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Bethany Hall-Long

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Bethany Hall-Long
Governor-designate of Delaware
Assuming office
January 7, 2025
SucceedingJohn Carney
26th Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 17, 2017
GovernorJohn Carney
Preceded byMatthew Denn (2015)
Member of the Delaware Senate
from the 10th district
In office
November 5, 2008 – November 9, 2016
Preceded bySteven H. Amick
Succeeded byStephanie Hansen
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
from the 8th district
In office
November 6, 2002 – November 5, 2008
Preceded byDavid Brady
Succeeded byS. Quinton Johnson
Personal details
Born (1963-11-12) November 12, 1963 (age 61)
Sussex County, Delaware, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationThomas Jefferson University (BSN)
Medical University of South Carolina (MSN)
George Mason University (PhD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Bethany A. Hall-Long (born November 12, 1963) is an American politician who has served as the 26th lieutenant governor of Delaware since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Hall-Long previously served in the Delaware Senate from 2008 to 2016 and in the Delaware House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008.[1]

In April 2024, she announced her candidacy for governor of Delaware in 2024 but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Matt Meyer. She is expected to assume the governorship when John Carney resigns to become mayor of Wilmington and complete the remaining two weeks of Carney's term.[2]

Early life and career

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Hall-Long was born on November 12, 1963, in Sussex County. She is a descendant of David Hall, the 15th governor of Delaware.[3] She was raised on a farm with her two older brothers and attended Indian River High School. She earned a BSN from Thomas Jefferson University, an MSN from the Medical University of South Carolina, and a PhD in health policy and nursing administration from George Mason University.[4]

Hall-Long began a teaching career at George Mason University before moving to the University of Delaware, where she is a professor of nursing.[5]

Lieutenant Governor of Delaware

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Hall-Long was elected Lieutenant Governor of Delaware in 2016, taking office on January 17, 2017. She helped create a Behavioral Health Consortium in June 2017, which she now chairs.[6] The consortium's role is to develop short-term and long-term plans to address addiction and mental health issues in Delaware.[7] In 2018, Pew Charitable Trusts partnered with the Consortium to help increase access to opioid treatment.[8] In June 2022 Hall-Long worked with state senator Sarah McBride and state representative Melissa Minor-Brown to secure $3.2 million in funding from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services for the first in-patient addiction treatment facility for pregnant and parenting women in Delaware.[9] She was reelected in 2020 over Republican Donyale Hall.

She served as Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor's Association from 2020 to 2021.[10]

Governor-designate of Delaware

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2024 gubernatorial election

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See also: 2024 Delaware gubernatorial election

In April 2024, Hall-Long announced her candidacy for governor of Delaware, joining New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and former Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara in the Democratic primary race.[11] She faced controversy when her campaign team discovered that she has provided more than $200,000 in undisclosed payments to her husband, Dana Long.[3] She eventually amended seven years of campaign finance reports in response to the scandal.[3] Meyer ultimately won the primary and went on to win the general election.

Tenure

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Despite losing her gubernatorial bid, Hall-Long is expected to become the 75th governor of Delaware in January 2025 when incumbent Governor John Carney resigns early to become mayor of Wilmington. She is expected to serve the remaining two weeks of Carney's term before being succeeded by Meyer.[2]

Personal life

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Hall-Long met her husband, Dana Long, while in high school, and they married in 1987. Dana served in the U.S. Navy from 1982 to 1991 as a data systems technician. On October 30, 2014, he was arrested after being caught on video taking down political signs erected by Republicans.[12]

Electoral history

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  • In 2000, Hall-Long initially challenged incumbent Republican Representative Richard C. Cathcart for the District 9 seat, but lost in the general election.[13]
  • In 2002, Hall-Long was redistricted to District 8 and won the general election with 3,591 votes (60.7%) against Republican nominee William Hutchinson.[14]
  • In 2004, Hall-Long won the general election unopposed with 8,228 votes.[15]
  • In 2006, Hall-Long won the general election with 5,864 votes (77.0%) against Republican nominee Edward Colaprete.[16]
  • In 2008, Republican Senator Steven H. Amick retired and left the District 10 seat open. Hall-Long won the general election with 13,965 votes (64.9%) against Republican nominee James Weldin for the senate seat.[17]
  • In 2012, Hall-Long won the general election unopposed with 16,498 votes.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Former Senator Bethany A. Hall-Long (D)". Dover, Delaware: Delaware General Assembly. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "She lost gubernatorial primary, but Del. Lt. Gov. Hall-Long to get stint as governor". WHYY. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Barish, Cris (December 21, 2023). "Will controversies involving her husband impact Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long's bid for governor?". WHYY.
  4. ^ "Biography – Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall Long". Office of the Lieutenant Governor. State of Delaware. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  5. ^ "Bethany Hall-Long | University of Delaware". www.udel.edu. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  6. ^ "Delaware launches ad blitz to combat addiction stigma". WHYY. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "Behavioral Health Consortium". Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall Long - State of Delaware. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  8. ^ "Pew gives Delaware ideas on stemming opioid epidemic". WHYY. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  9. ^ MyChesCo (June 7, 2022). "Gaudenzia Will Open Delaware's First Addiction Treatment Center for Pregnant and Parenting Women". MyChesCo. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  10. ^ "Delaware Lt. Gov. Hall-Long recognized for support of female leaders: Illinois lieutenant governor also acknowledged". Bay to Bay News. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  11. ^ Fries, Amanda (April 17, 2024). "Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long files candidacy for governor, the 3rd Democrat to file". The News Journal.
  12. ^ "Delaware state senator's husband charged in theft of rival's campaign signs". The Guardian. Associated Press. October 30, 2014.
  13. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. November 7, 2000. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  14. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. November 5, 2002. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  15. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. November 2, 2004. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  16. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. November 7, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  18. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bethany Hall-Long.
Delaware House of Representatives
Preceded by
David Brady
 Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
from the 8th district
2003–2009 		Succeeded by
Delaware Senate
Preceded by Member of the Delaware Senate
from the 10th district
2009–2017 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Vacant
Title last held by
Matthew Denn
2015 		Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
2017–present 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Delaware
Designate
Taking office 2025 		Succeeded by
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