DOVER – The Delaware Senate Majority Caucus on Tuesday announced the hiring of Jesse Chadderdon as its next chief of staff.
As a former communications director for the Senate Majority Caucus and the current executive director of the Delaware Democratic Party, Chadderdon brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the newly expanded caucus.
“Jesse has the experience and knowledge needed to step in quickly and guide our operations through these challenging times,” President Pro Tempore-Elect David Sokola said. “He has proven himself to be a capable leader time and time again, and I am thrilled he will be re-joining us for the start of 151st General Assembly and this new direction for the Delaware State Senate.”
Chadderdon’ s first day will be December 15.
Chadderdon will succeed Debra Allen, who announced her pending retirement last month. Allen’s 30-year career in state government began in 1989 when she was hired as a Senate attaché for then-Senator Ruth Ann Minner. Allen later worked for Minner in the lieutenant governor’s office and became Governor Minner’s director of constituent relations. She returned to the Senate Majority Caucus in 2009 where she has served as chief of staff since 2018.
“Debbie’s dedication and commitment to the Delaware Senate has been exemplary and, while we knew her retirement was coming, it will not make her absence any easier,” Sokola said. “I am incredibly fortunate to have been able to call Debbie a colleague and a friend all of these years. She has given her entire adult life to serving the people of Delaware and for that she deserves our deepest gratitude and best wishes in her well-deserved retirement.”
Allen’s last day will be December 30.
Chadderdon’s hire marks the first staffing change in the Delaware Senate Majority Caucus since early 2019.
A graduate of Temple University, Chadderdon began his career as a journalist before assuming the role of executive editor for the GateHouse Media family of newspapers. Following service as press secretary for U.S. Sen. Chris Coons’ successful 2014 re-election campaign, he spent nearly three years as the Delaware Senate Majority Caucus’ director of communications.
As executive director, Chadderdon has managed the day-to-day operations of the Delaware Democratic Party since 2017.
During Chadderdon’s two cycles as executive director, Democrats won and held all nine statewide elected offices for the first time in history, while also expanding their legislative majorities by flipping three State Senate seats, one State House seat and one New Castle County Council seat.