiasm that draws voters to the voting booth each election. This drains the hope not only for our democracy but also for so many other areas of our lives. I want the government not just to work for your vote but to work for your trust as well.
I have always admired Robert F Kennedy ever since reading a book that covered his fateful run to be president. He had an overwhelming desire to look out for the overlooked across our nation, being guided by a sense of empathy that few leaders seem to have these days. His example is one that we'll never quite reach again, but that shouldn't stop us from trying.
"The Last Campaign" by Thurston Clarke. It's a remarkable read that covers Robert Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign and what Kennedy hoped to achieve if elected.
There is a balancing act that every politician should strive towards. On the one hand, they must dutifully represent the community that elected them. On the other hand, they must be willing to risk their career by demonstrating political courage when the moment presents itself. The successful politician should know when to lead and when to follow.
I believe that someone elected to the office of state senator must stay connected with the community that elected them, through actively listening to their constituents and understanding the problems currently facing the district. Otherwise, a state senator who is disconnected from their district will result in citizens feeling isolated and voiceless.
"Howling At The Moon" by Phantogram
Finding my voice (quite literally). I struggled immensely with a speech impediment as a child and endured years of speech programs. This has led to a lifetime passion of improving my language skills, culminating in me earning a Master's degree in English and me subjecting myself to public speaking and presentations. A lifetime of pushing myself through my speech impediment has led to me not only being able to speak with the best of them, but understanding the immense value that comes with investing in someone's potential. It is a life lesson that will constantly inform any and all decisions I make if elected.
The governor and state legislature must complement each other through checks and balances. No branch of our government must be stronger than any of the other branches. If the governor always had his or her way, then the state program that helped me through my speech disability would have never been funded.
Delaware's greatest challenge in the upcoming decade will be empowering our educational system. We have underfunded our school districts and undervalued our educators for too long, and we must do more if we want to have a future we can be proud of as a society.
I only see drawbacks with a unicameral state legislature, as it would lack the checks and balances as well as increased representation that you would otherwise see.
It shouldn't be necessary for state legislators to have prior government experience. All that should be asked of our lawmakers is that they care for their community.
I believe it's beneficial to build relationships with lawmakers who have the best intentions and are eager to serve their communities. This not only allows for a healthy exchange of ideas but also allows us to break out of our echo chambers and be exposed to the larger world.
I favor redistricting by an independent commission. Districts vote for their lawmakers - lawmakers shouldn't be able to vote for their districts.
I am interested in being a part of the following committees: Education, Housing, Labor, Rules & Ethics.
I believe compromise is not only necessary but desirable, provided that both sides are coming from a place of care and concern for people. We need to remember that if we're locking out a lawmaker who has the best of intentions, we are also locking out the thousands of citizens in the community that lawmaker represents. There are disconnections across our society, and we must try our best not to contribute to that with our political debates.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 17, 2022
Current members of the Delaware State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Bryan Townsend
Minority Leader:Gerald Hocker
Senators
District 1
Dan Cruce (D)
District 2
Darius Brown (D)
District 3
District 4
Laura Sturgeon (D)
District 5
District 6
Russ Huxtable (D)
District 7
District 8
David Sokola (D)
District 9
Jack Walsh (D)
District 10
Stephanie Hansen (D)
District 11
Bryan Townsend (D)
District 12
Nicole Poore (D)
District 13
Marie Pinkney (D)
District 14
Kyra Hoffner (D)
District 15
David Lawson (R)
District 16
Eric Buckson (R)
District 17
Trey Paradee (D)
District 18
David Wilson (R)
District 19
Brian Pettyjohn (R)
District 20
Gerald Hocker (R)
District 21
Democratic Party (15)
Republican Party (6)
