Priorities
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Making Delaware public schools the best in the nation — from early childhood through higher education — is a central priority for Senator Cruce.
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Women's health care decisions should remain private, and Senator Cruce has made protecting reproductive freedom a cornerstone of his work.
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From defending voting rights to preventing gun violence, Senator Cruce is committed to upholding the human dignity of every Delawarean.
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Working families deserve economic security, and Senator Cruce has been a consistent voice for strengthening Delaware's social safety net.
Accomplishments
Education:
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Early childhood education — especially for children from low socioeconomic backgrounds — has been a consistent focus for Senator Cruce, who cites research on the lifetime benefits of early learning.
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Through the Wilmington Learning Collaborative, continued funding to improve educational quality for Wilmington city students has had a strong advocate in Senator Cruce.
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To help schools attract and retain quality educators, Senator Cruce has supported the Public Education Compensation Committee's work to raise salaries.
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Delaware Technical Community College (DelTech) has found a consistent champion in Senator Cruce, who backs it as a key public resource and economic driver.
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Through support for the Inspire Scholarship Program, Senator Cruce has worked to expand equal educational opportunity at Delaware State University, a historically Black college and university.
Reproductive Rights:
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Reproductive freedom has been a strong priority for Senator Cruce, who points to Delaware's codification of Roe v. Wade in the state constitution as a source of pride.
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To address the disproportionately high rates of death in childbirth faced by women of color and lower-income women, Senator Cruce has advocated for improved maternal health outcomes.
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Positioning Delaware as a welcoming haven for people fleeing states with restrictive reproductive laws is something Senator Cruce has actively supported
Gun Violence Prevention:
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Delaware's Permit to Purchase law has earned Senator Cruce's strong support, citing its proven effectiveness in other states at reducing both gun violence and suicides.
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Alongside backing expanded public education on preventing gun-related suicides, Senator Cruce has committed to protecting existing gun laws from being weakened by lawsuits or lobbying
Voting Rights:
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Eliminating barriers to voting and defending every Delawarean's right to participate in the democratic process has driven Senator Cruce's work on elections.
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To strengthen Delaware's elections, Senator Cruce has backed no-excuse absentee voting and called for modernizing campaign finance laws for greater transparency and stronger enforcement
Economic Security:
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Fair taxation — ensuring the already-wealthy don't receive disproportionate benefits — has been a consistent call from Senator Cruce, who has also committed to defending retirement security and the broader social safety net.
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Protecting workers through the right to unionize and to work free from discrimination and harassment has earned Senator Cruce's consistent support
Human Dignity:
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LGBTQ+ rights have had a strong advocate in Senator Cruce, who frames the freedom to love whom one chooses as a matter of personal dignity and a universal human issue.
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As federal executive power expands, Senator Cruce has called on elected officials to remain vigilant in protecting Delawareans' privacy and rights, and has emphasized keeping schools, churches, and hospitals safe spaces for young people.
Senator Dan Cruce represents Delaware’s First Senate District, which includes Bellefonte and parts of Alapocas, Edgemoor, and Wilmington.
Originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, Cruce earned a degree in International Affairs from James Madison University. He moved to Delaware to obtain his Juris Doctorate from Delaware Law School and has lived in the First State ever since.
Cruce has held numerous leadership positions locally and nationally, reflecting his dedication to empowering individuals, elevating community voices, and enabling collective impact.
While in law school, Cruce began his public service career working for then-Senator Joe Biden. Afterward, he clerked for Delaware’s Family Court and joined Corporation Service Company (CSC) as Associate General Counsel. When CSC’s General Counsel was appointed a U.S. District Judge for the District of Delaware, Cruce became The Honorable Kent A. Jordan’s first law clerk.
Passionate about education, Cruce later worked for the Christina School District as Assistant Superintendent/Chief of Staff to Dr. Lillian Lowery, advocating for families, educators, and children. When Dr. Lowery became Secretary of Education under Governor Jack Markell, Cruce served as Deputy Secretary of Education/Chief of Staff, expanding his advocacy statewide. He later took his expertise to the national level as Education Vice President at Hope Street Group, working to integrate educator voice into policy decisions with educators, state teachers associations and state departments of education across the country.
In addition to his professional roles, Cruce focuses his personal time on issues and organizations important to our economy, quality of life and society through board service. He is the Board Chair Emeritus of Humane Animal Partners and serves on the Executive Committee of the Delaware Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. He is also the former Board Chair of the Delaware Theatre Company, Delaware Arts Alliance, Delaware Arts Consortium, Philanthropy Delaware and the Sussex County Health Coalition.
Currently, Cruce serves as Chief Operating Officer of United Way of Delaware, advancing its mission through program and partnerships such as Delaware 211, a public/private partnership with the State of Delaware connecting Delawareans in need with health and human services resources.
Dan lives in Wilmington with his spouse, Bart Dryden, a retired public-school teacher and principal, who supports his vision as the new Senator of the First District.
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Paid for by Delaware Senate Majority Caucus Campaign Committee