PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester announced Wednesday that she is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Democrat Tom Carper and immediately became the leading contender.
Rochester announced her candidacy in a video on social media, in which her childhood church — Bright Hope Baptist — served as the theme for her campaign.
“Even as a little girl, Bright Hope sparked in me. It became the story of my life, and Bright Hope is the story of America too. Through some of the changes and challenges we faced in all of our darkest hours, bright hope keeps America moving forward,” she says in the video.
In her video announcement, Rochester recalls praying on the House floor during the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, which she calls her worst day.
“But it was also one of my proudest moments because we walked back in that House chamber and we completed our work. The forces of fear did not win, and democracy prevailed.”
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Rochester has been the favorite to replace U.S. Sen. Carper from the moment he announced his retirement last month. He issued a formal endorsement after her announcement, concluding with these words:
“Serving the people of Delaware alongside Lisa has been one of the great joys of my life. She is just the kind of leader that we’ll need in the U.S. Senate in the days ahead.”
Blunt began her career in politics as an intern in Carper’s office 30 years ago. She’s held several positions in state government and four terms in the U.S. House as Delaware’s sole member, with seats on three subcommittees, membership in four caucuses and the ear of the president. She was co-chair of Joe Biden’s campaign in 2020.
She would become the first woman and first person of color to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.