Priorities
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A fighter for all Delawareans who believes that regardless of zip code, Delawareans should have access to affordable housing, health care, and higher education.
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Voted to make Delaware one of the first safe harbor states in the country after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V. Wade.
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Voted for and led the legislative effort to raise the legal firearm purchasing age from 18 to 21, strengthen Delaware’s background check system, and hold gun dealers liable for negligence.
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A leader during the Covid-19 pandemic for families who passed the Healthy Delaware Families Act, protecting Delaware families by guaranteeing workers up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for economic security and peace of mind.
Accomplishments
As President Pro Tempore of the Senate, David Sokola:
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Led passage of the most meaningful gun safety package in a generation containing six gun safety bills to stem the flow of high-powered weaponry to Delaware and halt the sale of more than 60 assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the state.
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Protected the reproductive rights of women and made sure working Delawareans have a right to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. No family should ever have to make the impossible choice between earning a paycheck and quitting their job to stay home with a new child or care for a family member fighting for their life.
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Lowered prescription drug costs and expanded access to life-saving medications.
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Raised wages for Delaware’s lowest paid workers.
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Increased education funding and directed more resources to those schools with the greatest need. Extended free tuition to hundreds of Delaware graduates and adults seeking new job skills.
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Provided tax cuts to military veterans, and tax credits and tuition reimbursement to first responders.
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Made the criminal justice system fairer for all Delawareans while taking steps to keep violent and repeat offenders off our streets.
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Improved transparency and access to state college and university proceedings by requiring live streaming of all board meetings.
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Advocated for open space/parkland preservation and worked tirelessly to expand greenways and enhance the hiking and biking network in the Newark/Pike Creek area.
David grew up in Delaware and is a proud graduate of Mount Pleasant High School. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Delaware, he worked briefly as a teacher before being hired as a lab technician at the DuPont Experimental Station, where he was employed for 34 years.
Sokola was first elected to the state Senate in 1990 and voted President Pro Tempore in 2020. He is best known for his work improving Delaware’s education system, passing strong environmental laws, and working to keep a balanced state budget. He also was a Senate prime sponsor of legislation that created graduated driver’s licenses and marriage equality in Delaware, along with the measure that established the state’s public benefit corporation law.
He previously served on numerous state commissions and task forces, including the School District Consolidation Task Force, the Advance Educator Compensation and Careers Committee, the Enrollment Preference Task Force, the Truancy Task Force and the board of the Diamond State Port Corporation.
Sokola represents the Senate on the Delaware Foundation for Science, Math & Technology Education, and as a member of the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council, a panel of state officials and economists who study the state’s fiscal outlook and project anticipated revenues.
During the pandemic, David volunteered with the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps. He spent many weekends assisting the vaccine clinics throughout the state.
David is a bike enthusiast and teaches indoor cycling classes at the Hockessin Athletic Club.
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Paid for by Delaware Senate Majority Caucus Campaign Committee