Sussex County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Balk resigned after massive pressure, following his 1980s convictions for sex crimes against minors resurfacing. After initially resisting calls to resign, Balk stepped down to avoid distracting 2026 candidates.
Shockingly, local Sussex Democrats defended him as reformed and key to recent electoral gains, emphasizing second chances. Trying to take back the narrative, state leaders and House Democrats prioritized survivors’ dignity and party integrity. Republicans expressed outrage over the scandal.
Explaining his decision to resign in a letter, Jeff Balk, the disgraced Democrat, said, “I am stepping down to ensure that I do not become a distraction to the candidates who are running in the 2026 cycle, a critical time for our county, state, and country.”
The State House of Representatives Democratic Leadership, including Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris, and Majority Whip Ed Osienski, issued a statement in response to the scandal. “As Democrats, we believe in the possibility of growth and reform of offenders, but second chances can’t come at the expense of survivors who are still living with the pain of what was done to them,” they wrote.
Continuing their shameful letter, the Democrats called for him to step down before he posted his decision. “…It’s time for [Balk] to step down so we can uphold the dignity and safety of survivors, the integrity of the party, and the trust of our community,” party officials said.
Adding their own condemnation, Sussex Democrats penned a letter to Delaware Democratic Party Chair Evelyn Brady. “He is a model citizen and an example of what people who commit serious offenses in their earlier lives can achieve if they work hard and are given a fair shot by society,” the bizarre statement read.
Fighting back, Daniel Willis, the Sussex County GOP Chair, wrote a thundering denunciation of the Democrats who stood alongside this sickening criminal. “When 2026 arrives, voters should remember exactly who stood up for victims and who stood with a convicted abuser,” she declared.
"*" indicates required fields
Building on her last point, she added, “The Sussex County Republican Party will continue to fight for justice, accountability, and leadership rooted in moral character. Jeff Balk may be gone, but the culture that defended him still sits in power.”
Users on social media were outraged. “Southern Democrats in Delaware were protecting a child predator… I’m glad the pressure mounted to where public officials joined in the calls for Jeff Balk to resign. Get this: His petition to be removed from the s offender registry was DENIED, yet, he’s NOT on that registry. He owns a…. CANDY STORE!” wrote one citizen.
Similarly offended, the official state GOP added, “According to Spotlight Delaware, Balk pleaded guilty to 17 felonies for sexually abusing underage boys, served seven years in prison, and has now been allowed to rise to power within the Delaware Democrat Party. Even more disturbing, local Democrat officials have issued statements defending him, citing “second chances” and political performance as justification for keeping him in charge.”