Dan Cruce
Dan Cruce | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Delaware Senate from the 1st district | |
| Assumed office February 16, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Sarah McBride |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | James Madison University (BA) Widener University Delaware Law School (JD) |
Dan Cruce is an American nonprofit executive and politician serving as a member of the Delaware Senate from the 1st district since 2025. A Democrat, Cruce won a special election to fill the vacancy caused by Sarah McBride's resignation to join the U.S. House of Representatives.
Early life and education
[edit]Cruce graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor of arts in international affairs and from Delaware Law School with a Juris Doctor.[1]
Career
[edit]Prior to his election, Cruce was chief operating officer of United Way Delaware.[2] He previously worked as deputy secretary of the Delaware Department of Education and as assistant superintendent at the Christina School District.[3]
Cruce clerked for Circuit Judge Kent A. Jordan and also worked as an associate general counsel for the Corporation Service Company. He also worked for Joe Biden, at the time a U.S. Senator.[1]
Delaware State Senate
[edit]Following Sarah McBride's resignation from the Delaware State Senate after being elected to the United States House of Representatives, Cruce was selected by the Delaware Democratic Party as their candidate in a 2025 special election to fill the vacancy in the 1st district.[3] Cruce won the special election, defeating Republican candidate Steven Washington and nonpartisan Riley Figliola.[2] He officially took office on February 16, 2025, although his swearing-in is expected to be held in March.[4]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dan Cruce | 3,654 | 76.94% | |
| Republican | Steven Washington | 990 | 20.85% | |
| Nonpartisan | Riley "Liv" Figliola | 88 | 1.85% | |
| Write-in | 10 | 0.36% | ||
| Total votes | 4,749 | 100.00% | ||
Personal life
[edit]Cruce is gay. He is the first openly gay man to be elected to the Delaware State Senate.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Dan Cruce Delaware State Senate, District 1". LGBTQ Victory Fund. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Johnson, Anitra (February 16, 2025). "Democrats win Delaware Senate seats in Saturday's special elections". Delaware Online. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Petrowich, Sarah (December 11, 2024). "Dems nominate Seigfried, Cruce to run for open Delaware Senate seats". Delaware Public Media. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ Petrowich, Sarah. "Seigfried, Cruce fill big shoes as State Senate Democrats maintain supermajority". Delaware Public Media. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ "February 15, 2025 2025 Special Election – Senate District 1 Official Results" (PDF). Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved 20 February 2025.