Jack Markell
Jack A. Markell (born November 26, 1960) is an American politician who is the 73rd and current Governor of Delaware. A member of the Democratic Party, Markell was first elected Governor in 2008 and was sworn in on January 20, 2009. Born in Newark, Delaware, Markell is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Chicago. Markell entered a career in business, working as a banker, consultant and senior manager for First Chicago Corporation, McKinsey & Company and Comcast Corporation. He also worked for Nextel Communications - a name that Markell coined - as the Senior Vice President for Corporate Development from 1989 to 1995. Entering a career in politics, Markell served three terms as the State Treasurer of Delaware from 1999 to 2009. After term-limited Governor Ruth Ann Minner was prevented from running for reelection, Markell announced his intention to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor. Markell defeated Lieutenant Governor of Delaware John Carney with 51% of the vote in the Democratic primary, and defeated Republican nominee, former Delaware Superior Court Judge William Swain Lee, with 67% of the vote in the general election; becoming Delaware's first Jewish governor. Markell was then elected to a second term, defeating Republican businessman Jeff Cragg in 2012, winning by a margin of over 40%, the largest margin in any race for governor in Delaware's history. As Governor, Markell served as the Chairperson to both the Democratic Governors Association, from 2010 to 2011, and the National Governors Association, from 2012 to 2013. His national profile as chair of both the DGA and the NGA, along with his landslide re-election bid and speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, have led some to believe he may seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2016.