Michael N. Castle, a longtime Republican leader in Delaware who served two terms as governor and nine terms in Congress, passed away Thursday at the age of 86, according to his obituary from Chandler Funeral Home.
A Half-Century in Public Service
Castle’s political career spanned five decades. First elected to the Delaware House in 1966, he went on to serve in the state Senate, as lieutenant governor, and then governor from 1985 to 1992. That year, he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served until 2011.
In Congress, Castle became a senior Republican on the Education and the Workforce Committee and was a lead sponsor of President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act in 2001.
He also served on the Financial Services Committee, where he championed Delaware’s banking industry and spearheaded popular initiatives such as the 50-state quarters program and the $1 presidential coin series.
Senate Bid and Later Years
In 2010, Castle ran in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Joe Biden after he became vice president. Riding the wave of Tea Party sentiment, conservative challenger Christine O’Donnell defeated Castle in the primary, but lost the general election to Democrat Chris Coons.
Coons, who has held the seat since, praised Castle as a dignified statesman: “When we eventually ran against each other, I did my absolute best to run a respectful, positive, policy-based campaign.”
Remembered Across the Aisle
Democrat Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer ordered flags lowered in Castle’s honor, recalling his visits to every school in the state during his governorship. Even political rival Joe Biden remembered Castle fondly:
“Riding the train back and forth together to Washington for nearly two decades, I got to know Mike as a thoughtful and kind man — a colleague who became a true friend.”
Early Life and Career
A 6-foot-4 basketball standout in high school, Castle graduated from Hamilton College in 1961 and earned his law degree from Georgetown University. After a stint in private practice, he entered politics as a deputy attorney general at age 26.
Castle is remembered for his civility in politics, his advocacy for education, and his dedication to his home state of Delaware.
