DOVER, Del. (AP) - Republican Party officials have picked a Middletown businessman who has twice run unsuccessfully for a General Assembly seat as their candidate in a special election that will decide the balance of power in the state Senate.
GOP officials announced Monday that that they have selected John Marino as the Republican candidate for the upcoming special election to fill the seat being vacated by Democrat Bethany Hall-Long, who was elected lieutenant governor last month.
Marino narrowly lost to Hall-Long in 2014 Senate race. He also lost a close race for a state House seat in 2010.
Democrats have yet to announce their candidate for the special election. If Marino wins, Republicans would control the Senate for the first time in more than 40 years.
