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Kathy McGuiness
Kathy McGuiness (Democratic Party) was the Delaware State Auditor. She assumed office in 2019. She left office on October 19, 2022.
McGuiness (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Delaware House of Representatives to represent District 14. She lost in the Democratic primary on September 10, 2024.
Biography
McGuiness was born in Kent County, Delaware, and raised in Sussex County, graduating from Cape Henlopen High School in 1985. She obtained a bachelor's degree in biology from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1991 and a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Northeastern University in 1993. McGuiness owned a pharmacy in Rehoboth Beach until 2002. In 2003, she opened a women's shoe store in the town. She was the founding president for the nonprofit Rehoboth Beach Main Street. She won election to the Board of Commissioners in 2000. She resigned from the board in 2012 to focus on her children's national athletic competitions and was re-elected to another three-year term in 2014.
As of this writing, McGuiness lived in Rehoboth Beach with her husband, Steve, and three children: Baylan, Stormy, and Saylar. [1][2]
Awards
- Tourism Person of the Year, Governor Tom Carper (D)
Political career
Delaware State Auditor (2019-2022)
McGuiness was first elected as Delaware State Auditor in 2018. She was the first female state auditor in the history of the state. McGuiness resigned on October 19, 2022.[3]
Elections
2024
See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 14
Claire Snyder-Hall defeated Mike Simpler in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 14 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Claire Snyder-Hall (D)  | 54.6 | 9,630 |
 | Mike Simpler (R) | 45.4 | 7,995 | |
| Total votes: 17,625 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 14
Claire Snyder-Hall defeated Marty Rendon and Kathy McGuiness in the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 14 on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Claire Snyder-Hall | 41.3 | 1,898 |
 | Marty Rendon | 31.8 | 1,464 | |
 | Kathy McGuiness | 26.9 | 1,238 | |
| Total votes: 4,600 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Robert Burton (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Mike Simpler advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 14.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for McGuiness in this election.
2022
See also: Delaware Auditor election, 2022
General election
General election for Delaware State Auditor
Lydia York defeated Janice Lorrah in the general election for Delaware State Auditor on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Lydia York (D) | 54.2 | 171,764 |
| Janice Lorrah (R) | 45.8 | 145,161 | ||
| Total votes: 316,925 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Delaware State Auditor
Lydia York defeated incumbent Kathy McGuiness in the Democratic primary for Delaware State Auditor on September 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lydia York | 71.0 | 35,881 |
| Kathy McGuiness | 29.0 | 14,640 | |
| Total votes: 50,521 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Janice Lorrah advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware State Auditor.
2018
- See also: Delaware Auditor election, 2018
General election
General election for Delaware State Auditor
Kathy McGuiness defeated James Spadola in the general election for Delaware State Auditor on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kathy McGuiness (D) | 57.9 | 205,624 |
 | James Spadola (R) | 42.1 | 149,481 | |
| Total votes: 355,105 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Delaware State Auditor
Kathy McGuiness defeated Kathleen Davies and Dennis E. Williams in the Democratic primary for Delaware State Auditor on September 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kathy McGuiness | 41.9 | 33,240 |
 | Kathleen Davies | 34.9 | 27,749 | |
 | Dennis E. Williams | 23.2 | 18,431 | |
| Total votes: 79,420 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Delaware State Auditor
James Spadola advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware State Auditor on September 6, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | James Spadola |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2016
McGuiness filed to run as a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of Delaware in 2016; she filed to run in May 2015. She competed in the September 13 Democratic primary election with former Sussex County, Del., Register of Wills Greg Fuller, Wilmington, Del., councilwoman Sherry Dorsey Walker, New Castle County, Del., Register of Wills Ciro Poppiti III, State Senator Bethany Hall-Long and Brad Eaby, the Kent County Levy Court commissioner.[4][5][6]
The following candidates ran in the Delaware Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.
| Delaware Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Bethany Hall-Long |
29.09% | 18,326 |
| Sherry Dorsey Walker | 21.82% | 13,748 |
| Kathy McGuiness | 17.24% | 10,860 |
| Ciro Poppiti III | 17.21% | 10,835 |
| Greg Fuller | 9.05% | 5,701 |
| Brad Eaby | 5.59% | 3,522 |
| Total Votes | 62,992 | |
| Source: Delaware Department of Elections | ||
Eligibility
The Delaware Department of Elections was investigating the eligibility of McGuiness' campaign over her compliance with the state's residency requirement.[6]McGuiness has a condominium in Park City, Utah, and reportedly voted in Utah in 2011 and 2012. The Delaware Constitution requires the lieutenant governor to have resided in the state for the previous six years before being elected and for 12 years total.[6]
Peter Dougherty, a McGuiness spokesman, said her campaign submitted a dossier of information, including case law, to the state, and that the campaign was not worried about meeting requirements.[6] McGuiness said in a statement, “I have been a permanent resident of the state of Delaware my entire life." She added,
| “ | Although my family owns a condominium where we stay when vacationing in Park City, I have never "lived" there or otherwise taken up residence in the state of Utah. I have instead been domiciled in the state of Delaware at all times… Delaware is where I live and work, Delaware is where I file my taxes and Delaware has always been my only home. So yes, I meet the residency qualification. There can be no serious question about that. Anyone who would suggest otherwise must have something to lose in light of the positive electricity and tremendous statewide support my candidacy has generated. That’s just politics as usual.[7] | ” |
Delaware Elections Commissioner Elaine Manlove said in January 2016 that the office would meet with the department's deputy attorney general to discuss McGuiness' eligibility.[6] The week following the meeting, Manlove announced that McGuiness was indeed eligible to run for the office.[8]
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kathy McGuiness did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Kathy McGuiness did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
McGuiness' campaign website included the following positions:
On the economy: "I will be a strong partner for entrepreneurs and small businesses collaborating with them on ways to reduce red tape and streamline regulations while still protecting public interests. ... I believe we could be at the top, but it requires that we diversify our economy. This means that we need to be collaborating more with our business community and workforce and education institutions collecting their feedback about opportunities for expansion in key areas, like biotechnology, life sciences, technology, financial services, health care, logistics and others that Delaware should be actively promoting."[9]
On government: "In Rehoboth Beach, technology is transforming the way government works and serves customers. We have increased revenues, reduced wait times and made government easier for citizens and businesses to navigate. I want the same for state government. As Lt. Governor, I will find ways to streamline government through technology that allows us to improve customer service without sacrificing jobs."[9]
On the minimum wage: "In the U.S. 6 in 10 women in the workforce earn the minimum wage. I believe it’s time for Delaware to stand up for workers and women and pass a minimum wage increase. ... Let’s pass a law to completely eliminate the gender pay gap. ... I will push for Delaware to make the Earned Income Tax Credit refundable. We have the opportunity to follow New York in becoming the 6th state to offer a paid family leave program ... ."[9]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Noteworthy events
Felony and misdemeanor charges (2021)
On October 11, 2021, McGuiness was indicted on charges of theft, witness intimidation, official misconduct, conflict of interest, and noncompliance with state procurement law. [10] McGuiness allegedly hired her daughter and one of her daughter's friends in May of 2020 after three employees left her office due to lack of available work. [11] McGuiness allegedly paid her daughter a total of $19,000, which was deposited into an account owned by McGuiness. McGuiness also paid her daughter's friend a total of $7,700. On October 12, 2021, McGuiness pleaded not guilty to all charges. [12]
On July 1, 2022, McGuiness was acquitted on charges of theft and witness intimidation and found guilty on charges of conflict of interest, official misconduct, and noncompliance with state procurement law.[13] McGuiness was sentenced to probation, 500 hours of community service, and a $10,000 fine on October 19, 2022. She resigned the same day.[3][14]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Delaware House of Representatives District 14 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Delmarvanow, "After two-year hiatus, McGuiness returns to Rehoboth board," August 21, 2014
- ↑ Kathy McGuiness, "Meet Kathy," accessed August 14, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 WHYY, "Delaware auditor resigns just hours after getting probation, $10,000 fine for misdemeanor crimes," October 19, 2022
- ↑ Delaware Grapevine, "CANDIDATES ARE BUSTING OUT ALL OVER," accessed September 13, 2015
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named2016election2 - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Matt Bittle, Delaware State News, "State considering lieutenant governor candidate's eligibility," January 11, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Delaware State News, "McGuiness ruled eligible to run for Delaware lieutenant governor," January 19, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Kathy McGuiness, "What will Kathy do for Delaware," accessed August 14, 2016
- ↑ Delaware Public Media, "State Auditor Kathy McGuiness charged with felonies and misdemeanors over use of taxpayer money," October 11, 2021
- ↑ "6 ABC", "Delaware State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness accused of nepotism, fraud, witness intimidation," October 11, 2021
- ↑ "Cape Gazette", "McGuiness pleads not guilty to charges," October 12, 2021
- ↑ NBC Philadelphia, "Delaware Auditor Dodges Felony Charges, Guilty of Misconduct," accessed July 1, 2022
- ↑ Delaware Online, "State Auditor Kathy McGuiness sentenced for public corruption convictions," October 19, 2022
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Delaware State Auditor 2019-2022 |
Succeeded by Dennis Greenhouse (D) |
