Republican candidate Chuck Welch has officially withdrawn from the Attorney General race amid health concerns.
In an interview Tuesday morning with TV Delmarva’s Rob Petree, Welch confirmed speculation and rumors that he was dropping out of the race due to health concerns related to his diabetes.
“We thought we could keep it under control,” Welch said referring to approval he got from his doctor prior to entering the race. “During the race, the lifestyle you’re leading, you’re up and down the state, your schedule’s off, you got odd hours, and things like that, my sugar kept climbing, and finally last week my doctor said ‘look, it’s time to face it, we’ve tried different medications, it’s not working, and it’s getting to the point where your numbers are high enough and it’s been long enough that it’s really going to start affecting your health.”
Welch said he sat down with his family and made the tough decision to withdraw from the race.
“After we talked it over, we just thought that staying healthy is more important than winning a campaign,” Welch said. “The most disappointing thing for me is the individuals I talked to who are disappointed about the fact that I’m no longer in the race. It’s a case that, it’s just a personal decision we had to make, and I’m sorry for their disappointment, but everybody has been very understanding and I appreciate that.”
When asked if he would throw his support behind his opponent, Julianne Murray, who following this news is now running unopposed for the Republican nomination, Welch was reluctant to give his endorsement.
“I can tell you that she [Murray] and I agree a lot on a lot of the issues, I just thought I was better prepared to go forward and run the office,” Welch said. “I’m not ready to endorse anybody at this time, I’m going to take some time off and think about the big picture. I’ll probably help with some local campaigns, and maybe later on I will but I’m not endorsing anybody at the current moment.”
Welch was born and raised in Delaware. He is a graduate of William Penn High School, the University of Delaware, and the Villanova University School of Law. He has been a member of the Bar of the Delaware Supreme Court for over 35 years. He started his legal career as a Deputy Attorney General, followed by a period of time in private practice where he engaged in a diverse general practice, including work as a criminal defense counsel and as an attorney for the Delaware House of Representatives.
As of this time, Julianne Murray is running unopposed against incumbent Democratic Attorney General Kathy Jennings.
