In the United States, the mid-term elections are scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026. Currently, the majority of states across the country allow voters to participate in early voting. Delaware will kick off its early voting for the general election on October 22, while New Jersey is set to begin on October 24.
Republican candidate Mike Ramone, who is running for Delaware State Treasurer and a former Minority Leader in the State House, is urging voters to cast their ballots early. Ramone stated in an interview that if elected, he plans to prioritize building a diverse and professional team to ensure financial management is free from political interference, enhancing transparency in government operations.
In contrast to the aforementioned states, Pennsylvania voters are unable to vote early using voting machines, but they can apply, receive, fill out, and submit mail-in or absentee ballots at the county election office or designated service points once the ballots are ready for collection. The deadline for early in-person voting and mail-in ballot applications in Pennsylvania is set for October 27. The registration deadlines, early voting schedules, and ballot return procedures vary across the neighboring states.
Voters can visit the Delaware State Election website (elections.delaware.gov), New Jersey voter website (Vote.NJ.gov), and Pennsylvania voter website (vote.pa.gov) to find information on polling locations, voter registration status, and details on how to request ballots in their respective jurisdictions.
When asked about his top initiatives if elected as Delaware State Treasurer, Ramone emphasized his priority to establish a diverse team to make key financial decisions for the state free from political influence.
Ramone noted that political donations often skew public officials’ impartiality, with candidates sometimes accepting significant donations from individuals with specific agendas and expectations of returns.
“I will not accept large donations from individuals seeking favors in return,” Ramone emphasized. “Therefore, my primary task is to assemble a team that shares my values.”
During his tenure in the state legislature, Ramone has focused on excluding political factors from government operations. He commended former State Treasurer Ken Simpler for promoting the Budget Smoothing Bill from 2015 to 2019. The bill aims to restrain spending growth during periods of abundant fiscal revenue, bolster fiscal reserves, and effectively cushion financial pressures during economic downturns, averting excessive fluctuations in government spending.
Reflecting on his collaborative work with Democratic State Representative Quinn Johnson in the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Committee subcommittee, Ramone underscored the importance of implementing rules for fiscal constraints and a long-term budget smoothing mechanism to address prolonged fiscal challenges stemming from revenue volatility.
“I hope to establish a mechanism that eliminates political influences from financial decision-making in Dover,” Ramone stated. “I believe this is crucial.”
Ramone stressed, “Once we feel that taxes are being manipulated or controlled for personal gain, it will be detrimental. This can lead to loss of confidence, trust, and ultimately, anger.”
He added, “Ultimately, transparency, honest government operations, and – frankly – serving the people of Delaware rather than special interest groups are paramount.”
Ramone previously served as the State Representative for the 21st District in Delaware from 2008 to 2024 for 16 years and held the position of House Minority Leader from 2023 to 2024. In 2024, he ran for Delaware Governor representing the Republican Party but lost to Democratic candidate Matt Meyer in the general election. In the current midterm elections, he is competing for the State Treasurer position against Democratic candidate Ted Lauzen, a professional in investment management.
Aside from his extensive legislative experience and expertise in state capital construction and transportation spending reviews, Ramone also brings a diverse background in business management to the table. He co-founded and operated several businesses with his family and has a long-standing involvement in coaching swimming and teaching.