Jack Markell | |
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73rd Governor of Delaware | |
In office January 20, 2009 – January 17, 2017 |
|
Lieutenant | Matthew Denn |
Preceded by | Ruth Ann Minner |
Succeeded by | John Carney |
Chair of the National Governors Association | |
In office July 15, 2012 – August 4, 2013 |
|
Preceded by | Dave Heineman |
Succeeded by | Mary Fallin |
Treasurer of Delaware | |
In office January 16, 1999 – January 20, 2009 |
|
Governor |
Tom Carper Ruth Ann Minner |
Preceded by | Janet Rzewnicki |
Succeeded by | Velda Jones-Potter |
Personal details | |
Born |
Jack Alan Markell November 26, 1960 Newark, Delaware, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Carla Smathers |
Children | 2 |
Education |
Brown University (BA) University of Chicago (MBA) |
Signature | |
Website |
Government website Campaign website |
Jack Alan Markell (born November 26, 1960) is an American politician who was the 73rd Governor of Delaware from 2009 to 2017. Markell is a member of the Democratic Party.
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.