The results from the Delaware primary are in with a couple of upsets in Sussex County.
Ken Simpler Wins GOP Treasurer Primary
NEWARK, Del. (AP) - Financial executive Ken Simpler has won Delaware's Republican primary for state treasurer.
Simpler defeated Milford businesswoman Sher Valenzuela in Tuesday's primary.
He advances to take on Democrat Sean Barney in November.
Simpler is a chief financial officer for a Delaware-based hotel management company. He previously oversaw a billion-dollar portfolio as a hedge fund executive. He has touted his experience as making him the most qualified candidate to handle Delaware's checkbook and its $1.8 billion cash portfolio.
Valenzuela was making a second bid for statewide office, having lost a bid for lieutenant governor two years ago.
The treasury seat became open when incumbent Democrat Chip Flowers withdrew two weeks ago following allegations that he had harassed his former deputy treasurer.
Kevin Wade wins GOP Senate Primary
NEWARK, Del. (AP) - Northern Delaware businessman Kevin Wade has won the state's Republican primary for U.S. Senate.
Wade's easy victory over 81-year-old Carl Smink on Tuesday advances him to a November contest against incumbent Democrat Chris Coons.
Wade is making his second Senate bid, having lost a 2012 race to incumbent Democrat Tom Carper, Delaware's senior senator, with 29 percent of the vote.
As he was against Carper, Wade will be a decided underdog against Coons, who won a 2010 special election against tea party favorite Christine O'Donnell to fill the seat vacated by Joe Biden when he became vice president.
Coons had $3.1 million in the bank at the end of June. Wade, who didn't enter the race until early July, has raised only a few thousand dollars.
Vance Phillips Ousted
In Sussex County voters ousted council member Vance Philips who has been embroiled in charges of sexual assault.
In addition, Phillips also found himself in a physical confrontation with Sussex County Sheriff Jeff Christopher in 2011.
He was beaten by Robert Arlett by a vote of 55 percent to 45 percent.
Arlett will face Democrat Robert Wheatley in November after winning his party’s primary by 60 percent of the vote over Bradley Connor.
Sheriff Jeff Christopher Defeated
Meanwhile, voters also turned against Sheriff Jeff Christopher who has been at odds with local and state officials over his claims that he has the power to arrest people.
That resulted in the state legislature passing a measure to clearly prohibit sheriffs from doing so.
He was beaten by Robert Lee with a 21 vote margin.
Lee is a retired Seaford police officer who worked as a detective for the state Attorney General’s office.
In defeating Christopher Lee he said he just wanted to basically end the controversy.
(See: www.delawareonline for full results)
