Redlawsk Wins Unopposed in Newark's District 23
David Redlawsk, a University of Delaware professor, will succeed Mara Gorman in the state House after running unopposed on Tuesday's ballot.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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David Redlawsk ran unopposed for Newark's District 23 state House seat on Tuesday's general election ballot after winning a four-person Democratic primary in September. He will succeed Mara Gorman, who was elected to the state Senate the same day.
Why it matters
The seat changes hands as Gorman moves to the Senate, giving Newark's House district a new representative. Redlawsk said he decided to run again because of what he described as an unprecedented assault on affordability, opportunity, and democracy.
Redlawsk advanced from a field of four Democratic primary candidates in September and faced no opponent on the November ballot. The source does not report vote totals or whether any other candidates appeared on the ballot.
The players
David Redlawsk
A University of Delaware political science professor who chaired the department after joining in 2016 and holds a doctorate from Rutgers University.
Mara Gorman
A Newark Democrat who was elected to the Delaware state Senate on Tuesday, vacating the District 23 House seat Redlawsk will fill.
The details
Redlawsk is a University of Delaware professor with a doctorate in political science from Rutgers University, and he came to Newark in 2016 to chair UD's political science department. He also serves as treasurer of the 23rd Representative District Democratic Committee, sits on Newark's board of elections, and is vice-chair of Rank the Vote Delaware.
Timeline
September 2026: Redlawsk wins a four-person Democratic primary for District 23.
November 3, 2026: Redlawsk runs unopposed in the general election.
Political Context
Redlawsk's leadership role in Rank the Vote Delaware, an advocacy group promoting ranked-choice voting, ties his new seat to an ongoing statewide debate over how elections are conducted. The source does not indicate whether he plans to pursue that agenda in the House.
Newark voters in District 23 will now be represented in the state House by Redlawsk rather than Gorman, who has moved to the state Senate. The source does not describe any specific policy changes that will affect residents in the near term.
The takeaway
Local House seats can change hands through primaries and unopposed general elections, so residents who want a say should follow primary contests in their district. Redlawsk's appointment as Gorman's successor shows how a single state Senate election can open a House seat for new leadership.
Further reading
For more on how Newark races are decided, see Newark Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newark Post.
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