New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer Kathy Jennings resigned her county post on Monday to prepare for a campaign for Delaware attorney general.
Jennings plans to "formally announce" her campaign in the coming weeks. Timothy Mullaney, another former Department of Justice and county government official, and Attorney Thomas Neuberger have also announced they will seek the office.
In August, Attorney General Matt Denn said he will not seek re-election this fall. At the time, he said he was "ready for a change."
Jennings had a two-decade career in the Delaware Department of Justice before joining New Castle County government a year ago.
"There is a lot of important work to be done: reducing gun violence, combating the opioid crisis, eliminating racial inequality in our justice system and protecting the rights of our residents from consumer fraud and civil rights abuses," Jennings said in a written statement.
Jennings, a Democrat, was one of the top officials under Denn and former District Attorney Beau Biden. As a state prosecutor, she oversaw all criminal prosecutions and supervised a staff of more than 250 people.
She also previously served as chief deputy attorney general, the office's second-in-command and established the consumer protection division.
Under County Executive Matt Meyer, Jennings was the top administrator in county government with a salary was $150,000.
"I am sorry to lose such an effective and knowledgeable leader," Meyer said in a written statement.