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Delaware Attorney General election, 2018

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2022
2014
Delaware Attorney General
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline:July 10, 2018
Primary: September 6, 2018
General: November 6, 2018

Pre-election incumbent(s):
Matthew Denn (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Delaware
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Delaware
executive elections
Attorney general

Treasurer
Auditor

Delaware held an election forattorney general onNovember 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was July 10, 2018.

Democratic PartyFor more information about the Democratic primary,click here.
Republican PartyFor more information about the Republican primary,click here.
For more information about attorney general elections in 2018,click here.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the election, theattorney general of Delaware wasMatthew Denn (D), who was first elected in2014. Denn announced on August 28, 2017, that he would not seek re-election in 2018, leaving the seat open.
  • In 2018,Delaware was under aDemocratic trifecta. It had held this status since 2009, when theDemocratic Party gained a majority in theDelaware House of Representatives. Delaware was also aDemocratic triplex.
  • TheDemocratic candidate won Delaware in each of the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016. The widest margin of victory wasBarack Obama's 25 percent margin in 2008, while the narrowest wasJohn Kerry's 7.6 percent margin in 2004.

  • Candidates and election results

    General election

    General election for Attorney General of Delaware

    Kathy Jennings defeatedBernard Pepukayi in the general election for Attorney General of Delaware on November 6, 2018.

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    Image of Kathy Jennings
    Kathy Jennings (D)
     
    61.3
     
    218,351
    Bernard Pepukayi (R)
     
    38.7
     
    137,730

    Ballotpedia Logo

    There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

    Total votes: 356,081
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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    Democratic primary election

    Democratic primary for Attorney General of Delaware

    Kathy Jennings defeatedLaKresha Roberts,Chris Johnson, andTim Mullaney in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Delaware on September 6, 2018.

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    Image of Kathy Jennings
    Kathy Jennings
     
    56.6
     
    46,038
    LaKresha Roberts
     
    21.6
     
    17,584
    Chris Johnson
     
    15.0
     
    12,195
    Tim Mullaney
     
    6.8
     
    5,513

    Ballotpedia Logo

    There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

    Total votes: 81,330
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

    Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

    Republican primary election

    Republican primary for Attorney General of Delaware

    Bernard Pepukayi advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Delaware on September 6, 2018.


    Ballotpedia Logo

    There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

    Candidate Connection = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

    Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

    Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

    State overview

    Partisan control

    This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Delaware heading into the 2018 elections.

    Congressional delegation

    State executives

    State legislature

    • Democrats controlled both chambers of theDelaware General Assembly. They had a 25-16 majority in the state House and a 11-10 majority in the state Senate.

    Trifecta status

    • Delaware was aDemocratic trifecta, meaning that the Democratic Party controlled the office of the governor, the state House, and the state Senate.

    2018 elections

    See also:Delaware elections, 2018

    Delaware held elections for the following positions in 2018:

    Demographics

    Demographic data for Delaware
     DelawareU.S.
    Total population:944,076316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):1,9493,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:69.4%73.6%
    Black/African American:21.6%12.6%
    Asian:3.6%5.1%
    Native American:0.3%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
    Two or more:2.7%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:8.7%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:88.4%86.7%
    College graduation rate:30%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$60,509$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:13.9%11.3%
    Source:U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Clickhere for more information on the 2020 census andhere for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Delaware.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere.

    As of July 2016, Delaware's three largest cities were Wilmington (pop. est. 71,106), Dover (pop. est. 37,538), and Newark (pop. est. 33,858).[1][2]

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Delaware from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from theDelaware State Department of Elections.

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Delaware every year from 2000 to 2016.

    Election results (President of the United States), Delaware 2000-2016
    YearFirst-place candidateFirst-place candidate votes (%)Second-place candidateSecond-place candidate votes (%)Margin of victory (%)
    2016Democratic PartyHillary Clinton53.4%Republican PartyDonald Trump41.9%11.5%
    2012Democratic PartyBarack Obama58.6%Republican PartyMitt Romney40.0%18.6%
    2008Democratic PartyBarack Obama61.9%Republican PartyJohn McCain36.9%25.0%
    2004Democratic PartyJohn Kerry53.4%Republican PartyGeorge W. Bush45.7%7.7%
    2000Democratic PartyAl Gore54.9%Republican PartyGeorge W. Bush41.9%13.0%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results ofU.S. Senate races in Delaware from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), Delaware 2000-2016
    YearFirst-place candidateFirst-place candidate votes (%)Second-place candidateSecond-place candidate votes (%)Margin of victory (%)
    2014Democratic PartyChris Coons55.8%Republican PartyKevin Wade42.2%13.6%
    2012Democratic PartyThomas Carper66.4%Republican PartyKevin Wade29.0%37.4%
    2010Democratic PartyChris Coons56.6%Republican PartyChristine O'Donnell40.0%16.6%
    2008Democratic PartyJoe Biden64.7%Republican PartyChristine O'Donnell35.3%29.4%
    2006Democratic PartyTom Carper67.1%Republican Party Jan Ting27.4%39.7%
    2002Democratic PartyJoe Biden58.2%Republican Party Raymond Clatworthy40.8%17.4%
    2000Democratic PartyTom Carper55.5%Republican Party William Roth43.7%11.8%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Delaware.

    Election results (Governor), Delaware 2000-2016
    YearFirst-place candidateFirst-place candidate votes (%)Second-place candidateSecond-place candidate votes (%)Margin of victory (%)
    2016Democratic PartyJohn Carney58.3%Republican PartyColin Bonini39.2%19.9%
    2012Democratic PartyJack Markell69.3%Republican PartyJeff Cragg28.6%40.7%
    2008Democratic PartyJack Markell67.5%Republican Party William Swain Lee32.0%35.5%
    2004Democratic PartyRuth Ann Minner50.9%Republican Party William Swain Lee45.8%5.1%
    2000Democratic PartyRuth Ann Minner59.2%Republican Party John Burris39.7%19.5%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Delaware in theU.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, Delaware 2000-2016
    YearRepublicansRepublicans (%)DemocratsDemocrats (%)Balance of power
    2016Democratic Party1100%Republican Party00%D+1
    2014Democratic Party1100%Republican Party00%D+1
    2012Democratic Party1100%Republican Party00%D+1
    2010Democratic Party1100%Republican Party00%D+1
    2008Republican Party1100%Democratic Party00%R+1
    2006Republican Party1100%Democratic Party00%R+1
    2004Republican Party1100%Democratic Party00%R+1
    2002Republican Party1100%Democratic Party00%R+1
    2000Republican Party1100%Democratic Party00%R+1

    Trifectas, 1992-2017

    Astate government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

    Delaware Party Control: 1992-2025
    Seventeen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year92939495969798990001020304050607080910111213141516171819202122232425
    GovernorRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
    SenateDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
    HouseRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD


    Pivot Counties

    See also:Pivot Counties by state

    One of three Delaware counties—33.33 percent—is aPivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and forDonald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

    Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
    CountyTrump margin of victory in 2016Obama margin of victory in 2012Obama margin of victory in 2008
    Kent County, Delaware4.87%4.94%9.81%

    In the 2016 presidential election,Hillary Clinton (D) won Delaware with 53.4 percent of the vote.Donald Trump (R) received 41.9 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Delaware voted Republican 53.33 percent of the time and Democratic 46.67 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Delaware voted Democratic all five times.

    Presidential results by legislative district

    The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Delaware. Click[show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled byDaily Kos.[3][4]

    In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 28 out of 41 state House districts in Delaware with an average margin of victory of 35.2 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 27 out of 41 state House districts in Delaware with an average margin of victory of 31.7 points. Clinton won three districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
    In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 13 out of 41 state House districts in Delaware with an average margin of victory of 12.8 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 14 out of 41 state House districts in Delaware with an average margin of victory of 22.3 points. Trump won one district controlled by a Democrat heading into the 2018 elections.
    2016 presidential results by state House district
    DistrictObamaRomney2012 MarginClintonTrump2016 MarginParty Control
    190.63%8.63%D+8287.34%9.62%D+77.7D
    292.21%7.06%D+85.188.72%8.32%D+80.4D
    388.46%10.52%D+77.984.86%12.35%D+72.5D
    459.01%39.33%D+19.762.94%31.39%D+31.6D
    583.11%15.90%D+67.278.51%18.23%D+60.3D
    660.77%37.50%D+23.360.56%34.04%D+26.5D
    764.21%34.08%D+30.161.76%32.89%D+28.9D
    860.00%38.72%D+21.354.75%40.34%D+14.4D
    951.62%47.03%D+4.646.45%48.21%R+1.8R
    1060.49%37.91%D+22.658.39%36.45%D+21.9D
    1144.38%53.62%R+9.234.07%60.29%R+26.2R
    1248.50%50.01%R+1.553.04%41.44%D+11.6R
    1369.88%28.51%D+41.459.74%34.95%D+24.8D
    1450.16%48.86%D+1.350.08%46.81%D+3.3D
    1566.88%31.72%D+35.261.89%33.61%D+28.3D
    1686.44%12.71%D+73.779.69%17.08%D+62.6D
    1775.35%23.44%D+51.967.45%28.15%D+39.3D
    1873.77%24.71%D+49.166.80%28.17%D+38.6D
    1963.86%34.20%D+29.754.36%40.20%D+14.2D
    2046.68%52.12%R+5.442.84%52.98%R+10.1R
    2158.87%39.52%D+19.353.84%40.20%D+13.6R
    2250.65%47.97%D+2.751.53%43.26%D+8.3R
    2359.53%38.25%D+21.359.93%33.33%D+26.6D
    2467.87%30.39%D+37.559.76%34.09%D+25.7D
    2563.13%34.55%D+28.659.44%34.18%D+25.3D
    2673.18%25.66%D+47.567.83%27.17%D+40.7D
    2761.16%37.36%D+23.856.68%38.07%D+18.6D
    2861.47%37.05%D+24.452.86%42.09%D+10.8D
    2952.73%46.05%D+6.747.38%48.10%R+0.7D
    3038.81%59.30%R+20.528.57%66.67%R+38.1R
    3163.67%35.03%D+28.661.48%32.66%D+28.8D
    3263.41%35.03%D+28.457.28%36.72%D+20.6D
    3345.67%53.08%R+7.437.57%57.12%R+19.5R
    3446.85%51.75%R+4.942.61%51.87%R+9.3R
    3539.90%58.62%R+18.732.25%64.32%R+32.1R
    3643.06%55.73%R+12.736.10%59.53%R+23.4R
    3746.44%52.42%R+637.67%59.00%R+21.3R
    3836.85%62.07%R+25.232.78%64.18%R+31.4R
    3941.34%57.27%R+15.934.48%61.33%R+26.9R
    4037.36%61.31%R+23.926.76%69.12%R+42.4R
    4142.12%56.63%R+14.533.75%62.59%R+28.8R
    Total58.61%39.98%D+18.653.35%41.92%D+11.4-
    Source:Daily Kos


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    See also

    Delaware government:

    Elections:

    Ballotpedia exclusives:

    External links

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