MILTON, Del. - Locals in Milton wondered about next steps in Dover to get representation for District 20.
People spoke highly on Friday of Rep. Stell Parker Selby, who is respected across the aisle, when asked about her absence.
However, those same people questioned if a Special Election is necessary to get representation for the district. One person who would possibly be interested in a Special Election is Nikki Miller, the woman who ran against Rep. Parker Selby in 2024.
In 2024, Miller ran as a Republican to represent District 20. She lost by just 245 votes or 1.4%. However, this hasn't stopped Miller from pushing forward.
She recently kicked off her campaign for 2026, running for the same seat. A seat that has yet to see Representative Parker Selby, leading people like Andrew Sellers to ask about a Special Election.
"First, we do wish the representative well and that she recovers from whatever health issues she has. Second, I feel, though, that if we're not being represented, then a Special Election should be held to elect someone to represent the people of Milton," said Sellers.
According to a Delaware Department of Elections powerpoint, a Special Election is an election that must be held when a vacancy occurs in the office of State Representative or State Senator in Delaware's General Assembly.
The reasons for which a vacancy in either house of General Assembly may be declared include:
- failure to elect
- ineligibility
- death
- resignation or otherwise
In a special election, voters elect a candidate to fill the balance of the current term of the vacant seat.
A special election is one of the options Sally Cooper was thinking about as she thought of ways to finally have representation for the 20th district.
"I just feel like there needs to be somebody in there that's going to speak for us, but I don't know how we do that."
Sussex County's Democratic Committee will meet on Monday, March 24th at 6 p.m.
It is not clear at this time if they will discuss a Special Election then.
In a statement released on Tuesday by House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown and House Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris.
They say "plans are already in place to formally swear her in, and that will take place in the very near future. With that said, Rep. Parker Selby remains the duly elected representative chosen by voters in the 20th representative district and is committed to continuing her service to the community."