ALONNA BERRY
If you'd prefer to send a check, make it out to
"Friends of Alonna Berry" & mail to P.O. Box 34 Milton, DE 19968.
District 20 Democrats Nominate Alonna Berry
for Special Election
Lewes, Del., July 4, 2025 – Members of the 20th Representative District Democratic Committee have selected Alonna Berry as their candidate in the special election for the District 20 State Representative seat. The special election will be held August 5 after an abbreviated, five-week campaign.
A nonprofit leader with experience in education and government, Berry is currently the executive director of the Delaware Center for Justice, a nonprofit that provides legal assistance to low-income individuals and families, juvenile offenders, victims of crime, and seniors in need. She is the founder of the Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence, a free public charter school in Georgetown. She has also held leadership roles in state government, serving as a senior policy advisor for health, equity and education in the Carney administration.
If elected to the Delaware legislature, Berry has stated her priorities would include expanding high-quality early childhood education; increasing access to affordable housing; investing in clean energy and coastal resilience; and advancing fair and compassionate criminal justice reform.
“Being a Democrat means caring about the community, and I’ve had the honor of working across our state on issues that matter most to our neighbors,” says Berry, who was raised in Sussex County and now lives with her husband and two children in Milton. “I’ve worked in Dover and I’ve worked in underserved communities. Now I feel I’m in the best position to represent District 20.
“I can step into this seat and hit the ground running.”
Berry was chosen through a nomination process based on state law governing special elections. Nominations were open to any registered Democrat living in RD20, and members of the RD20 Democratic Committee hosted a candidates forum on July 3 at the Lewes Public Library, where area Democrats questioned five hopefuls. Directly after the forum, RD20 committee members met privately and voted by written ballot to select their nominee, the winner required to receive at least 51 percent of the votes cast.
“RD20 is pleased to support Alonna Berry in the special election for the StateRepresentative seat,” said Sue Nyden, chair of the 20th Representative District Democratic Committee. “Alonna represents a new generation willing and ready to lead. She knows RD20 and Sussex County, having grown up here and now raising her family here. She brings experience in education, the criminal justice system. and government, including policy development.”
The winner of the special election will complete the 153rd term of the Delaware General Assembly in 2026, representing a district that covers Lewes, Milton, Nassau, Pinetown, Belltown and parts of Harbeson and Georgetown. For further information, go to www.rd20deldems.com.
Delaware House of Representatives House Majority Caucus
For Immediate Release:
July 3, 2025
Special Election for Vacant 20th District Seat
Set for August 5
DOVER - A special election for the now-vacant 20th District House seat will be held on Tuesday, August 5.
Former state representative Stell Parker Selby tendered her resignation from the House effective Tuesday, June 24, which triggered a state law governing special elections for vacant legislative seats. Under that code, a writ of election must be issued within 10 days of the vacancy occurring. The writ sets the date for the special election, which must take place between 30-35 days from when the writ is issued.
On Thursday, House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown issued the writ to set the special election for Tuesday, August 5. The race will be overseen by the Department of Elections.
The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the term for the 20th District, which will expire on Election Day in November 2026.
Sussex County Dems to Hold
RD 20 Candidate Forum July 3
The Sussex County Democratic Committee will host a forum for Democratic candidates vying for State Representative District 20 on Thursday, July 3. The program will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Lewes Public Library (111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE 19958).
All registered Democrats are welcome to attend the forum, but candidates must reside in the 20th RD. The eventual Democratic nominee will be selected by members of the 20th RD Democratic Committee immediately after the forum. Party candidates will then run in a special election that has yet to be scheduled but is expected to occur in early August.
The position was vacated today following the resignation of Rep. Stell Parker Selby, D-Milton, who is stepping down due to a serious medical emergency. A beloved figure in the 20th RD, Parker Selby was the first African American in Delaware history to serve in the House of Representatives from Sussex County.
The 20th Representative District includes Lewes, Milton, Nassau, Pine Town, Belltown and parts of Harbeson and Georgetown. Forum attendees will be encouraged to ask questions of candidates in written form; the event will be moderated by Jeff Balk, chair of the Sussex County Democratic Committee.
Those planning to attend in person or via Zoom should RSVP by July 1 to hsginde@gmail.com to confirm their party status and receive a Zoom link. Those attendees failing to do so will need to check-in at the door beginning 5:30 p.m. on July 3. For further information: DESussexDemocrats@gmail.com.
Dear Speaker Minor-Brown,
After deep reflection and many heartfelt conversations with my family, doctors, and loved ones, I have made the incredibly difficult decision to resign from the Delaware House of Representatives, effective immediately.
In December, I suffered a serious medical emergency that profoundly changed the rhythm of my life. Since that moment, I have fought every day toward recovery. And while I am proud of the strides I've made, I must acknowledge - with honesty and humility - that I can no longer serve this district with the full energy, presence, and focus it rightfully deserves.
This district is my home. It raised me, shaped me, and gave me every opportunity to serve. I was a proud student of Milton Public School 196C, taught by a generation of Black educators who believed in the power of service, the dignity of our people, and in the obligation to lift as we climb. Their wisdom never left me, and it carried me all the way to becoming the first Black State Representative from Sussex County - something that, as a young girl, I could never have imagined.
Public service was never about the spotlight. It was about the work. For decades, I showed up, spoke out, and stood up for the values we share and the voices that too often go unheard. This community has always been a part of me, and I've done my best to reflect its strength and spirit in everything I do. And while recent conversations have turned away from the substance of that work, I will not. I am stepping down not because of noise or pressure, but because I care too deeply about this community to offer anything less than my full capacity.
To those who extended grace, prayers, and patience during my time of healing, thank you. Your compassion meant everything. I'm especially grateful to House Leadership, including Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown and Minority Leader Tim Dukes, for supporting me through these last few months and allowing me the space to reach this decision in my own time and on my own terms. I also want to thank those who elected me to serve and those who worked tirelessly to get me into this office and re-elected for a second term.
To my constituents: please know that I gave everything I had to this role, and I wanted more than anything to return to it. But I also know when it's time to let go - and to trust that the seeds planted over a lifetime of service will continue to grow.
With love, gratitude and pride,
Rep. Stell Parker Selby.
Get Involved with RD 20!
Our party is organized at the state, county and local levels to insure the widest participation of Delaware Democrats in the political process.There are many ways to volunteer, from walking door to door to hosting fundraising events, volunteering with one of our committees. Let us know how you can help.
Monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday
-5:00 pm social / option dinner
-6:00 pm business meeting
