Democratic Sen. Thomas R. Carper’s decision to retire is likely to trigger two statewide races in Delaware next year: one to replace him and perhaps another for the state’s sole House seat.
Carper threw his support to Democratic Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, who has expressed interest in the Senate seat but hasn’t made a formal announcement. At his retirement announcement on Monday in Wilmington, Del., Carper said he’d spoken about the seat with Blunt Rochester, who was once an intern in his House office.
“I said, ‘You’ve been patient, waiting for me to get out of the way, and I’m gonna get out of the way … and I hope you run. And I hope you will let me support you in that mission.’ And she said, ‘Yes, I will let you support me.’ And so I’m going to,” Carper said.
