Politics in the US state of Delaware
Delaware is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.[ 1] Government of Delaware is composed of the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch.[ 2] Governor ,Lieutenant Governor ,Attorney General , State Treasurer,Auditor of Accounts , andInsurance Commissioner .[ 3] state legislature is made of theDelaware House of Representatives andDelaware Senate .[ 4] [ 5]
Additionally, the state sends twosenators and onerepresentative to theUnited States Congress .[ 3] at-large .[ 6] [ 7] 2024 House of Representatives election , the state's representative isSarah McBride , the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.[ 8]
In the 1960s and 1970s the state's politics were dominated by the Republican party.[ 9] [ 10] The News Journal Joe Biden in the1972 United States Senate election .[ 9]
Year Executive offices General Assembly United States Congress Electoral votes [ a] Governor Attorney General Treasurer Auditor State Senate State House U.S. Senator (Class I) U.S. Senator (Class II) U.S. House 1777 John McKinly (NP/F) [ b] [ c] — no elections held Thomas McKean (NP/DR) [ b] [ d] George Read (NP/F) [ b] [ e] 1778 Gunning Bedford Jr. (F) [ 11] [ 12] Caesar Rodney (NP/DR) [ b] 1779 1780 1781 John Dickinson (NP/F) [ b] [ f] 1782 John Cook (NP/F) [ b] [ e] 1783 Nicholas Van Dyke (NP/DR) [ b] 1784 1785 1786 Joshua Clayton (NP/F) Thomas Collins (NP/F) [ b] [ g] 1787 1788 1789 George Read (PA) [ h] Richard Bassett (AA) John Vining (PA) Washington /Adams (I) Y Jehu Davis (NP/F) [ b] [ i] Joshua Clayton (NP/F) [ b] 1790 Nicholas Ridgely 1791 Richard Bassett (PA) 1792 1793 Joshua Clayton (F) John Vining (PA) [ h] John Patten (AA) 1794 vacant Henry Latimer (PA) [ j] 1795 Henry Latimer (PA) Henry Latimer (F) [ h] John Vining (F) John Patten(DR) 1796 Gunning Bedford Sr. (F) [ g] Adams /Pinckney (F) Y 1797 F majority 14F, 7DR James A. Bayard (F) Daniel Rogers (F) [ i] 1798 F majority F majority Joshua Clayton (F) [ g] 1799 Richard Bassett (F) [ k] F majority F majority William H. Wells (F) [ h] 1800 F majority 14F, 7DR Adams /Pinckney (F) N 1801 Nicholas Van Dyke (F) 6F, 3DR Samuel White (F) [ g] James Sykes (F) [ e] 1802 David Hall (DR) 1803 Caesar Augustus Rodney (DR) 1804 Pinckney /King (F) N 1805 Nathaniel Mitchell (F) James A. Bayard (F) [ h] James M. Broom (F) [ h] 1806 Outerbridge Horsey (F) 1807 vacant 1808 George Truitt (F) Henry Molleston (F) Nicholas Van Dyke (F) 1809 1810 Thomas Clayton (F) Outerbridge Horsey (F) 1811 Joseph Haslet (DR) Henry M. Ridgely (F) 1812 Clinton /Ingersoll (F) N 1813 William H. Wells (F) 2F 1814 Daniel Rodney (F) 1815 James Rogers 1816 7F, 2DR King /Howard (F) N 1817 John Clark (F) Nicholas Van Dyke (F) 1F, 1DR 1818 6F, 3DR 1819 1820 Henry Molleston (F) [ l] Monroe /Tompkins (DR) Y Jacob Stout (F) [ m] 1821 John Collins (DR) [ g] vacant [ n] 1822 5DR, 4F 11DR, 10F Cesar Augustus Rodney (DR) [ h] 2F Caleb Rodney (F) [ i] 1823 Joseph Haslet (DR) [ g] 5DR, 4F 13DR, 8F vacant vacant [ n] Louis McLane (F) Charles Thomas (DR) [ i] 1824 Samuel Paynter (F) 5F, 4DR 14F, 7DR Thomas Clayton (F) Nicholas Van Dyke (F) Jackson /Calhoun (DR) N 1825 13F, 8DR Thomas Clayton (NR) Nicholas Van Dyke (NR) [ g] Louis McLane (J) [ h] 1826 14DR, 7F Daniel Rodney (NR) [ h] 1827 Charles Polk Jr. (F) 5DR, 4F 13F, 8DR Louis McLane (J) [ h] Henry M. Ridgely(J) vacant 1828 5A-J, 3J, 1? 11A-J, 10J Kensey Johns Jr. (NR) Adams /Rush (NR) N 1829 5NR, 4D 14NR, 7D vacant John M. Clayton (NR) [ h] 1830 David Hazzard (NR) Robert Frame Arnold Naudain (NR) [ h] 1831 7NR, 2D 16NR, 5D John J. Milligan (NR) 1832 14NR, 7D Clay /Sergeant (NR) N 1833 Caleb P. Bennett (D) [ g] 1834 1835 James Rogers 6W, 3D 14W, 7D 1836 Harrison /Granger (W) N Charles Polk Jr. (W) [ i] Richard H. Bayard (NR) Thomas Clayton (NR) 1837 Cornelius P. Comegys (W) Richard H. Bayard (W) [ h] Thomas Clayton (W) John J. Milligan (W) 1838 1839 6D, 3W 13D, 8W Thomas Robinson Jr. (D) 1840 Edward W. Gilpin vacant Harrison /Tyler (W) Y 1841 William B. Cooper (W) 5D, 4W 21W Richard H. Bayard (W) George B. Rodney (W) 1842 1843 7W, 2D 14W, 7D 1844 Clay /Frelinghuysen (W) N 1845 Thomas Stockton (W) [ g] 6W, 3D John M. Clayton (W) [ o] John W. Houston (W) 1846 Joseph Maull (W) [ g] [ i] William Temple (W) [ i] 1847 William Tharp (D) 5W, 4D 11W, 10D Presley Spruance (W) 1848 Taylor /Fillmore (W) Y 1849 6W, 3D 13W, 7D, 1? John Wales (W) 1850 Willard Saulsbury Sr. (D) 1851 William H. H. Ross (D) 5D, 4W 14D, 7W James A. Bayard Jr. (D) George R. Riddle (D) 1852 Pierce /King (D) Y 1853 13W, 8D John M. Clayton (W) 1854 1855 Peter F. Causey (KN) George P. Fisher (R) 6KN, 2D, 1W 19KN, 2D Elisha D. Cullen (KN) 1856 Buchanan /Breckinridge (D) Y 1857 5D, 4O 21D Joseph P. Comegys (W) William G. Whiteley (D) 1858 1859 William Burton (D) 7D, 2O 14D, 7O Willard Saulsbury Sr. (D) 1860 Alfred Wooten Breckinridge /Lane (SD) N 1861 5D, 4R 11R, 10D George P. Fisher (U) 1862 1863 William Cannon (R) [ g] 14D, 7R William Temple (D) [ g] 1864 Jacob Moore (R) George R. Riddle (D) Nathaniel B. Smithers (R) McClellan /Pendleton (D) N 1865 6D, 3R John A. Nicholson (D) Gove Saulsbury (D) [ p] 1866 1867 15D, 6R James A. Bayard Jr. (D) 1868 Seymour /Blair (D) N 1869 Charles B. Lore (D) 9D 21D Thomas F. Bayard (D) [ o] Benjamin T. Biggs (D) 1870 1871 James Ponder (D) Eli Saulsbury (D) 1872 Grant /Wilson (R) Y 1873 8D, 1R James R. Lofland (R) 1874 John B. Penington (D) 1875 John P. Cochran (D) James Williams (D) 1876 Tilden /Hendricks (D) N 1877 9D 1878 1879 John W. Hall (D) George Gray (D) Edward L. Martin (D) 1880 Hancock /English (D) N 1881 8D, 1R 14D, 7R 1882 1883 Charles C. Stockley (D) 7D, 2R 21D Charles B. Lore (D) 1884 Cleveland /Hendricks (D) Y 1885 John H. Paynter 9D George Gray (D) 1886 1887 Benjamin T. Biggs (D) John Biggs John B. Penington (D) 1888 Cleveland /Thurman (D) N 1889 5R, 4D 14R, 7D Anthony Higgins (R) 1890 1891 Robert J. Reynolds (D) 7D, 2R John W. Causey (D) 1892 John R. Nicholson Cleveland /Stevenson (D) Y 1893 5D, 4R 21D 1894 1895 Joshua H. Marvil (R) [ g] Robert C. White Beniah L. Lewis 15R, 6D vacant [ n] Jonathan S. Willis (R) William T. Watson (D) [ i] 1896 McKinley /Hobart (R) Y 1897 Ebe W. Tunnell (D) 20D, 1R Richard R. Kenney (D) L. Irving Handy (D) 1898 1899 L. Heisler Ball (R) John A. Lingo 9D, 8R 22R, 13D vacant [ n] John H. Hoffecker (R) [ g] 1900 Isaac N. Fooks McKinley /Roosevelt (R) Y Walter O. Hoffecker (R) Year Governor Attorney General Treasurer Auditor State Senate State House U.S. Senator (Class I) U.S. Senator (Class II) U.S. House Electoral votes Executive offices General Assembly United States Congress
Year Executive offices General Assembly United States Congress Electoral votes Governor Lt. Governor Attorney Treasurer Auditor Insurance State State U.S. Senator U.S. Senator U.S. House 1901 John Hunn (R) Philip L. Cannon (R) Herbert H. Ward Martin B. Burris Prunal B. Norman George W. Marshall 9R, 8D 20R, 15D vacant[ n] vacant [ n] L. Heisler Ball (R) 1902 1903 10R, 7D L. Heisler Ball (R) J. Frank Allee (R) Henry A. Houston (D) 1904 Roosevelt /Fairbanks (R) Y 1905 Preston Lea (R) Isaac T. Parker (R) Robert H. Richards 21R, 14D vacant [ n] Hiram R. Burton (R) 1906 1907 11R, 6D 25R, 10D Henry A. du Pont (R) Harry A. Richardson (R) 1908 Taft /Sherman (R) Y 1909 Simeon S. Pennewill (R) John M. Mendinhall (R) Andrew C. Gray 18D, 17R William H. Heald (R) 1910 1911 9R, 8D 22R, 13D 1912 Wilson /Marshall (D) Y 1913 Charles R. Miller (R) Colen Ferguson (D) Josiah O. Wolcott (D) 21D, 14R Willard Saulsbury Jr. (D) Franklin Brockson (D) 1914 1915 19R, 16D Thomas W. Miller (R) 1916 Hughes /Fairbanks (R) N 1917 John G. Townsend Jr. (R) Lewis E. Eliason (D) David J. Reinhardt 10R, 7D 19D, 16R Josiah O. Wolcott (D) [ q] Albert F. Polk (D) 1918 1919 23R, 12D L. Heisler Ball (R) Caleb R. Layton (R) 1920 Harding /Coolidge (R) Y 1921 William D. Denney (R) J. Danforth Bush (R) Sylvester D. Townsend Jr. 12R, 5D 18D, 17R T. Coleman du Pont (R) [ r] 1922 1923 11R, 6D Thomas F. Bayard Jr. (D) William H. Boyce (D) 1924 Coolidge /Dawes (R) Y 1925 Robert P. Robinson (R) James H. Anderson (R) Clarence A. Southerland 9D, 8R 22R, 13D T. Coleman du Pont (R) [ s] Robert G. Houston (R) 1926 1927 Jesse S. Cooper Jr. (D) 18R, 17D 1928 Hoover /Curtis (R) Y 1929 C. Douglass Buck (R) James H. Hazel (R) Reuben Satterthwaite Jr. George S. Williams (R) 9R, 8D 26R, 9D John G. Townsend Jr. (R) Daniel O. Hastings (R) [ r] 1930 1931 12R, 5D 22R, 13D 1932 Hoover /Curtis (R) N 1933 Roy F. Corley (R) Daniel J. Layton (R) 9R, 8D 22D, 13R Wilbur L. Adams (D) P. Warren Green (R) 1934 1935 Warren T. Moore(R) James H. Hazel(R) James Postles Hammond(R) 10R, 7D 23R, 12D J. George Stewart (R) 1936 Roosevelt /Garner (D) Y 1937 Richard McMullen (D) Edward W. Cooch (D) Ernest C. Blackstone(D) James W. Wise(D) 11R, 6D 21D, 14R James H. Hughes (D) William F. Allen (D) 1938 1939 James R. Morford (R) Fagan H. Simonton(R) Benjamin I. Shaw(R) William J. Swain(R) 20R, 15D George S. Williams (R) 1940 Roosevelt /Wallace (D) Y 1941 Walter W. Bacon (R) Isaac J. MacCollum (D) Peter S. Collins(D) Harrison M. Manning(D) 10R, 7D James M. Tunnell (D) Philip A. Traynor (D) 1942 1943 Clair J. Killoran (R) John S. Isaacs(R) Joseph M. Harrington(R) 24R, 11D C. Douglass Buck (R) Earle D. Willey (R) 1944 Roosevelt /Truman (D) Y 1945 Elbert N. Carvel (D) Jesse S. Cooper Jr.(D) Wilbur E. Jacobs(D) 11R, 6D 22R, 13D Philip A. Traynor(D) 1946 1947 Albert W. James (R) Benjamin F. Johnson(R) Benjamin I. Shaw(R) 24R, 11D John J. Williams (R) J. Caleb Boggs (R) 1948 Dewey /Warren (R) N 1949 Elbert N. Carvel(D) Alexis I. du Pont Bayard (D) Willard D. Boyce(D) James W. W. Baker(D) 9R, 8D 18R, 17D J. Allen Frear Jr. (D) 1950 1951 H. Albert Young (R) Ralph W. Emerson(R) G. Dan Enterline(R) William R. Murphy(R) 9D, 8R 19R, 16D 1952 Eisenhower /Nixon (R) Y 1953 J. Caleb Boggs(R) John W. Rollins (R) Clarence Collins Jr.(R) 10R, 7D 18R, 17D Herbert Warburton (R) 1954 1955 Joseph D. Craven (D) Howard H. Dickerson (D) Clifford E. Hall (D) Harry S. Smith (D) 12D, 5R 27D, 8R Harris McDowell (D) 1956 1957 David P. Buckson (R) Vera Davis (R) Dale E. Wheatley(R) 13D, 4R 19D, 16R Hal Haskell (R) 1958 1959 Januar D. Bove Jr. (R) Belle Everett(D) Ernest E. Killen(D) 11D, 6R 26D, 9R Harris McDowell (D) 1960 Kennedy /Johnson (D) Y 1961 Elbert N. Carvel (D) Eugene Lammot (D) 20D, 15R J. Caleb Boggs (R) 1962 1963 David P. Buckson (R) Robert Short (R) 10D, 7R 24D, 11R 1964 Johnson /Humphrey (D) Y 1965 Charles L. Terry Jr. (D) Sherman W. Tribbitt (D) Charles F. Moore(D) 13D, 5R 30D, 5R 1966 1967 Daniel Ross(R) George W. Cripps (R) 9R, 9D 23R, 12D William Roth (R) [ t] 1968 Nixon /Agnew (R) Y 1969 Russell W. Peterson (R) Eugene Bookhammer (R) 13R, 6D 26R, 13D 1970 1971 W. Laird Stabler Jr. (R) Emily Womach (D) 23R, 16D William Roth (R) Pete du Pont (R) 1972 1973 Sherman W. Tribbitt (D) Mary Jornlin (R) F. Earl McGinnes (D) 11R, 10D 21R, 20D Joe Biden (D) [ u] 1974 1975 Richard R. Wier Jr. (D) Richard T. Collins (R) 13D, 8R 25D, 16R 1976 Carter /Mondale (D) Y 1977 Pete du Pont (R) James D. McGinnis (D) Tom Carper (D) David H. Elliott (R) 26D, 15R Thomas B. Evans Jr. (R) 1978 1979 Richard S. Gebelein (R) 21D, 20R 1980 Reagan /Bush (R) Y 1981 Mike Castle (R) Thomas W. Spruance (R) 12D, 9R 25R, 16D 1982 1983 Charles Oberly (D) Janet Rzewnicki (R) Dennis Greenhouse (D) 13D, 8R 25D, 16R Tom Carper (D) 1984 1985 Mike Castle (R) S. B. Woo (D) David N. Levinson (D) 22R, 19D 1986 1987 1988 Bush /Quayle (R) Y 1989 Dale E. Wolf (R) Tom Wagner (R) 1990 1991 15D, 6R 24R, 17D 1992 Clinton /Gore (D) Y 1993 Tom Carper (D) [ v] Ruth Ann Minner (D) Donna Lee Williams (R) 22R, 19D Mike Castle (R) 1994 1995 M. Jane Brady (R) 12D, 9R 27R, 14D 1996 1997 12D, 9R 23R, 18D 1998 1999 Jack Markell (D) 13D, 8R 26R, 15D 2000 Gore /Lieberman (D) N 2001 Ruth Ann Minner (D) John Carney (D) Tom Carper (D) 2002 2003 29R, 12D 2004 Kerry /Edwards (D) N 2005 Matthew Denn (D) 26R, 15D 2006 Carl Danberg (D) 2007 Beau Biden (D) [ 12] [ 13] 23R, 18D 2008 Obama /Biden (D) Y 2009 Jack Markell (D) Matthew Denn (D) Velda Jones-Potter (D) [ r] Karen Weldin Stewart (D) 16D, 5R 24D, 17R Ted Kaufman [ 13] (D) [ w] 2010 15D, 6R[ x] Chris Coons (D) 2011 Chipman Flowers Jr. (D) 14D, 7R 26D, 15R John Carney (D) 2012 2013 13D, 8R 27D, 14R 2014 2015 vacant Matthew Denn (D) Ken Simpler (R) 12D, 9R 25D, 16R 2016 Clinton /Kaine (D) N 2017 John Carney (D) Bethany Hall-Long (D) Trinidad Navarro (D) 11D, 10R Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) 2018 2019 Kathy Jennings (D) Colleen Davis (D) Kathy McGuiness (D) [ y] 12D, 9R 26D, 15R 2020 Biden /Harris (D) Y 2021 14D, 7R 2022 Dennis Greenhouse (D) [ r] 2023 Lydia York (D) 15D, 6R 2024 Harris /Walz (D) N [ 15] 2025 Matt Meyer (D) [ 15] Kyle Evans Gay (D) 27D, 14R Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) [ 15] Sarah McBride (D) [ 15]
Key to partycolors andabbreviations for members of the U.S. Congress and other politicians or officials
^ In years in which a presidential election was not held, the table indicates the winner of the most recent election. ^a b c d e f g h i j President of Delaware[ 5] ^ Presidency ended after being captured by the British army during theRevolutionary War . ^ Succeeded to office upon the capture of McKinly and resigned upon the return ofGeorge Read . ^a b c Succeeded to office upon the resignation of his predecessor. ^ Resigned to accept election as president ofPennsylvania . ^a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Died in office. ^a b c d e f g h i j k l m Resigned. ^a b c d e f g h Succeeded to office upon the death of his predecessor. ^ Successfully contested Patten's election. ^ Resigned to accept appointment to U.S. District Court. ^ Died before taking office; never served as governor. ^ Assumed office upon the death of Governor-elect Molleston. ^a b c d e f g Legislature failed to elect a senator. ^a b Resigned to becomeUnited States Secretary of State . ^ Assumed office upon the death of Cannon, then was elected to office in his own right. ^ Resigned to become Chancellor of theDelaware Court of Chancery . ^a b c d Appointed to fill vacancy. ^ Resigned due to poor health. ^ Resigned December 31, 1970, to become a U.S. Senator. ^ Resigned after being electedVice President of the United States [ 13] ^ Resigned office on January 3, 2001, to begin term in the U.S. Senate, and was succeeded as governor by Ruth Ann Minner for the remaining 17 days of his term. ^ Appointed to fill the vacancy created by Biden's resignation.[ 13] ^ A special election occurred after the death of Sen.Thurman Adams Jr. (D) , who was succeeded by Joseph W. Booth(R) after the 2009 session, flipping the seat from Democratic to Republican.[ 14] ^ Resigned on October 19, 2022, after being convicted for corruption and conflict of interest. ^ "Census Regions and Divisions of the United States" (PDF) .United States Census Bureau . RetrievedMarch 19, 2025 .^ "Departments of Government Chapter 90C. Department of Technology and Information" .The Delaware Code Online . Retrieved2025-03-19 .^a b "Voting in Delaware" .Delaware.gov . Retrieved2025-03-19 .^ "Session Laws" .Delaware General Assembly . Retrieved2025-03-19 .^a b "Gov. John McKinly" .National Governors Association . RetrievedMarch 28, 2025 .^ "Delaware At-Large Congressional District Election Results" .The New York Times . 2024-11-12.ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved2025-03-19 .^ "How Our Laws Are Made - Congress.gov Resources" .Congress.gov . Retrieved2025-03-19 .^ Karni, Annie (2025-03-11)."Republican Refers to Transgender Member as a Man, Cutting Short a House Hearing" .The New York Times .ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved2025-03-19 . ^a b Golin, William B."How Joe Biden changed Delaware's — and America's — politics" .The News Journal . Retrieved2025-03-19 . ^ Corty, Susanne P.; Hanson, Joseph J. (November 4, 1982)."The Governor returns to bitter defeat" .The News Journal . Retrieved2025-03-19 – viaNewspapers.com . ^ "The Founding Fathers: Delaware" .National Archives and Records Administration . RetrievedMarch 28, 2025 .^a b "Delaware Former Attorneys General" .National Association of Attorneys General . RetrievedMarch 28, 2025 .^a b c d Mahtesian, Charles (2010-01-25)."Beau Biden declines Senate bid" .Politico . RetrievedMarch 28, 2025 . ^ http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/the-latest/2057-booth-wins-special-election [dead link ^a b c d "2024 Delaware Election Results" .Associated Press . RetrievedMarch 19, 2025 .
