Delaware lawmakers elect all female leadership in the House of Representatives

DOVER, Del. – On the final day of the legislative session, history was made when House lawmakers elected an all-female leadership, marking the first time a woman has served as Delaware’s Speaker of the House.

To lead the second half of the 152nd General Assembly, members selected former House Majority Leader Rep. Valerie Longhurst as Speaker of the House. Rep. Longhurst succeeds Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, who stepped down Friday after leading the House as Speaker for more than a decade.

This marks the first time in the state’s history that a woman has been elected speaker, the first time a person of color has been elected as majority leader, and the first time an open member of the LGBTQ+ community has been elected to leadership in either chamber.

“Today is a historic day and I am truly humbled by the faith my caucus has placed in me to serve as the first female Speaker of the House,” said Rep. Longhurst, D-Bear. “It is an extraordinary privilege to be part of a groundbreaking, all-female leadership team and I’m looking forward to working with them to create a future where every voice is heard, every individual is valued and every community thrives.”

Rep. Longhurst previously served as majority whip from 2008-2012 and served as majority leader from 2012-2023. She has championed legislation promoting equality, passed laws protecting the environment, spearheaded gun safety bills and criminal justice reform.

Democratic caucus members also elected Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown as House Majority Leader and Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris as House Majority Whip.

Rep. Minor-Brown has served as majority whip since 2022 and currently chairs the House Health and Human Development Committee.

“I’m very grateful to have the support of our caucus to serve as the first Black Majority Leader and I’m ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our historic leadership team to continue shaping a brighter future for our state,” said Rep. Minor-Brown, D-New Castle South. “I’m excited to be a model and a voice for young Black girls out there and inspire them to claim their seat at the table. They are all powerful beyond measure.”

Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris currently serves as vice-chair of the House Health and Human Development Committee.

“I’m honored to join Reps. Longhurst and Minor-Brown as a member of the House leadership team so that we may continue the work of this caucus as champions to those in the community who feel as though they have no voice,” said Rep. Harris, D-Dover South. “My family instilled the importance of service to others, it’s what has guided me throughout my entire life and it will continue to be the foundation that guides me as I work with my colleagues to provide real, positive impacts to those we serve.”

For over a decade, Rep. Schwartzkopf has served as House speaker. He was first elected in 2013 after previously serving as majority leader. In a statement issued Friday evening, he said he was honored to serve and that he has high hopes for his colleagues in their new leadership positions.

“It’s been a tremendous honor to serve in this position and to see how our state and many of my colleagues have grown through the years. I often joke that we’re a lot like a family – we fight, we argue, but we ultimately care about each other and the people we represent,” said Rep. Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished, and I know that under Valerie’s leadership, this caucus and chamber will continue to achieve great things for all the people of Delaware.”