Daniel Short

Republican Party

Delaware House of Representatives District 39

Tenure

2006 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

19

Prior offices:

Mayor Seaford

Years in office: 1998 - 2006

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Report an officeholder change

Compensation

Base salary

$50,678/year

Per diem

No per diem is paid.

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Associates

University of Delaware

Personal

Profession

Owner, Short Insurance Associates

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Daniel Short (Republican Party) is a member of theDelaware House of Representatives, representingDistrict 39. He assumed office on November 8, 2006. His current term ends on November 3, 2026.

Short (Republican Party) ran for re-election to theDelaware House of Representatives to representDistrict 39. He won in the general election onNovember 5, 2024.

Short served asHouse minority leader from 2012 to 2023.^[1]

Short served as mayor of Seaford from 1998 to 2006 and was a member of the Seaford City Council from 1995 to 1999.

Biography

Short is the owner of Short Insurance Associates, former chief of the Seaford Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. and a former self-employed insurance agent.^[2]

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Short was assigned to the following committees:

• Appropriations Committee
• Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee
• Gaming & Parimutuels Committee
• Joint Finance Committee
• Revenue & Finance Committee
• House Veterans Affairs Committee

2023-2024

Short was assigned to the following committees:

• Economic Development/Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee
• Gaming & Parimutuels Committee
• Housing & Community Affairs Committee
• Revenue & Finance Committee
• House Veterans Affairs Committee

2021-2022

Short was assigned to the following committees:

• House Veterans Affairs Committee
• Legislative Council Committee
• Ethics Committee
• Gaming & Parimutuels Committee
• House Administration Committee
• House Rules Committee

2019-2020

Short was assigned to the following committees:

• Legislative Council Committee
• Gaming & Parimutuels Committee
• House Administration Committee
• Ethics Committee
• House Rules Committee
• House Veterans Affairs Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Short served on the following committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Short served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Short served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Short served on these committees:

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according toBillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2024

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 39

IncumbentDaniel Short won election in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 39 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniel Short (R)	100.0	7,440

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	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,440
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. IncumbentDaniel Short advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 39.

Endorsements

2022

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 39

IncumbentDaniel Short defeatedSusan Clifford in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 39 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniel Short (R)	70.5	4,343
		Susan Clifford (D)	29.5	1,818

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,161
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled.Susan Clifford advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 39.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. IncumbentDaniel Short advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 39.

2020

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 39

IncumbentDaniel Short won election in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 39 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniel Short (R)	100.0	7,420

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,420
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. IncumbentDaniel Short advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 39.

2018

See also:Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 39

IncumbentDaniel Short won election in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 39 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Daniel Short (R)	100.0	5,452

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,452 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 39

IncumbentDaniel Short advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 39 on September 6, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Daniel Short

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

2016

See also:Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for theDelaware House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was July 12, 2016.

IncumbentDaniel Short defeatedJames Brittingham in the Delaware House of Representatives District 39 general election.^[3][4]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 39 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Daniel ShortIncumbent	91.25%	6,643
	Libertarian	James Brittingham	8.75%	637
Total Votes				7,280
Source:Delaware Department of Elections

IncumbentDaniel Short ran unopposed in the Delaware House of Representatives District 39 Republican primary.^[5][6][3]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 39 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Daniel ShortIncumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also:Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for theDelaware House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 8, 2014. IncumbentDaniel B. Short was unopposed in the Republican primary and defeatedJames W. Brittingham (L) in the general election.^[7][8][9]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 39, General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Daniel B. ShortIncumbent	92.9%	3,977
	Libertarian	James W. Brittingham	7.1%	305
Total Votes				4,282

2012

See also:Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2012

Short ran in the2012 election forDelaware House of Representatives District 39. Short defeatedPatrick J. Murray in the Republican primary on September 11, 2012 and was unchallenged in the general election on November 6, 2012.^[10]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 39, General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Daniel ShortIncumbent	100%	6,191
Total Votes				6,191

Delaware House of Representatives, District 39 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Daniel ShortIncumbent	80.2%	1,046
Patrick Murray	19.8%	259
Total Votes		1,305

2010

See also:Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2010

Short won re-election to the 39th District seat in 2010. He had no opposition in the primary or theNovember 2, 2010, general election.^[11]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 39 2010 General election results
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Daniel Short (R)		4,562	100%

2008

See also:Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2008

On November 4, 2008, Short won re-election to theDelaware House of Representatives from Delaware's 39th District, defeating Jerry Semper (D and WFP). Short received 5,185 votes in the election while Semper received 2,352 votes.^[12] Short raised $43,511 for his campaign; Semper raised $13,542.^[13]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 39
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Daniel Short (R)		5,185	68.8%
Jerry Semper (D and WFP)		2,352	31.2%

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also:Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Daniel Short did not completeBallotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Daniel Short did not completeBallotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Daniel Short did not completeBallotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2014

Short's campaign website highlighted the following issues:^[14]

2012

Short's website highlighted the following campaign issues:^[15]

• EDUCATION: "We must allow our teachers to teach our children. Our testing system should be an instrument for learning and not just a generator of statistics. Accountability should be in place that also requires the involvement of parents to insure the success of education."
• ECONOMY: "we should attract suitable businesses to our area to occupy the business parks that exist and change the trend that now is focused purely on Route 13 as part time positions without the security of any benefits. We need a change in our business environment in order to attract and keep business in Delaware."
• ENVIRONMENT: "This topic encompasses not only the protection of our ponds and the Nanticoke River which are very important natural resources but also the quality of life issues that many take for granted."
• GROWTH: "We should have growth but it needs to be controlled and sustained. It needs to be planned and not at the expense of current taxpayers. Our roads need to be greatly improved." "I plan to help replenish the Transportation Trust Fund."
• DISASTER RELIEF FUND: "a common sense approach to deal with the financial impart of disaster relief. We need to act now to assure that we can financially deal with further emergencies."

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf.Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at theFEC website. Clickhere for more on federal campaign finance law andhere for more on state campaign finance law.

Scorecards

See also:State legislative scorecards andState legislative scorecards in Delaware

Ascorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Delaware scorecards, email suggestions toeditor@ballotpedia.org.

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

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Footnotes

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