Matthew Albright

The News Journal

Joseph Lanzendorfer, a Libertarian who wants to legalize marijuana and push the federal government out of local schools, has announced that he will run in the crucial special election for the 10th Senate District.

The seat covers the Middletown and Glasgow areas. It is occupied by Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, a Democrat who will become lieutenant governor on Jan. 17.

MORE: Learn about the Democrat running for this seat

MORE: Learn about the Republican running for this seat

The race could have a huge impact on statewide politics — if Republicans can win the seat, they would become the majority party in the Senate for the first time in more than 40 years.

In a news release announcing his candidacy, Lanzendorfer called for lowering taxes and eliminating useless regulations. He also called for giving more decision-making power in schools to local educators.

"The federal government should not have the influence on our education community that they have today," he said.

Lanzendorfer argues the war on drugs has caused prison costs to skyrocket. He argued taxation of cannabis and hemp could provide more school funding.

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"Locking people up and ruining their lives over a plant is just ridiculous," he said.

Lanzendorfer grew up in Newark and graduated from the University of Delaware. He works for a "large financial services corporation," the release says.

The Republican seeking the seat is John Marino, a real estate agent who has twice come within 2 percentage points of winning in the district. The Democrat is Stephanie Hansen, an environmental lawyer and former New Castle County Council president.

Third-party candidates generally do not win many votes in Delaware. But if Lanzendorfer were to break that trend and win, it would lead to an unusual balance of power in the state Senate — Democrats and Republicans would be tied at 10 seats each.

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@delawareonline.com, (302) 324-2428 or on Twitter @TNJ_malbright