With one week to go before Delaware Republicans select a nominee against Democrat Gov. John Carney, there is mounting attention on a candidate who has neither held nor sought elective office before.
Julianne Murray, attorney and swashbuckling conservative, initially raised eyebrows throughout the First State by capturing the endorsement of the Republican state convention.
"We did it with good, old-fashioned hard work — and some very active volunteers who knew where I stand," she told us.
The fledging candidate's straight-talking conservatism attracted pro-lifers, gun owners, homeschoolers and — most important — fellow citizens who think the governor's coronavirus restrictions have gone too far.
Last week, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich weighed in with a strong endorsement via twitter of the "fighting lady."
In May of this year, Murray and husband Patrick filed a lawsuit against Gov, Carney's restrictions on short term rentals during the "state of emergency" over the virus.
"They have taken away our ability to use our property," she said.
Although the suit has yet to be heard in court, Murray was soon deluged with emails from others who were suffering economically because they could not rent out their places.
Much like Donald Trump seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 against familiar office-seekers, self-styled "citizen protester" Murray presented a sharp contrast with more traditional (and more moderate) political types vying for the gubernatorial nomination: State Sens. Colin Bonini and Bryant Richardson and small businessman David Bosco.
So far, Murray leads the pack in fundraising among GOP candidates with roughly $65,000.
Dubbing Delaware "regulation heavy," Murray has called for rolling back what she considers anti-business requirements now on the books. Moreover, she has promised to reduce the number of agencies in a state where the largest single employer is the state.
Murray draws her biggest cheers with her vow "reopen" Delaware, pointing out, "we have a total of seven people now critically ill in our 35 hospitals, 595 deaths — and 293 of them in New Castle County," Murray said she would move quickly to permit Delaware to "go back to work."
In terms of education, the maverick contender says Delaware has the third-highest cost of education, with 40% of the state budget going to public schools.
"We're spending a ton but not getting results," she told us. "It's time we tried vouchers and charter schools — anything else. And I don't care what the teachers' unions say!"
Should Murray emerge triumphant in the primary Sept. 15, it seems a safe bet many outside Delaware will be reading about its "Fighting Lady."
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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