Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, who is running for Delaware governor in 2024, announced Thursday evening that she is conducting an audit of her past campaign finance reports after possible issues have come to light.
About two weeks after launching her campaign, Hall-Long said in a written statement this audit came after she “requested a review of my past campaign finance reports and learned there may have been reporting issues that require attention.”
She said she is working with “independent campaign finance experts and forensic accountants to thoroughly audit the finances.” She said she released a statement after “friends and constituents have asked about the status of my campaign.”
Hall-Long did not, in her statement, say what years are under review. She has been in Delaware politics for decades, most recently serving as lieutenant governor since 2016.
Who runs her campaign finances?
Hall-Long’s husband, Dana Long, previously served as her campaign treasurer for her current fundraising committee, according to Delaware’s Campaign Finance Reporting System.
He is listed as serving in this role from Jan. 25, 2021 to May 2, 2023, according to the website.
Dana Long has in the past created major headaches for his wife’s various campaigns. In 2014, when she was a state senator, Hall-Long admitted that her husband stole Republican political signs, which were along a road in Middletown. This came to light after a video showed him carrying signs to his car.
He was also accused of “abuse of power” when he served as a housing inspector for New Castle County. Hall-Long defended her husband against these claims.
Allison Murray, of Rhode Island, has been in the treasurer role since May 2. She is a partner of CFO Compliance, a firm that works with Democratic candidates and specializes in “state and local candidate compliance”
BACKGROUNDLt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long announces 2024 run for governor. To face Matt Meyer in primary
Canceled campaign events
The candidate has canceled two fundraisers in recent weeks, according to emails obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal. One of these was supposed to be hosted this month by Gov. John Carney, who quickly endorsed her when she announced her candidacy.
It’s not immediately clear if her campaign is suspended and if she is currently accepting donations. She has not posted on her campaign Facebook page since Sept. 15.
“We look forward to the results of the audit and amending any reports as needed,” Hall-Long said. “I have always been strongly committed to public integrity and transparency, and will continue to uphold those values throughout this campaign.”
Hall-Long, as well as her campaign and lieutenant governor spokeswomen, could not be immediately reached for comment.
