Meet Your Senator

Senator Dan Cruce represents Delaware’s First Senate District, which includes Bellefonte and parts of Alapocas, Edgemoor, and Wilmington.

Originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, Cruce earned a degree in International Affairs from James Madison University. He moved to Delaware to obtain his Juris Doctorate from Delaware Law School and has lived in the First State ever since.

Cruce has held numerous leadership positions locally and nationally, reflecting his dedication to empowering individuals, elevating community voices, and enabling collective impact.

While in law school, Cruce began his public service career working for then-Senator Joe Biden. Afterward, he clerked for Delaware’s Family Court and joined Corporation Service Company (CSC) as Associate General Counsel. When CSC’s General Counsel was appointed a U.S. District Judge for the District of Delaware, Cruce became The Honorable Kent A. Jordan’s first law clerk.

Passionate about education, Cruce later worked for the Christina School District as Assistant Superintendent/Chief of Staff to Dr. Lillian Lowery, advocating for families, educators, and children. When Dr. Lowery became Secretary of Education under Governor Jack Markell, Cruce served as Deputy Secretary of Education/Chief of Staff, expanding his advocacy statewide. He later took his expertise to the national level as Education Vice President at Hope Street Group, working to integrate educator voice into policy decisions with educators, state teachers associations and state departments of education across the country.

In addition to his professional roles, Cruce focuses his personal time on issues and organizations important to our economy, quality of life and society through board service. He is the Board Chair Emeritus of Humane Animal Partners, Board Chair of Philanthropy Delaware and the Sussex County Health Coalition and serves on the Executive Committee of the Delaware Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. He is also the former Board Chair of the Delaware Theatre Company, Delaware Arts Alliance, and Delaware Arts Consortium.

Currently, Cruce serves as Chief Operating Officer of United Way of Delaware, advancing its mission through program and partnerships such as Delaware 211, a public/private partnership with the State of Delaware connecting Delawareans in need with health and human services resources.

Dan lives in Wilmington with his spouse, Bart Dryden, a retired public-school teacher and principal, who supports his vision as the new Senator of the 1st District.