DOVER, Del. — Democrat Matt Meyer defeated Republican Michael Ramone in the race for Delaware governor, ABC News projects.

Meyer is currently the chief executive of Delaware’s most populous county and will now become chief executive of state government.

His victory Tuesday extends Democrats’ decades-long winning streak in gubernatorial elections.

Republicans last won the governorship in 1988. Ramone, the Republican minority leader in the House of Representatives, argued that Delawareans would be better served by restoring political balance to state government. ‘State. In addition to the executive branch, Democrats also control both houses of the General Assembly.

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Democrats hope to extend their decades-long hold on Delaware’s governorship in Tuesday’s election, while the Republican candidate hopes for an upset that would counter Democratic control of the state Legislature by placing a member of the opposing party at the top of the state executive. desk.

The contest pits Democrat Matt Meyer against the GOP’s Michael Ramone.

Meyer currently serves as the chief executive of New Castle County, Delaware’s most populous county. Ramone is a businessman and entrepreneur who currently serves as House Minority Leader in the General Assembly.

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Democrats control both houses of the Legislature and have held the governorship since 1989.

Ramone argued that Delawareans would be better served by restoring political balance to state government. Known for his willingness to work across party lines, he was re-elected several times in a district where Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans. His reputation for bipartisanship could help him attract moderate Democrats and unaffiliated voters, but he faces an uphill battle in solid-blue Delaware, where voter registration numbers favor Democrats.

Both Meyer and Ramone focused heavily on education during the gubernatorial campaign. Meyer, a former middle school math teacher, says his priorities include increased funding for public schools, particularly for low-income students, students with disabilities and English language learners. He also called for universal kindergarten and higher salaries for public school teachers.

Ramone supports performance-based incentives for Delaware teachers, expanded access to voucher programs and more money going to classrooms rather than school administration.

Ramone, who was elected to the state House in 2008, became the GOP gubernatorial nominee after winning 72 percent of the vote in a three-way GOP primary.

Meyer advanced to the general election against Ramone after defeating Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and former state Environment Secretary Collin O’Mara in a Democratic primary. Meyer, who received 47 percent of the vote, led all candidates in fundraising, but he was also helped by a scandal involving Hall-Long’s campaign finances and reports that his office staff was used for non-governmental work.

Incumbent Democratic Gov. John Carney, who is barred by law from running for a third term, appeared poised to become mayor of Wilmington, Delaware’s largest city, after winning a Democratic primary in September.

Polling stations are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.