Dennis E. Williams Explained

Dennis E. Williams
State House:Delaware
District:10th
Term Start:November 5, 2008
Term End:November 8, 2014
Predecessor:Robert Valihura
Successor:Sean Matthews
Birth Date:7 April 1959
Party:Democratic
Residence:Devon, Delaware
Alma Mater:University of Delaware

Dennis E. Williams (born April 7, 1959) is a Democratic politician who represented the Talleyville-based 10th district in the Delaware House of Representatives from 2009 until 2015, when he was defeated in the Democratic primary by Sean Matthews. He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Delaware State Auditor in 2018.

Early life and education

Williams grew up in Cardiff, Delaware, and attended Concord High School. He graduated from the University of Delaware after majoring in accounting and financial management. He enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania and received an MS in engineering in 2008.[1]

Political career

Williams first ran to represent the 10th district in 1994 after defeating Cliff Werline in the Democratic primary by 965 to 627 votes.[2] In the general election, he lost to incumbent Republican Jane Maroney by 29% to 71%.[3] In 1996, Williams ran in the Democratic primary for the election for Delaware's congressional district, defeating Ernest Ercole.[4] He was defeated by two-term incumbent Republican Mike Castle in the November general election by 70% to 27%. He lost to Castle a second time in the 1998 general election.[5]

In 2004, Williams ran for 10th district representative, but lost to incumbent Republican Robert Valihura, who received 57% of the vote.[6] He rematched Valihura in the 2008 general election and narrowly won (51% to 49%) in a major upset, aided by an increased number of registered Democrats and a higher Democratic turnout owing to the concurrent U.S. presidential election.[7] Williams ran for reelection in 2010, beating challengers in both the Democratic primary and general election.[8] [9] Williams won reelection in 2012 but was defeated in the Democratic primary in 2014 and again in 2016.[10] [11]

Williams unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Delaware State Auditor in 2018, losing the Democratic primary after earning 23% of the vote.[12]

Williams is running in the 2024 primary for his old House seat in the 10th district.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Williams biography. Dennis E. Williams. 20 July 2012.
  2. Book: Cook, Thomas J.. State of Delaware: 1994 Election Results. 1994. Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . 21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130512033935/http://elections.delaware.gov/information/electionresults/pdfs/1994.pdf. 2013-05-12.
  3. Book: Cook. State of Delaware: 1994 Election Results. 5.
  4. Book: Cook, Thomas J.. State of Delaware: 1996 Election Results. 1996. Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . 25. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130512033926/http://elections.delaware.gov/information/electionresults/pdfs/1996.pdf. 2013-05-12.
  5. Web site: 1998 General Election Results. Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . 20 July 2012.
  6. Web site: 2004 General Election Results. Delaware Department of Elections. Office of the State Election Commissioner. 20 July 2012. 28 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181128160148/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect04/elect04_general/elect04_general_office.shtml. dead.
  7. News: Chadderdon. Jesse. Williams scores surprise win in 10th House District. 20 July 2012. CommunityPub. 6 November 2008.
  8. News: Lamar. Andre. Williams trumps Dargis in 10th Rep. District Primary. 20 July 2012. CommunityPub. 14 September 2010.
  9. News: Lamar. Andre. Dennis Williams edges Rhodunda in 10th House District. 20 July 2012. CommunityPub. 4 November 2008.
  10. Web site: 10th Representative District features fierce rematch . Matthew . Albright . . August 31, 2016.
  11. Web site: Dennis E. William's Biography. Ballotpedia.
  12. Web site: State of Delaware General Primary Results . September 6, 2018 . Delaware Department of Elections . Office of the State Election Commissioner . January 6, 2019.
  13. Web site: 2024 Primary Election Candidate List - Department of Elections - State of Delaware . 2024-07-29 . elections.delaware.gov.