# Colin Bonini

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{{short description|American politician (born 1965)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name         = Colin Bonini
| image        = Colin Bonini.jpg
| state_senate = Delaware
| district     = [16th](/source/Delaware's_16th_Senate_district)
| term_start   = November 9, 1994
| term_end     = November 9, 2022
| predecessor  = William Torbert
| successor    = [Eric Buckson](/source/Eric_Buckson)
| birth_name   = Colin Rafferty Marie Jude Bonini
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1965|4|14}}
| birth_place  = [Stanford, California](/source/Stanford%2C_California), U.S.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023|reason=}}
| death_date   = 
| death_place  = 
| party        = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
| spouse       = {{marriage|Melissa Harrington|2001}}
| education    = [Wesley College](/source/Wesley_College_(Delaware)) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))<br>[University of Delaware](/source/University_of_Delaware) ([MPA](/source/Master_of_Public_Administration))
}}
'''Colin Rafferty Marie Jude Bonini''' (born April 14, 1965) is an American politician and a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) former member of the [Delaware Senate](/source/Delaware_Senate), where he represented the [16th District](/source/Delaware's_16th_Senate_district) from 1994 to 2022.

==Education==

Bonini received his [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) from [Wesley College](/source/Wesley_College%2C_Delaware) in 1991. He received a [Master of Public Administration](/source/Master_of_Public_Administration) from the [University of Delaware](/source/University_of_Delaware) in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://legis.delaware.gov/AssemblyMember/151/Bonini |title = Senator Colin Bonini (R) - Delaware General Assembly}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/5728/colin-bonini |title = The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart}}</ref> While in college, he worked for [United States Senator](/source/United_States_Senate) [Bill Roth](/source/William_Roth) and the [United States Department of State](/source/United_States_Department_of_State) in [New Delhi](/source/New_Delhi), [India](/source/India).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=Colin Bonini For Delaware Governor |url=https://firststateupdate.com/2020/08/meet-the-candidate-series-colin-bonini-for-delaware-governor/ |work=First State Update |date=3 August 2020}}</ref>

==Political career==

He was elected in 1994 to represent the 16th District in the Delaware Senate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Colin_Bonini |title=Colin Bonini |website=[Ballotpedia](/source/Ballotpedia) |accessdate=February 16, 2019}}</ref> The district covers part of southern and eastern [Kent County](/source/Kent_County%2C_Delaware) along with a small portion of adjacent [Sussex County](/source/Sussex_County%2C_Delaware). It includes the southern portions of [Dover](/source/Dover%2C_Delaware) around the [Dover Air Force Base](/source/Dover_Air_Force_Base) and the towns of [Frederica](/source/Frederica%2C_Delaware) and [Harrington](/source/Harrington%2C_Delaware).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate Districts |url=https://legis.delaware.gov/Senate/District |access-date=June 16, 2020 |publisher=Delaware General Assembly}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kent County 16th Senatorial District |url=https://elections.delaware.gov/maps/sd/2012/kent/16th_Sen_EDs.pdf |access-date=June 19, 2020 |publisher=Delaware General Assembly}}</ref>
left|thumb|Bonini with Wilmington Blue Rocks' mascot Rocky Bluewinkle
In [2010](/source/2010_Delaware_elections), Bonini unsuccessfully ran for [state treasurer](/source/Delaware_State_Treasurer), losing to Democrat [Chip Flowers](/source/Chipman_L._Flowers_Jr.). Flowers received 51 percent of the vote to defeat Bonini by 6,121 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect10/elect10_General/html/election.shtml |title=State of Delaware General Election Results |date=November 5, 2010 |publisher=Delaware Department of Elections |department=Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate=February 16, 2019 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175242/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect10/elect10_General/html/election.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Shortly after the [2014 elections](/source/2014_Delaware_elections), Bonini announced he would run for governor in the [2016 election](/source/2016_Delaware_gubernatorial_election) to fix "significant systemic and fundamental problems" in the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.delawareonline.com/story/firststatepolitics/2014/11/06/bonini-governor-2016-delaware-politics/18575637/ |title=Colin Bonini: 'I'm running for governor' |first=Jonathan |last=Starkey |newspaper=[The News Journal](/source/The_News_Journal) |date=November 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/2015/11/23/sen-colin-bonini-recommits-delaware-governor-campaign/76264080/ |title=Sen. Colin Bonini recommits to Delaware governor campaign |first=Jonathan |last=Starkey |newspaper=The News Journal |date=November 23, 2015}}</ref> Bonini competed with former [state trooper](/source/Delaware_State_Police) Lacey Lafferty in the Republican primary election, which he won with 70% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect16/elect16_primary/html/election.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922020522/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect16/elect16_primary/html/election.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 22, 2016|title= State of Delaware Primary Election Results |date= September 14, 2016 |publisher=Delaware Department of Elections |department=Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= February 16, 2019}}</ref> He lost to U.S. Congressman [John Carney](/source/John_Carney_(Delaware_politician)) in the general election, garnering less than 40% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect16/elect16_general/html/election.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Results |date= November 8, 2016 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= February 16, 2019 |archive-date= October 28, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181028141145/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect16/elect16_general/html/election.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> In 2020, Bonini again tried to run for governor but lost in the Republican primary to [Julianne Murray](/source/Julianne_Murray), earning less than 35% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://delawarestatenews.net/government/state-sen-bonini-running-for-governor-again/|title=Home - Bay to Bay News &#124; Bay to Bay News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elections.delaware.gov/results/html/index.shtml?electionId=PR2020#electionReport4|title = Delaware Election Results}}</ref> On September 13, 2022, Bonini was defeated in the Republican primary, finishing last place in a 3-way race.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-13 |title=Delaware Primary Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/09/13/us/elections/results-delaware.html |access-date=2022-09-14 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-14 |title=Buckson defeats incumbent Colin Bonini in District 16 race |url=https://www.wmdt.com/2022/09/buckson-defeats-incumbent-colin-bonini-in-district-16-race/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=47abc |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2024, Bonini announced he was running for the [Kent County](/source/Kent_County%2C_Delaware) [Register of Wills](/source/Probate_court) in 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.delawarepublic.org/politics-government/2023-10-24/former-state-senator-colin-bonini-run-for-kent-county-register-of-wills | title=Former State Senator Colin Bonini to run for Kent County Register of Wills | date=24 October 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://baytobaynews.com/daily-state-news/stories/longtime-state-sen-colin-bonini-running-for-kent-county-register-of-wills,121555 | title=Longtime state senator running for Kent County register of wills }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wgmd.com/colin-bonini-files-for-kent-county-register-of-wills/#:~:text=Former%20State%20Senator%20Colin%20Bonini,the%20people%20of%20Kent%20County | title=Colin Bonini Files for Kent County Register of Wills | date=12 July 2024 }}</ref> He won in the Republican primary elections for Kent County register of wills, defeating Susanne Whitney of Magnolia with 59.26% of the vote, 4,210 to 2,894. He received 3,431 machine votes, 523 early votes and 256 absentee votes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mace |first1=Ben |title=Kent County primary results: 2 incumbents fend off challengers |url=https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/10/kent-county-delaware-primary-results-two-incumbents-fend-off-challengers/75091204007/ |work=[The News Journal](/source/The_News_Journal) |date=September 11, 2024}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin no change
|title= 2010 Delaware State Treasurer election<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=643841 | title=Our Campaigns - DE State Treasurer Race - Nov 02, 2010 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [Chip Flowers](/source/Chipman_L._Flowers_Jr.)
  |votes      = 153,203
  |percentage = 51.03
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Colin Bonini
  |votes      = 147,031
  |percentage = 48.97
  }}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2016 Delaware gubernatorial election, Republican primary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/governor/delaware/|publisher=Politico|access-date=September 14, 2016|title=Delaware Election Results 2016: Governor Live Map by County, Real-Time Voting Updates}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Colin Bonini
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 21,150
| percentage = 69.88
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lacey Lafferty
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 9,115
| percentage = 30.12
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 30,265
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
|title= 2016 Delaware gubernatorial election<ref name="election_results">{{cite web|url=https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect16/elect16_general/html/election.shtml|title=State of Delaware General Election (Official Results)|publisher=State of Delaware Election Commissioner|access-date=November 16, 2016|archive-date=October 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028141145/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect16/elect16_general/html/election.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [John Carney](/source/John_Carney_(Delaware_politician))
  |votes      = 248,404
  |percentage = 58.34
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Colin Bonini
  |votes      = 166,852
  |percentage = 39.18
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Andrew Groff
  |votes      = 5,951
  |percentage = 1.39
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Sean Louis Goward
  |votes      = 4,577
  |percentage = 1.09
  }}
{{Election box total no change 
  | votes = 425,784
  | percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2020 Delaware gubernatorial election, Republican primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [Julianne Murray](/source/Julianne_Murray)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 22,819
| percentage = 41.15
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Colin Bonini
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 19,161
| percentage = 34.56
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [Bryant Richardson](/source/Bryant_Richardson)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,262
| percentage = 7.69
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Scott Walker
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 3,998
| percentage = 7.21
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Bosco
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 3,660
| percentage = 6.60
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Graham
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,547
| percentage = 2.79
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 55,447
| percentage = 100.00
}}
{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=2022 Delaware Senate 16th district election, Republican primary}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=[Eric Buckson](/source/Eric_Buckson)|votes=1,915|percentage=51.11%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Kim Petters|votes=1,017|percentage=27.14%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Colin Bonini (incumbent)|votes=815|percentage=21.75%}}{{Election box total no change|votes=3,747|percentage=100%}}{{Election box end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web|url=https://legis.delaware.gov/legislature.nsf/7f4f680c99e8e0d1852569c10055e9d4/dd6f40db63c8522b852569d8005369fa|title=Senator Colin R. J. Bonini|publisher=Delaware General Assembly}}
* {{cite web|url=https://boninifordelaware.com/|title=Colin Bonini|publisher=Official Campaign Website|access-date=2020-08-13|archive-date=2020-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812033832/https://boninifordelaware.com/|url-status=dead}}
* [https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/5728/colin-bonini Project Vote Smart – Senator Colin Bonini (DE)] profile

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-de-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=William Torbert}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [Delaware Senate](/source/Delaware_Senate)<br>from the [16th](/source/Delaware's_16th_Senate_district) district|years=1994–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=[Eric Buckson](/source/Eric_Buckson)}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Jeff Cragg}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) nominee for [Governor of Delaware](/source/List_of_governors_of_Delaware)|years=[2016](/source/2016_Delaware_gubernatorial_election)}}
{{s-aft|after=[Julianne Murray](/source/Julianne_Murray)}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonini, Colin R.J.}}
Category:1965 births
Category:Candidates in the 2016 United States elections
Category:Republican Party Delaware state senators
Category:American identical twins
Category:Living people
Category:People from Dover, Delaware
Category:People from Stanford, California
Category:American twins
Category:Wesley College (Delaware) alumni
Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States elections
Category:Identical twin males
Category:21st-century members of the Delaware General Assembly

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Colin Bonini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Bonini) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Bonini?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.