Dan Cruce | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Delaware Senate from the 1st district | |
| Assumed office February 16, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Sarah McBride |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | James Madison University (BA) Widener University Delaware Law School (JD) |
Dan Cruce is an American nonprofit executive and politician serving as a member of the Delaware Senate from the 1st district since 2025. A Democrat, Cruce won a special election to fill the vacancy caused by Sarah McBride's resignation to join the U.S. House of Representatives.
Early life and education
[edit]Cruce graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor of arts in international affairs and from Delaware Law School with a Juris Doctor.[1]
Career
[edit]Cruce is also the Chief Operating Officer of United Way Delaware.[2] He previously worked as the Deputy Secretary/Chief of Staff of the Delaware Department of Education and as the Assistant Superintendent/Chief of Staff at the Christina School District.[3]
Cruce clerked for Circuit Judge Kent A. Jordan and also worked as an Associate General Counsel for the Corporation Service Company. He also worked for Joe Biden, at the time a U.S. Senator.[1] Cruce serves as Board Chair Emeritus of Humane Animal Partners and is the former Board Chair of the Delaware Theatre Company, Delaware Arts Alliance, and Delaware Arts Consortium. Cruce serves on the Executive Committee of the Delaware Community Foundation's Board of Directors. [4]
Delaware State Senate
[edit]Following Sarah McBride's resignation from the Delaware State Senate after being elected to the United States House of Representatives, Cruce was selected by the Delaware Democratic Party as their candidate in a 2025 special election to fill the vacancy in the 1st district.[3] Cruce won the special election, defeating Republican candidate Steven Washington and nonpartisan Riley Figliola.[2] He officially took office on February 16, 2025, and was sworn in on March 11, 2025.[5]
Legislation
[edit]In 2025, Cruce introduced legislation to update Delaware's Right to Representation statute. [6] He sponsored a concurrent resolution directing the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services to examine benefits cliffs as they relate to asset-limited, income-constrained, employed (ALICE) individuals. [7]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dan Cruce | 3,654 | 76.94% | |
| Republican | Steven Washington | 990 | 20.85% | |
| Nonpartisan | Riley "Liv" Figliola | 88 | 1.85% | |
| Write-in | 10 | 0.36% | ||
| Total votes | 4,749 | 100.00% | ||
Personal life
[edit]Cruce is gay. He is the first openly gay man to be elected to the Delaware State Senate.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Dan Cruce Delaware State Senate, District 1". LGBTQ Victory Fund. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Johnson, Anitra (February 16, 2025). "Democrats win Delaware Senate seats in Saturday's special elections". Delaware Online. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Petrowich, Sarah (December 11, 2024). "Dems nominate Seigfried, Cruce to run for open Delaware Senate seats". Delaware Public Media. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ "Meet Your Senator: Daniel Cruce." Dover, Delaware: Delaware Senate Democrats. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
- ^ Petrowich, Sarah (17 February 2025). "Seigfried, Cruce fill big shoes as State Senate Democrats maintain supermajority". Delaware Public Media. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ "Senate Bill 132." Dover, Delaware: Delaware General Assembly. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
- ^ "Senate Concurrent Resolution 102." Dover, Delaware: Delaware General Assembly. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
- ^ "February 15, 2025 2025 Special Election – Senate District 1 Official Results" (PDF). Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved 20 February 2025.