Peter Schwartzkopf

Peter Schwartzkopf
Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives
In office
January 8, 2013 – June 30, 2023
Preceded byRobert Gilligan
Succeeded byValerie Longhurst
Majority Leader of the Delaware House of Representatives
In office
January 13, 2009 – January 8, 2013
Preceded byRichard C. Cathcart
Succeeded byValerie Longhurst
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
November 6, 2002 – November 5, 2024
Preceded byRichard DiLiberto
Succeeded byClaire Snyder-Hall
Personal details
Born (1955-01-15) January 15, 1955 (age 69)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationDelaware Technical Community College
Wilmington University (BA)

Peter C. Schwartzkopf (born January 15, 1955) is an American politician and former Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the 14th district from 2002 to 2024.[1] His district covers Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, and Dewey Beach in Sussex County. Prior to his election to the House, he was a state police officer.[2]

He served as Majority Leader of the House from 2009 to 2013 before being elected Speaker of the House in 2013.[1] He stepped down from his role as speaker in June 2024 and was replaced by Valerie Longhurst.[3]

In 2023, Schwartzkopf announced his intention to not seek reelection in the following year.[3] He subsequently endorsed former state auditor Kathy McGuiness to take his seat representing the 14th district.[4] Schwartzkopf is a longtime friend of McGuiness, who was forced to resign as auditor in 2022 after her criminal conviction for misdemeanor conflict of interest, a charge which Schwartkopf described as "bogus" in his endorsement.[2][4] McGuiness subsequently lost the primary election to Claire Snyder-Hall, who was elected to fill the seat in the general election.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Representative Peter C. Schwartzkopf". Delaware General Assembly.
  2. ^ a b Barrish, Cris (July 25, 2022). "Delaware House speaker won't join effort to oust auditor, calls it 'political theater'". WHYY-FM.
  3. ^ a b Shull, Bill; Steele, Melissa (July 25, 2023). "Schwartzkopf announces retirement from office". Cape Gazette.
  4. ^ a b Barrish, Cris (May 9, 2024). "A Delaware auditor was convicted of corruption. Now she's running for state House". WHYY-FM.
  5. ^ Steele, Melissa (November 5, 2024). "Snyder-Hall tops Simpler to win District 14 seat". Cape Gazette.