Three Republicans make their case for Delaware’s 41st District

August 18, 2026

Brandon Ferguson, Matthew Hipsman for Coast TV

Thank you to CoastTV for covering the Forum.

Click the photo above to view the CoastTV newscast on the Forum that aired at 11pm, Monday evening. Below is the article taken from that same link.

MILLSBORO, Del. — Three Republicans hoping to become the next state representative for Delaware’s 41st District made their case to voters Monday night during a candidate forum at the Indian River Senior Center. The district covers areas around Millsboro, Dagsboro, Frankford and Gumboro, along with other parts of southeastern Sussex County. State election records show the district includes polling places in those communities as well as Selbyville and Millville.

For the past 12 years, the seat has been held by Republican Rep. Rich Collins, who has served in the House since 2014. With Collins stepping down, the race has drawn one familiar political face and two newcomers seeking the Republican nomination. Jacki Slonin, Doug Conaway and former state Rep. John Atkins are all qualified for the Sept. 15 Republican primary.

Conaway, an Army veteran and retired Delaware State Police trooper, is a newcomer to elected politics. He said his military experience taught him how to work with people from different backgrounds while focusing on accomplishing a common goal. “It wasn’t about what you believed in or what your background was,” Conaway said. “What matters is accomplishing your goal.”

Slonin is also making her first run for elected office. She has experience in marketing and studied criminal justice at Delaware Technical Community College. Slonin said she does not view her lack of elected experience as a disadvantage. “Nobody has experience when they start anything the first time,” Slonin said.

Atkins, meanwhile, has represented the 41st District before, serving two separate stretches in the Delaware House for a combined roughly 10 years. Atkins served during his political career as both a Republican and a Democrat. He made that previous experience in Dover a major part of his pitch to voters Monday. “It’s as important as ever to send someone there that can start work on day one,” Atkins said.

The forum also included several sharper exchanges between the candidates. Atkins challenged Conaway over his voting history, claiming Conaway had missed 34 elections dating back to 1992 while describing his own voting record as 100%. Conaway responded that his military service kept him away during some elections.

Slonin also drew a distinction between her two opponents when discussing whether she would support the eventual Republican nominee. She said she would support Conaway if he won the primary but would not support Atkins if he becomes the nominee.

Beyond those disagreements, all three candidates talked about how they would work with members of other political parties if elected. Slonin said she believes being approachable and straightforward would help her work across the aisle in Dover. “I’m not in there to play political games. I’m in there to really do the best job for our district,” Slonin said.

Conaway again pointed to his Army experience as preparation for working with Democrats and independents. “I think I can go up, establish relationships with some Democrats, and we can work together on a common goal that benefits the people of Delaware,” Conaway said.

Atkins said his previous experience in the General Assembly gives him existing relationships with people from both parties. “I’ve got friends on the other side of the aisle that I served with,” Atkins said.

The candidates also expressed concerns about the state taking greater control over local land-use decisions. Slonin said residents she has spoken with want decisions affecting their communities to remain local. “They want things to stay local,” Slonin said. “They don’t want people in way other places making decisions for us, especially when they don’t live here.”

Conaway said towns and counties should determine their own needs and questioned how affordable housing is defined in Sussex County. “I don’t think the state needs to get involved in the county or in the towns,” Conaway said.

Atkins went further, calling for Senate Bill 23 to be repealed. “I think Senate Bill 23 needs to be repealed immediately,” Atkins said. He argued the General Assembly should not be deciding zoning matters for towns and counties without local public input.

Atkins has a long and controversial history in Delaware politics. He resigned from the state House in 2007 following fallout from an Ocean City traffic stop in which a breath test showed a 0.14 blood-alcohol level. He was not charged with DUI, but an ethics investigation found he showed his legislative identification while seeking leniency from police.

 He later returned to the House as a Democrat before losing the District 41 seat in 2014. Draper Media previously reported that domestic violence-related charges against Atkins were dropped for insufficient evidence in 2016. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and three counts of breach of release and was sentenced to 22 days in jail, time already served, and one year of probation.

The winner of the Sept. 15 Republican primary will advance to the Nov. 3 general election, where Democrat Ryan Stuckey is awaiting the Republican nominee. State election records list Stuckey as the qualified Democratic candidate for the 41st District.

The primary gives Republican voters a choice between two political newcomers offering different professional backgrounds and a former lawmaker arguing his experience in Dover would allow him to begin representing the district immediately.