On January 7, 2025, at 1 p.m., Bethany Hall-Long was sworn in as the governor of Delaware at the Old State House in Dover, becoming the 75th governor of the state. The incumbent governor, John Carney, resigned two weeks early to assume the role of mayor of Wilmington.
The governor-elect of Delaware, Matt Meyer, will officially take the oath of office on January 21. Hall-Long lost to Meyer in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Kyle Evans Gay, the lieutenant governor-elect, will also be sworn in on the same day.
In accordance with the Delaware Constitution, if a governor is unable to fulfill their duties, such as resigning, the lieutenant governor will succeed them. After serving two terms in office, Governor Carney resigned to take on the newly elected mayor’s duties. Carney is the first in modern history to transition from serving as governor to a municipal role. He has previously held positions as Delaware’s lieutenant governor and a member of Congress over the past 25 years.
Hall-Long now holds the record for the shortest term as governor in Delaware – two weeks. The previous shortest-term governor was Dale E. Wolf, who served for 18 days after his predecessor’s resignation, and David P. Buckson, who served for 19 days after the resignation of his predecessor.
During her inaugural speech, the 61-year-old Hall-Long referred to herself as the “second female governor of Delaware and the first nurse governor in the United States.” She reflected on her career in public service and emphasized the importance of direct collaboration with the community.
Having previously served as a nursing professor at the University of Delaware, Hall-Long was elected as a Delaware State Representative in 2002 and later as a State Senator until she assumed the role of lieutenant governor in 2017.
Hall-Long stated, “We know my time in this position is short, but I intend to act as a bridge between Governor Carney and the upcoming Meyer-Evans Gay administration.”
She chose to be sworn in at the Old State House because her great-grandfather, David C. Hall, had served as a state legislator in that building. Additionally, the 16th governor of Delaware, David Hall, had also served there.
Governor Hall-Long emphasized the urgent need to address Delaware’s foster care program, stating that “hundreds of children are waiting for a permanent home every day” in Delaware. She noted the achievements made in the past eight years under Governor Carney’s leadership, including significant workforce investment, the creation of over 32,000 jobs without raising taxes, unprecedented housing investment, and record-breaking education spending, particularly in early education.
In her final remarks, Governor Hall-Long expressed her hope for Delaware to be the most suitable place to live, work, and raise a family. “God bless you, God bless the First State, God bless the United States of America.”