Dr. Adriana Leela Bohm, a longtime activist for equity and inclusion, former school board member, and college professor, has announced her candidacy to represent Delaware’s State Senate District 1.
Dr. Bohm is running for state office because she is deeply committed to advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for everyone in our community at this time of mounting political anxiety. Drawing on her lifelong experience as an educator, activist, and community organizer, she aims to address pressing issues such as protecting education from MAGA attacks, fighting to strengthen the economy – particularly jobs and housing – and defending the environment.
Her candidacy is motivated by a desire to bring bold leadership to the State Senate and to help revitalize the Democratic Party in response to the current political climate. “In all my work – in education, labor, community organizing – my focus has been coalition-building,” she said. “My teaching and my community involvements are born of the same interests: how to overcome society’s divisions (e.g., economic, educational, racial, gender-wise, etc.) in order to build the momentum necessary to be heard by the powers that be.”
Growing up in Wilmington, at 17, Bohm joined her mother on the Boxwood Road GM assembly line but was encouraged to pursue higher education. She earned a B.A. in sociology from the University of Delaware and later earned a Ph.D. in sociology from Temple University, where she helped organize the first graduate employee union in Pennsylvania.
For nearly 25 years, Bohm has served as a sociology professor at Delaware County Community College and is a tenured faculty member and National Education Association member. She and her husband Shane raised their two children in Wilmington, where both attended public schools. Their son is now at the University of Delaware and their daughter attends Howard University.
In addition to her teaching career, Bohm was elected twice to the Red Clay Consolidated School District Board, serving for ten years and working to expand wellness centers, strengthen equity policies, and keep schools safe and inclusive. Her work led to appointments on statewide education initiatives and recognition with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteer service.
Bohm has also dedicated herself to broader community service, serving on several boards including the ACLU of Delaware, Kentmere Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing, Inc., the Delaware Law Related Education Center, and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Bohm’s Legislative Priorities
1. Strengthening Public Education for All
Delaware’s educational system mustensure every child, regardless of zip code or income level, has the opportunity to thrive. Her priorities include:
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Universal pre-K for all children
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Free school meals to support student health and learning
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A more equitable, weighted funding formula
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No censorship of educational materials
“If we want education to work, we must create economic stability,” Dr. Bohm says. “Students learn best—and educators teach best—when basic needs are met.”
2. Building Economic Stability for Families
We need bold policies to uplift working families, including:
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Livable wages for all workers
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Safe, stable and accessible housing
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Access to reasonably priced groceries and utilities
“If we want our neighborhoods and community to be strong and thrive, we must create economic stability in these and other daring ways.”
3. Public Health, Environment, Infrastructure and Safety
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We need healthier neighborhoods to live in
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We need cleaner air, fewer emitted toxins, more pedestrian and bike friendly infrastructure, more green spaces, and more public health services, which all result in healthier people and neighborhoods
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No ICE harassment of immigrants and families
A New Era of Leadership
“An old political era has ended, and an unsettling one has arrived,” Dr. Bohm says. “This period requires a reborn Democratic Party fueled by new voices unafraid to think outside the box and develop bold strategies for implementing a politics rooted in the values of ‘We the People.’ This is the vision I will bring to Dover if elected.”
For more information, visit: www.adrianafordelaware.com
