New Castle County Council District 4 voters will choose their next councilmember in 2026.

The Democratic primary will take place on September 15, 2026 . Three Democratic candidates have qualified for the race:

• Helena M. Creamer
• Jason Hoover
• Curtis Dauntell Linton

The Delaware Department of Elections lists all three candidates as qualified for the District 4 Democratic primary.

Office: New Castle County Council, District 4 Primary election: September 15, 2026 Political party: Democratic Candidates: Helena M. Creamer, Jason Hoover, and Curtis Dauntell Linton Current councilmember: Penrose Hollins Term: Four years

New Castle County Council has 13 members: one representative from each of 12 council districts and a council president elected countywide. Council writes county laws, adopts resolutions, oversees county operations, and makes decisions affecting land use, infrastructure, public services, and residents’ health and welfare.

County Council is the legislative branch of New Castle County government.

Although state and city governments receive more attention, County Council makes decisions that directly affect how communities grow and how public resources are used.

A councilmember’s responsibilities include:

• Reviewing and voting on county laws
• Considering land-use and rezoning proposals
• Establishing development standards
• Approving the county budget
• Overseeing property-tax and spending decisions
• Supporting parks, libraries, public safety, and other county services
• Responding to constituent concerns
• Participating in public hearings and council committees
• Representing the interests of their district in countywide decisions

Councilmembers serve staggered four-year terms. Council meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month and are open to public participation.

The candidates below are presented alphabetically by last name.

Party: Democratic
Status: Qualified candidate
Qualified: January 12, 2026
Campaign Website:  creamer4county.com

The Delaware Department of Elections lists Helena M. Creamer as a qualified Democratic candidate for New Castle County Council District 4.

Party: Democratic
Status: Qualified candidate
Qualified: March 27, 2026
Campaign website: GoHoover.com

Jason Hoover is a Wilmington small business owner, community organizer, environmental advocate, and founder of Trolley Web. He helped found Save The Valley during the campaign to protect Beaver Valley and is running on issues including affordable housing, fiscally responsible development, data-center protections, open space, walkability, and government accountability.

His campaign does not accept corporate or developer contributions.

The Delaware Department of Elections lists Jason Hoover as a qualified Democratic candidate for District 4 and links to his campaign website.

Party: Democratic Status: Qualified candidate
Qualified: December 15, 2025
Campaign website: Curtis4Council.com

The Delaware Department of Elections lists Curtis Dauntell Linton as a qualified Democratic candidate for New Castle County Council District 4 and provides a link to his campaign website.

New Castle County Council District 4 is located predominantly within the City of Wilmington.

The district includes communities in and around central, northern, eastern, and western Wilmington. Because political boundaries do not always follow neighborhood lines, the most reliable way to determine whether you live in District 4 is to check your address using an official district map or voter-information tool.

New Castle County provides both an official District 4 map and a “Who Represents Me?” address tool.

The next District 4 councilmember will vote on decisions that affect both District 4 and the county as a whole.

New Castle County controls many of the land-use and development rules that affect what housing can be built, where it can be built, and how much it costs.

The next councilmember may consider questions such as:

• What kinds of homes should be permitted in different areas?
• How can vacant and underused properties be returned to productive use?
• How should the county encourage affordable housing?
• How can new housing be added without displacing current residents?
• Who should pay for the infrastructure required by new development?

Large data-center proposals have raised questions about electricity demand, water use, noise, pollution, infrastructure, setbacks, taxation, and the long-term effects on nearby communities.

County government has an important role in determining:

• Where data centers may be located
• How close they may be to homes
• What noise and environmental protections apply
• How infrastructure costs are handled
• What financial protections are required for closure or abandonment
• How residents participate in the approval process

New growth can produce jobs, housing, and tax revenue. It can also require new roads, utilities, emergency services, stormwater infrastructure, and long-term maintenance.

County Council must decide whether proposed development creates enough lasting public value to cover the costs it places on the county and its residents.

County Council approves the county budget and makes choices about taxes, spending, staffing, and services.

These decisions affect:

• Public safety
• Libraries
• Parks
• Paramedic services
• Land-use administration
• Code enforcement
• Infrastructure
• Community programs
• County employees

District 4 contains parks, waterways, wooded areas, neighborhood green spaces, and land facing development pressure.

The next councilmember will help determine how the county balances development with:

• Open-space preservation
• Stormwater management
• Tree protection
• Water quality
• Flooding
• Public access to parks and trails
• Environmental impacts on nearby communities

Many important county decisions are technical and can be difficult for residents to follow.

The next councilmember will influence:

• How early residents are informed about major proposals
• How clearly legislation is explained
• Whether supporting records are readily available
• How public comments are considered
• Whether residents have meaningful input before decisions are effectively final

September 15, 2026

The Democratic nominee for New Castle County Council District 4 will be selected in the primary election.

Early voting is expected to begin before Election Day. Confirm exact dates, hours, and locations with the Delaware Department of Elections before voting.

November 3, 2026

The winner of the Democratic primary may advance to the general election, depending on whether other parties nominate candidates for the office.

Election information can change. Voters should confirm registration status, voting locations, early-voting details, and absentee-voting requirements through the Delaware Department of Elections.

Check Voter Registration

Find Voting Information

Request an Absentee Ballot

To participate in Delaware’s Democratic primary, a voter generally must:

• Be registered to vote
• Be registered as a Democrat
• Reside within New Castle County Council District 4

Voters should use the Delaware Department of Elections’ voter portal to confirm their registration, party affiliation, district, and polling information.

Check My Voter Record

Voters may find it useful to consider:

• What experience has prepared each candidate for County Council?
• What are their positions on the major issues facing the county?
• Have they explained how their proposals would work?
• Who funds their campaign?
• What organizations and public officials have endorsed them?
• What have they said in public meetings, interviews, and campaign materials?
• Do their stated positions match their public record?
• How accessible and transparent have they been with voters?

This election guide presents the basic structure of the race. A separate candidate-comparison page will examine documented positions, campaign finance, public comments, and other available records.

The primary is scheduled for September 15, 2026.

The qualified Democratic candidates are Helena M. Creamer, Jason Hoover, and Curtis Dauntell Linton.

Penrose Hollins currently represents District 4 on New Castle County Council.

New Castle County councilmembers serve four-year terms.

No. District 4 includes a large portion of Wilmington, but political boundaries do not perfectly follow city or neighborhood boundaries. Voters should confirm their district using an address lookup.

No. This page is published by the Committee To Elect Jason Hoover 2026. Official election information should always be verified with the Delaware Department of Elections.

Use these sources to confirm election information:

• Delaware Department of Elections candidate list
• Delaware voter-registration and polling-place portal
• New Castle County Council website
• Official New Castle County Council District 4 map
• New Castle County “Who Represents Me?” tool
• Candidate campaign websites
• Delaware campaign-finance reporting system

Candidate filings and election details may change. This page should be reviewed regularly and updated when new official information becomes available.

Last reviewed: July 17, 2026

This guide is published by the Committee To Elect Jason Hoover 2026 to help District 4 residents understand the election and find relevant public records.

Candidate names, ballot status, election dates, and official responsibilities are drawn from government sources. Candidate descriptions should be based on their own websites, public statements, government records, and other clearly identified sources.

Corrections or additional public records may be submitted to the campaign.