The Legislative Matchup in District 22
Democratic newcomer Alex Green is running against incumbent Republican Michael Smith in the District 22 state House race, as Smith attempts to secure a fifth term in the legislature. The district encompasses North Star and parts of Pike Creek and Hockessin, setting up a high-stakes local contest as Democrats look to pick up ground.
Green, who lives in the Mendenhall Village neighborhood in Hockessin, works as a land surveyor. His community involvement stems from his church work, and he takes part in Democratic politics by holding the position of secretary on the District 22 Representative District Committee. He initially planned to run for the seat in two years. “Then no one stepped up in 2026, so I decided to step up and get started early,” Green said.
Requiring just a single flipped seat to achieve a two-thirds House supermajority, Democrats have made District 22—an area with a voter registration advantage favoring their party—a primary target across multiple election cycles. Despite the GOP’s registration deficit, Smith has successfully defended the seat, cruising to victory by 10 points during the 2024 campaign.
The Chamber of Commerce Role and Conflict Debates
Following his recent appointment this month as the incoming president of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, Smith stated that he intends to complete his upcoming term if re-elected but will likely forgo another run in 2028. That professional transition has quickly become a focal point of the campaign.
Criticism has been leveled against Smith by both Democrats and the Delaware Coalition for Open Government over his new role, with opponents arguing it creates a conflict of interest regarding the commercial sector he is now compensated to represent. “I think it’s a conflict,” Green said. “I also think that a lot of credible people have come out speaking that it’s a conflict as well. My campaign is pushing really hard, trying to spread the word that he does have a conflict of interest.” He added that the chamber has been involved in lobbying on more than 100 bills last year.
Smith strongly disagreed that his new job poses a conflict. “My opponent’s whole campaign is about me instead of what he’s going to do for the job,” Smith said. “I would say he can think it’s a conflict of interest, but the Public Integrity Commission, attorneys in the Republican and Democratic caucuses, as well as the Health Ethics Committee, don’t think it’s a conflict of interest, and those are really the only opinions that do matter.” Pointing to his past employment, he mentioned that no one raised concerns about his job at the University of Delaware over the preceding 12 years.
Diverging Priorities on Education and Healthcare
Education reform stands as Green’s primary objective should he win office. His goals include supporting the successful rollout and objective attainment of the new hybrid funding model designed to allocate additional resources to high-need students. He also favors banning cellphone use in schools and restricting the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms.
Smith, a Pike Creek native and a graduate of Wilmington Christian School and the University of Delaware, points to his legislative record and service. First elected in 2018 to replace the retiring Rep. Joe Miro, Smith said, “I think my work ethic speaks for itself.” If re-elected, one of Smith’s top priorities will also be education, with a specific focus on school safety and addressing student behavior that causes teachers to leave the profession.
Green’s healthcare platform focuses on bolstering state-level anti-discrimination rules, advocating for expanded solar and nuclear power generation, and improving medical care affordability. Meanwhile, Smith is looking forward to the progress of the new medical school that will be housed at UD and aims to bring another health insurer into the state to expand options for residents.
