Jeff Balk Resigns as Sussex County Democratic Party Chairperson

Sussex County, DE - Jeff Balk, the Chairperson of the Sussex County Democratic Party, has resigned. On October 26, 2025, at approximately 9:15 PM, Balk posted the following letter to the party's Facebook page. 

Balk was convicted of child sex crimes in 1988, having pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of three minors. He was sentenced to ten years in prison in Missouri.

Sussex County Democratic Chair Resigns

Today, I submitted my resignation as chair of the Sussex County Democratic Party. I am stepping down to ensure that I do not become a distraction to the candidates who are running in the 2026 cycle, a critical time for our county, state and country.

Over the past few years, we've made great strides in strengthening the Democratic voice and increasing turnout in Sussex County. Building on the foundation laid by my predecessor, we've seen success in campaigns for State Senate, State Representative, County Council, and most recently, in a special election victory.

I'm incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication of our local party chairs. There is still more to be done, and I have full confidence in their collective vision and leadership to continue moving us forward. I urge them all to continue the mission.

While I wish my resignation came under different circumstances, I remain a proud Democrat, and I look forward to finding ways to continue supporting Sussex Dems and achieving the progress that is possible when Democrats stand up for their values.

Jeff Balk

Disclosure: Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.