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Public Safety

Crime policy and public safety

Crime policy is a top issue for Republican voters nationally in the 2026 midterms, with the GOP holding a 14-point advantage over Democrats. In Delaware, debates over policing strategies, criminal justice reform, and public safety spending are highly relevant given ongoing concerns about violent crime in Wilmington and other communities.

What approach should Delaware take to reduce crime and ensure public safety?

How important is this to you?

Sources

Pew Research Center — https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/07/23/as-the-2026-midterms-approach-economy-is-front-and-center
Crime policy: 29% say the Democratic Party, 43% say the Republican Party, R+14 advantage.
USPollingData — https://uspollingdata.com/issues
Republicans hold a structural messaging advantage on immigration and crime.
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Redirect police funding toward community mental health, violence prevention, and social services.
  2. Reform sentencing laws, invest in reentry programs, and shift resources toward root-cause prevention.
  3. Balance law enforcement funding with targeted social investments and evidence-based criminal justice reform.
  4. Increase police presence and funding, toughen sentencing, and prioritize incarceration for repeat offenders.
  5. Dramatically expand law enforcement, reinstate mandatory minimums, and reject any reduction in police resources.