Bethany Hall-Long | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Hall-Long in 2024 | |
| 75thGovernor of Delaware | |
| In office January 7, 2025 – January 21, 2025 | |
| Lieutenant | Vacant |
| Preceded by | John Carney |
| Succeeded by | Matt Meyer |
| 26thLieutenant Governor of Delaware | |
| In office January 17, 2017 – January 7, 2025 | |
| Governor | John Carney |
| Preceded by | Matthew Denn (2015) |
| Succeeded by | Kyle Evans Gay |
| Member of theDelaware Senate from the10th district | |
| In office November 5, 2008 – November 9, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Steven H. Amick |
| Succeeded by | Stephanie Hansen |
| Member of theDelaware House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
| In office November 6, 2002 – November 5, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | David Brady |
| Succeeded by | S. Quinton Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1963-11-12)November 12, 1963 (age 61) Sussex County, Delaware, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Thomas Jefferson University (BSN) Medical University of South Carolina (MSN) George Mason University (PhD) |
| Website | Official website |
Bethany A. Hall-Long (born November 12, 1963) is an American politician. A member of theDemocratic Party, Hall-Long served as the 75thgovernor of Delaware for two weeks in January 2025, after having served as the 26thlieutenant governor of Delaware from 2017 to 2025. She previously served in theDelaware Senate from 2008 to 2016 and theDelaware House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008.[1]
She ran for governor in the2024 Democratic primary election but was defeated byMatt Meyer. She assumed the governorship whenJohn Carney resigned to becomemayor of Wilmington and completed the remaining two weeks of Carney's term in January 2025.[2]
Hall-Long was born on November 12, 1963, inSussex County. She is a descendant ofDavid Hall, the 15th governor of Delaware.[3] She was raised on a farm with her two older brothers and attendedIndian River High School. She earned aBSN fromThomas Jefferson University, anMSN from theMedical University of South Carolina, and aPhD in health policy and nursing administration fromGeorge Mason University.[4]
Hall-Long began a teaching career at George Mason University before moving to the University of Delaware, where she is a professor of nursing.[5]
Hall-Long was elected Lieutenant Governor of Delawarein 2016, taking office on January 17, 2017. She helped create a Behavioral Health Consortium in June 2017, which she now chairs.[6] The consortium's role is to develop short-term and long-term plans to address addiction and mental health issues in Delaware.[7] In 2018, Pew Charitable Trusts partnered with the Consortium to help increase access to opioid treatment.[8] In June 2022 Hall-Long worked with state senatorSarah McBride and state representativeMelissa Minor-Brown to secure $3.2 million in funding from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services for the first in-patient addiction treatment facility for pregnant and parenting women in Delaware.[9] She wasreelected in 2020 over Republican Donyale Hall.
She served as Chair of the National Lieutenant Governor's Association from 2020 to 2021.[10]
In April 2024, Hall-Long announced her candidacy forgovernor of Delaware, joiningNew Castle County ExecutiveMatt Meyer and formerDelaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara in the Democratic primary race.[11] She faced controversy when her campaign team discovered that she has provided more than $200,000 in undisclosed payments to her husband, Dana Long.[3] She eventually amended seven years of campaign finance reports in response to the scandal.[3] Meyer ultimately won the primary and went on to win the general election.
Despite losing her gubernatorial bid, Hall-Long became the 75th governor of Delaware on January 7, 2025 when incumbent Governor John Carney resigned early to becomemayor of Wilmington. She served the remaining two weeks of Carney's term and was succeeded by Meyer.[2]
Hall-Long met her husband, Dana Long, while in high school, and they married in 1987. Dana served in theU.S. Navy from 1982 to 1991 as a data systems technician. On October 30, 2014, he was arrested after being caught on video taking down political signs erected by Republicans.[12]
| Delaware House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David Brady | Member of theDelaware House of Representatives from the 8th district 2003–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Delaware Senate | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theDelaware Senate from the 10th district 2009–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Matthew Denn2015 | Lieutenant Governor of Delaware 2017–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Delaware 2025 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former Governor | Order of precedence of the United States | Succeeded byas Former Governor |
