Delaware County Democratic Committee names new chair

The Delaware County Democratic Committee named a new chair at its recent reorganization convention.

Cheryl Grosso, a Newtown Township supervisor and an Incident and Problem Manager for Leidos, was elected by approximately 400 committee people to serve as the head of the county Democratic Committee for a four-year term.

"I'm very grateful and honored for the role," she said, noting the vision they all share.

In her acceptance speech, Grosso shared why she wanted this role.

"The reason I chose to run for chair," she said, "is because I care about Delaware County and the communities we call home. I care about the people who live here. I care about good government and that we never lose sight of who we are here to serve."

As of May's primary, there were 202,449 registered Democrats in the county, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Grosso made a promise to her fellow committee people as their leader.

"That's what I will do as your chair: show up, work hard and lead with purpose," she said. "I will support our committees, our volunteers, our candidates, and our elected officials. I will stand up for our values, defend good government, and work every day to build a stronger Democratic Party for Delaware County."

With a full Democratic County Council, Grosso said Democrats bear the responsibility of providing good government.

She pointed to accomplishments reached: the deprivatization of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility; the investment in the new emergency services radio system; the creation of a county health department during a pandemic; and the commitment to open space.

"Delaware County is the fifth largest county across Pennsylvania," Grosso said of the population. "I feel like we have the opportunity to be a leader and show what good government can do."

Grosso, 53, grew up in Broomall and is married with two daughters. She is a graduate of Cardinal O'Hara High School and has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Villanova University and a Masters of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Clinical Informatics from Excelsior College.

For four years, she served as a nurse in the Army, working on a Cardiac Care Unit at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

She explained that earlier in her nursing career, a lot of hospitals were moving to electronic records, so she learned how to do that in a reliable and safe way, eventually teaching others to do it.

"People needed IT competencies to navigate electronic systems," she said, adding that she eventually became more and more involved in the IT side of health care, which led her to a position at Catholic Health East in Newtown and then Leidos, a civil, defense, health and intelligence company.

Grosso also served on the Delaware County Planning Commission for four years, including two as its secretary.

Political history

Her road to county committee chair began with one phone call eight years ago.

In 2018, a friend who was involved in the local Democratic Party told her her precinct needed committee people.

"Count me in," Grosso responded. "How can I help?"

In 2019, she ran for Newtown Township supervisor with a friend, Paul Seligson.

Realizing the odds weren't in their favor at that time, they changed the definition of success for themselves.

"We were increasing Democratic turnout," she said in her acceptance speech. "We were helping county and judicial candidates. We were bringing new people into the party. We were creating relationships and strengthening an organization that would outlast any single election."

In 2021 and in 2023, she tried and lost again. In 2025, in a last-minute switch for a candidate who fell out, she put her name into the ring again.

This time, Grosso won.

And simultaneously, two other Democrats - Kate Byne on the Marple Newtown School Board and Cathy Wilt as township auditor - were elected in an area that is typically red.

In recent days, she also spoke with the Daily Times, and shared what that experience taught her, from both sides of the dais.

"I gained a real understanding that the candidates we recruit and elect directly affect the lives of people in Delaware County," Grosso said. "I care about Delaware County."

For her, government is about good governance and continuing to serve the residents of Delaware County.

"Running for supervisor was really a wonderful experience," Grosso said. "You have to earn the voters support and trust over time … I think that good government is maintaining good relationships with people."

Six months into her supervisor role, she said a lot of it continues to be listening to people, while also explaining how the law works.

In her acceptance speech, she spoke about the process.

"When we elect candidates who share our values, we don't just win elections," she said. "We change lives.

"The people we elect make decisions that shape whether families can afford healthcare, whether workers earn a fair wage, whether our children inherit a healthy environment, and whether every person is treated with dignity and respect," she said. "And moving forward means continuing the work of fighting for economic justice, racial justice, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights and equal opportunity for all.

"We build stronger communities when we listen to one another, learn from one another, and ensure that everyone has a seat at the table," she noted.

Grosso said everyone is needed to make an organization strong and that strong local committees are the backbone of a strong county party and that includes investing in the next generation of Democratic leaders.

"Leadership is often less about having all the answers and more about showing up consistently, bringing people together, and helping others succeed," she said.

Salute to predecessor

Grosso also thanked Colleen Guiney for her eight years' leadership to the Delaware County Democratic Committee.

"Colleen has always believed that if you're going to lead, you should leave things better than you found them," Grosso said, adding that Guiney didn't view Delaware County as a collection of separate municipalities but as a whole.

"If someone needed an ear or some advice, they would often call Colleen," she added. "And Colleen always picked up. She would listen, let them vent a little, offer some calm advice, and help them figure it out."

Grosso also spoke about the path ahead for her party.

"There will be hard and difficult times ahead," she said. "What is happening in America today makes that clear. We have an administration who doesn't care about the rules, who believe that might makes right, and who is breaking down our democracy one check and one balance at a time.

"We have reason for concern for ourselves and our neighbors," Grosso told her colleagues in her speech. "But we are Democrats and we are strong and we are brave and we are tough and we are kind. And we are up to the task."

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