Auditor of Accounts of Delaware · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Delaware auditor of accounts race?
Lydia York has the strongest record in the Delaware auditor of accounts race. Lydia York scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Lydia York's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. April Callaway (2 of 15 criteria) and Austin Cassidy (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
April Callaway
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 25
- Performance
- NR
Independent Party of Delaware
Austin Cassidy
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Lydia York
58 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
April Callaway
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Austin Cassidy
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Lydia York
- On the record2024
The University of Delaware disputed her dual employment audit, saying it is not subject to the Dual Employment Law and the findings about it are improper.
- Credit2025-09-03
Her office's special inquiry found budgeting, reporting and review failures behind Appoquinimink School District's deficits and criticized district leaders' delay in disclosing them.
Sources: WHYY, Sept. 3, 2025, Spotlight Delaware, Sept. 3, 2025
- Credit2025-04-16
Her office's FY2024 single audit of about $4.2 billion in federal funds found the state largely in compliance, with gaps noted in the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
- Credit2024
Issued the state's first Dual Employment Audit since 2017, finding agencies lacked records of overlapping state-paid hours; legislators then filed related bills.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
April Callaway. Not on the Delaware Department of Elections list of candidates assessed campaign finance penalties. No official finding found.
Source: Delaware Department of Elections, campaign finance penalty list
Austin Cassidy. Not on the Delaware Department of Elections list of candidates assessed campaign finance penalties. No official finding found.
Source: Delaware Department of Elections, campaign finance penalty list
Lydia York. Not on the Delaware Department of Elections list of candidates assessed campaign finance penalties. No official ethics finding found.
Source: Delaware Department of Elections, campaign finance penalty list
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. State auditor since January 2023 after a career as a CPA and attorney, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Lydia York
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. Took the oath as Auditor of Accounts in January 2023. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Lydia York
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. Market analyst working with small businesses; elected to a four-year term as a conservation district supervisor, where he served as treasurer and chairman, per his party's candidate page.
Lydia York. Auditor of Accounts since 2023 (first term ends January 2027). Earlier a CPA with Coopers & Lybrand and finance roles at Mellon Bank, Westinghouse Credit and Duquesne Light, and an attorney.
Source: Ballotpedia, Lydia York
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. States a general aim of making the auditor's office independent of party politics.
Lydia York. Sitting auditor with CPA, MBA and law credentials; sought and explained subpoena power for her office (House Bill 6) to speed audits.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Lydia York, Spotlight Delaware, Jan. 27, 2025
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
April Callaway. No questionnaire answered and no published issue positions found: Ballotpedia lists no completed 2026 survey and the ballot list shows no campaign website.
Sources: Ballotpedia, April Callaway, Delaware Department of Elections, candidate list
Austin Cassidy. Publishes a candidate page through his party. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Independent Party of Delaware, candidate page, Ballotpedia, Austin Cassidy
Lydia York. Explains her office's findings in interviews with Delaware news outlets. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey; her campaign site could not be opened.
Sources: Delaware Public Media, April 16, 2025, Ballotpedia, Lydia York
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. Wilmington homeowner; the ballot list gives a Wilmington residential address.
Sources: Delaware Department of Elections, candidate list, Independent Party of Delaware, candidate page
Lydia York. Delaware resident; WDEL described her in 2022 as a Pike Creek attorney who moved to Delaware from Pittsburgh. Years of residence not confirmed.
Source: WDEL, July 2022
Management
Can build and run an organization.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. Heads the Office of Auditor of Accounts; staff size not confirmed. Not on the state campaign finance penalty list.
Sources: Spotlight Delaware, Jan. 27, 2025, Delaware Department of Elections, campaign finance penalty list
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. Her office issued the first state Dual Employment Audit since 2017, which led to legislative proposals; a 2025 special inquiry on Appoquinimink School District's deficits; and the FY2024 single audit of about $4.2 billion in federal funds.
Sources: Delaware Public Media, Feb. 9, 2025, WHYY, Sept. 3, 2025, Delaware Public Media, April 16, 2025
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
April Callaway. No public record found.
Austin Cassidy. No public record found.
Lydia York. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Delaware auditor of accounts race?
Lydia York has the strongest record in the Delaware auditor of accounts race. Lydia York scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Lydia York's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. April Callaway (2 of 15 criteria) and Austin Cassidy (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Delaware auditor of accounts race in 2026?
April Callaway (Republican), Austin Cassidy (Independent Party of Delaware), Lydia York (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is April Callaway a good candidate for Auditor of Accounts?
April Callaway has public evidence on 2 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Austin Cassidy a good candidate for Auditor of Accounts?
Austin Cassidy has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Lydia York a good candidate for Auditor of Accounts?
Lydia York scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Delaware race scored, and the Delaware 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.