John Carney knows Delaware. 

He was lieutenant governor from 2001-2009, represented the state in Congress for six years (2011-17), served as governor from 2017-2025 and is now starting a new chapter as mayor of Wilmington.

So, what has he learned in decades of public service at the city, state and federal level? And what is his vision to revitalize Wilmington?

At the end of his two terms as governor, he touted a record of job creation, budgetary prudence and increased investments in public education — while also speaking bluntly about the large share of students not performing at grade level.

His tenure as governor also concluded amid uncertainty in Delaware’s future as the king of business incorporation. After a Delaware court struck down Elon Musk’s Tesla pay package in late 2024, the world’s richest man put the state on blast. Musk alleged an “activist” judiciary, relocated his companies and urged others to do the same. 

Shortly after, Dropbox, Tripadvisor and Roblox made moves to reincorporate elsewhere, and Meta and Walmart are among others considering a ‘DExit.’ 

Under new Gov. Matt Meyer, the state swiftly passed a law in March that Meyer says will prevent relocations by strengthening the state’s commitment to clarity, consistency and fairness in its business laws.

Opponents say the changes yield too much power to business executives at the expense of minority stakeholders and could further give corporations reason to leave the state.

If there were an exodus of top businesses, it would undermine Delaware’s state revenue — about a third of which comes from incorporations. This would call into question the long-term viability of popular policies such as zero sales tax and a relatively low effective tax rate on real estate.

During this Studio 2 ‘On the Road’ event, we’ll break down this and several other pressing issues with John Carney.

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*If you have any questions, please contact Kevin McCorry at [email protected]