Case Study: 2017 Delaware County, PA Council

Brian Zidek & Kevin Madden

Stanford Campaigns’ research was integral in helping Democrats get elected in Delaware County Council races for the first time in 140 years.

In 2017, Brian Zidek and Kevin Madden, both first-time candidates, ran for Delaware County Council in Pennsylvania. No Democrat had ever been popularly elected at the county level there in 140 years. They were running against incumbent Dave White, a local elected official for nearly 20 years, and John Perfetti, a retired former longtime magistrate judge.

In addition to helping prepare our candidates to defend their wealth and extensive business record, we helped craft the narrative that Dave White’s contracting company was raking in millions of dollars in taxpayer contracts and that White’s votes to raise taxes numerous times did not mean better services for citizens. Our message resonated and both Madden and Zidek were elected.