Denn enters AG's race; primary still possible

Originally published April 21, 2014

Lt. Gov. Matt Denn has filed to seek the Attorney General's office just days after Beau Biden said he would skip a third term to focus on a campaign for governor in 2016.

Denn, who is a lawyer but has no experience as a prosecutor, said on Thursday after Biden's surprise announcement that he would give consideration to an attorney general campaign. In an interview with reporters, Denn said he decided to run after talking with his family over the weekend. He made it official Monday, filing with the state elections commissioner and releasing a statement on his website.

State Prosecutor Kathleen Jennings is also considering a run. No other candidates have filed. If Denn wins, he would have to leave the lieutenant governor's office two years early and the office would remain vacant under current Delaware law.

"It's been a very interesting four days," said Denn, who added that before Biden's announcement, he had given no thought to serving as the state's top law enforcement officer. "Your responsibility is to exercise good judgment and supervise a staff of very capable front line prosecutors. Any attorney general, whether they have prosecutorial experience or not, has to rely on front line staff and their supervisors."

Denn, 48, was a lawyer for Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, and in 2004 was elected insurance commissioner, the state's top insurance regulator, a post he held for one term.

He has now been elected twice as lieutenant governor, and has long had an eye on the governor's office, plans that were reshuffled last week with Biden's decision. At the end of last year, Denn had nearly $94,000 in cash in his campaign account.

One result of Biden's exit from the attorney general's office could be an unexpected, contentious primary in September, should Jennings decide to run. The prospect already has some Democratic loyalists anxious.

"A Jennings-Denn primary race puts a lot of Democrats in a place they don't want to be--weighing into a fight between two well respected, well known Democrats," said Michael Houghton, a Wilmington lawyer who worked as finance chair on then-Lt. Gov. John Carney's gubernatorial campaign in 2008. Carney was defeated in a Democratic primary by now-Gov. Jack Markell. "Primaries bleed money and energy," Houghton said.

Jennings, who is well known and respected in political circles and the criminal justice community, said she continues to seriously consider a campaign, which would require that she leave her post as state prosecutor. Denn called Jennings on Sunday to say he would file for the office, she said.

"Matt is a smart guy and a quick study. I think he cares a lot about the citizens of Delaware, so those are important qualities to have," said Jennings, a longtime prosecutor who has handled hundreds of cases, including those involving white collar crime, serial rape, murder and organized crime. "Your judgment is critical in this office. I don't begin to believe there is a monopoly on judgment. I think experience is clearly a benefit. I think experience, having been in the trenches doing the work clearly gives me a perspective that is helpful when I'm looking at what's best to protect citizens in the state."

Denn made press remarks in the state Democratic Headquarters building in New Castle on Monday, telling reporters that he decided to run only on Sunday, and his managerial experience in the insurance commissioner's office would translate into the attorney general post, if he were elected. Combating Wilmington crime would be a first priority in the office, Denn said.

"It think everybody would agree across agencies that we need to do more," Denn said. "As long as the crime rate is what it is today, we haven't done enough. That's not specific to the attorney general's office. I think that goes across agencies."

Democratic Party Chair John Daniello issued a statement clarifying that the party would follow normal procedures for endorsing a candidate - and had not yet backed Denn. Daniello said the party would allow "any of our candidates" to use the New Castle facility for a press event.

"The party has not endorsed any candidate for any statewide office at this point.," Daniello said. "There is a process for which the party selects their candidates and that process will continue"

Contact Jonathan Starkey at 983-6756, on Twitter @jwstarkey or at jstarkey@delawareonline.com.