Delaware voters in state Representative District 20, prepare to cast your ballots.
A special election to fill former state Rep. Stell Parker Selby’s seat in the House will take place on Tuesday, August 5.
Parker Selby, who previously served the Milton and Lewes areas, resigned from her position last month, citing health reasons for her departure.
Both the Sussex County Democratic and Republican parties announced their picks to run in the special election race this week: former Cape Henlopen High School principal Nikki Miller and Delaware Center for Justice executive director Alonna Berry.
How we got here: Delaware House Rep. Stell Parker Selby submits letter of resignation, citing health reasons
Here’s what to know about the upcoming special election.
Who are the special election candidates?
Sussex County Republicans announced Miller as their nominee for the special election race on July 2.
A longtime community leader and educator, Miller previously served as the principal of Cape Henlopen High School and now serves as the supervisor of instruction at the Seaford School District.
Miller’s platform prioritizes protecting farmland and open spaces, improving traffic, “proactive constituent service,” and “common sense solutions to everyday issues.”
Legislative Hall in Dover as seen on June 30, 2025.
Miller previously went head-to-head with Parker-Selby last year, with Parker-Selby winning re-election by a narrow margin.
The Sussex County Democratic Committee also selected Alonna Berry as their special election nominee the following day after a candidate forum.
Among her many accolades, Berry previously served as senior policy advisor for health, equity and education under former Gov. John Carney and as Delaware’s “first statewide trauma-informed care coordinator.”
Berry’s campaign focuses include education reform, preparing for statewide federal budget cuts and working with lawmakers across the political aisle to ensure community protection.
Related: State Sens. Sarah McBride and Kyle Evans Gay have new jobs. What happens to their seats?
Why is a special election being held?
Simply put, an election is taking place to fill Parker Selby’s seat, following her resignation last month.
According to the Delaware Code, if a seat in the General Assembly is left unoccupied, then either the leader of the Senate or House must call for a special election to take place “within 10 days” following the vacancy’s creation.
How did we get here?
Following Parker Selby’s resignation, House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown issued a Writ of Election in the days following the creation of the vacancy in the House.
The special election race will be overseen by the state Department of Elections, according to a statement from the House Majority Caucus issued that same day.
When is the special election?
Delawareans line up to vote early at the Claymont Community Center on, Oct. 30, 2024.
The special election will be held Tuesday, August 5, according to the state Elections Department.
Whoever wins the special election will serve the district for the remainder of Parker-Selby’s term, which is set to expire in November 2026.
Early voting will take place on the following dates:
Thursday, July 24 to Saturday, July 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, July 28 and Tuesday, July 29 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 30 to Sunday, August 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There will be no early voting on Sunday, July 27.
Early voters can cast their ballots at Mariner Middle School in Milton.
To cast a ballot, individuals must be 18 years of age or older on the day of or before the election, registered to vote at least ten days before and must reside in the representative district.
Additional information can be found on the Department’s website.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware special election date, nominees set for House District 20