Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez
Secretary of State
Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez
Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez was nominated by Governor Matt Meyer and sworn in as Delaware’s Secretary of State by the Delaware State Senate on January 28, 2025. Charuni is the third woman and the first person of color to hold the position.
As Secretary of State, Charuni leads the most diverse department with responsibilities in virtually every aspect of Delaware state government. The Secretary serves on the Board of Pardons, the Cash Management Policy Board, the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC), and the Port of Wilmington.
Prior to becoming Secretary of State, Charuni was General Manager of the New Castle County Department of Land Use. In that role, she oversaw the Department’s Development Services, Licensing, Inspections, and Code Enforcement divisions. She also shaped the legislative priorities of the Department with an emphasis on the creation of affordable housing and redevelopment along New Castle County’s corridors. She also shaped the Department’s policy priorities and community engagement efforts.
Charuni also previously served as Economic Development Director for New Castle County and created several small business initiatives using the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funding and wrote and won a grant from the Economic Development Administration. She was instrumental in negotiating New Castle County’s first-ever Pay for Success contract to expand home visiting to first-time mothers.
Before returning home to Delaware, Charuni was an attorney in Los Angeles and co-founded The McOsker Group, where she developed political strategies for a variety of hospitality, media, outdoor advertising, healthcare, and development clients. She also served in associate attorney roles with Sheppard Mullin and Glaser Weil, both in Los Angeles, where she focused on land use, government contracts, and regulatory matters in the region as well as pro bono casework. Charuni advocated for a broad range of economic development projects for her clients and worked closely with local elected officials and staff to shape municipal ordinances and public policy issues, including home-sharing, police reform, and other measures affecting the business and workforce environments.
Born and raised in Delaware, Charuni is a graduate of Tower Hill School and the Red Clay public schools. She holds a law degree from Emory University and BA/MA degrees in Economics from the University of Southern California. She currently resides in Pike Creek, where she grew up, and is married to her husband Marcos. They both enjoy exploring the many treasurers of Delaware and are always ready to cheer on her beloved Eagles.
Download Secretary Patibanda-Sanchez’s Official Bio
Download Secretary Patibanda-Sanchez’s Official Portrait
