Kathy Jennings

Kathy Jennings
Jennings in 2022
Kathy Jennings
Born	Kathleen Jennings 4 4, 1953
Birthplace	Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	Attorney General of Delaware
Education	University of Delaware (BA) Villanova University (JD)

Kathleen "Kathy" Jennings (born April 4, 1953) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 46th Attorney General of Delaware. A member of the Democratic Party, Jennings took office on January 1, 2019, succeeding Matthew Denn. Before her election as Attorney General, Jennings had a lengthy career in Delaware law enforcement and prosecution, including service as the state's Chief Deputy Attorney General and as the state prosecutor appointed by then-Attorney General Beau Biden. She also served in the New Castle County government before resigning to pursue the Attorney General's office. As Attorney General, Jennings has led or joined numerous multistate legal actions, including lawsuits against the federal government over matters ranging from the suspension of SNAP benefits to the freezing of education grants, and has overseen corporate regulatory reviews in Delaware's role as a major state of incorporation.

Early Life

Kathleen Jennings was born on April 4, 1953, in Wilmington, Delaware. She grew up in Delaware, where she would spend the entirety of her professional career in public service and law. Details about her family background and upbringing beyond her birthplace are limited in publicly available sources.

Education

Jennings earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware. She subsequently obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law. Both institutions are located in the Delaware Valley region, and Jennings's legal education at Villanova prepared her for a career focused on prosecution and public law in the state of Delaware.

Career

Early Prosecutorial Career

Jennings built a career spanning several decades in Delaware's legal and law enforcement community. She served as the Chief Deputy Attorney General of Delaware, one of the highest-ranking positions within the state's Department of Justice. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing the operations of the Attorney General's office and the prosecution of criminal cases across the state.

Jennings was later appointed as Delaware's state prosecutor by then-Attorney General Beau Biden, son of Joe Biden. The state prosecutor position is a key law enforcement role in Delaware, responsible for handling major criminal investigations and prosecutions that extend across county lines or involve public corruption. Jennings's appointment to this position reflected her standing within Delaware's legal community and her extensive experience in criminal prosecution.

New Castle County Service

Following her tenure as state prosecutor, Jennings served in the government of New Castle County, Delaware's most populous county. She held a position within the county administration before resigning on January 8, 2018, in anticipation of her campaign for Attorney General. Her departure from county government was reported by The News Journal as a precursor to her expected entry into the 2018 Attorney General's race, which had been widely anticipated given her background in prosecution and public service.

2018 Attorney General Campaign

Jennings formally entered the race for Attorney General of Delaware in 2018, following the decision by incumbent Matthew Denn not to seek re-election. She announced her candidacy after resigning from her New Castle County position, positioning herself as a candidate with deep experience in Delaware's criminal justice system.

During the campaign, Jennings discussed her priorities for the office and her vision for criminal justice in Delaware. In a candidate interview with Delaware Public Media, she outlined her platform and policy positions for the Attorney General's office. She emphasized her prosecutorial background and her familiarity with the state's law enforcement apparatus as qualifications for the office.

Jennings won the Democratic primary election on September 6, 2018, securing her party's nomination for Attorney General. The primary victory was significant in Delaware, a state where Democratic candidates for statewide office have historically held an advantage in general elections.

In the November 6, 2018, general election, Jennings won the race for Attorney General, opening an early lead over her opponent on election night. Her victory made her the 46th Attorney General of Delaware.

Attorney General of Delaware

Jennings was sworn into office as Attorney General on January 1, 2019, alongside other newly elected Delaware officials including State Auditor Kathy McGuiness and State Treasurer Colleen Davis. She succeeded Matthew Denn, who had served one term as Attorney General. During her tenure, Jennings has served under Governors John Carney, Bethany Hall-Long, and Matt Meyer.

Multistate Litigation and Federal Lawsuits

As Attorney General, Jennings has been active in joining and leading multistate coalitions in legal actions against the federal government, particularly during the Trump administration. These lawsuits have addressed a range of policy areas including public benefits, education funding, scientific research, and trade policy.

In October 2025, Jennings joined a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and three governors in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration over what the coalition alleged was the illegal suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The lawsuit charged that the federal government had unlawfully suspended food assistance benefits, which the coalition argued would harm vulnerable populations across participating states.

In May 2025, Jennings joined 15 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration over alleged illegal attempts to cut critical National Science Foundation and other scientific research and education programs. The lawsuit sought to stop what the attorneys general described as unlawful cuts to federally funded research and education initiatives.

In July 2025, Jennings joined a coalition of 25 states in suing the Trump administration over the freezing of $6.8 billion in education grants just weeks before the start of the school year. The coalition characterized the freeze as "unconstitutional" and "unlawful," arguing that the withholding of education funds threatened school districts and students across the country.

In February 2026, Jennings and Governor Matt Meyer responded to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down tariffs implemented by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Delaware had been among the states that challenged the tariffs, and both Jennings and Meyer praised the Court's decision to overturn them.

Corporate Oversight and Technology

Given Delaware's status as the state of incorporation for a large proportion of American corporations, the Attorney General's office plays a role in reviewing certain corporate transactions. In October 2025, Jennings announced that her office had completed its review of OpenAI's proposed corporate recapitalization and issued a "Statement of No Objection" to the proposal. The review was conducted as part of the Attorney General's regulatory oversight responsibilities relating to corporate governance matters in Delaware.

In September 2025, Jennings, along with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, met with and sent a letter to OpenAI regarding concerns about potential harm to children from the company's products and services. The letter stated that harm to children from AI technology "will not be tolerated" and reflected growing concern among state attorneys general about the safety implications of emerging artificial intelligence products.

Legislative Initiatives

In February 2026, Jennings disclosed that her office had drafted a bill to address loitering laws in Delaware. The proposed legislation prompted questions and pushback from state lawmakers, who sought clarification on the bill's scope and intent. The revelation that the Attorney General's office had drafted the legislation sparked debate in the Delaware General Assembly about the appropriate role of the Attorney General in the legislative process.

Personal Life

Jennings has spent the majority of her life and career in the state of Delaware, having been born in Wilmington and educated at the University of Delaware before attending law school at Villanova University in neighboring Pennsylvania. She has maintained a long-standing connection to the Delaware legal and political community through her decades of service in prosecution and public office. Additional details about her personal life beyond her professional career are limited in publicly available sources.