David Sokola
1990 - Present
2026
34
David Sokola (Democratic Party) is a member of the Delaware State Senate, representing District 8. He assumed office on November 7, 1990. His current term ends on November 3, 2026.
The Delaware State Senate elected Sokola the president pro tempore, effective January 2021.[1][2] The president pro tempore presides over the Senate body in the absence of the Senate president, which in the case of Delaware is the lieutenant governor.
Sokola was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1955. He received a bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Delaware in 1973. Sokola worked as a steelworker, teacher, and lab technician, retiring from the last of the three in 2015.[2][3]
Sokola was elected to the state Senate in 1990. From 2006 to 2022, he was re-elected by an average of 31 percentage points. The closest election was in 2016, when he defeated Meredith Chapman (R) 50.82%-46.53%. As of April 2025, Sokola chaired the Senate Executive Committee and the Senate Legislative Council Committee.[2]
In 2021, Delaware Online's Sarah Gamard wrote that Sokola had been "friendly to progressive policies in recent years."[4] Gamard also wrote that Sokola's election as president pro tempore followed "[s]everal incoming progressive Democrats [usurping] longtime, moderate incumbents in the September [2020] primary election."[4]
Following his re-election as president pro tempore in 2022, Sokola said, "Whether it’s paid family and medical leave and higher wages or housing, child care and voting rights, the Senate Democratic Caucus is leading the way ... The growing size and diversity of our caucus is clear evidence that the voters want leaders who are accountable, passionate and willing to roll up their sleeves and fight for healthier communities, better schools and a state government truly focused on improving the lives of all Delawareans."[5]
Biography
David Sokola was born in Newark, Delaware, in 1955. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Delaware in 1973. Sokola previously worked as a steelworker, teacher, and lab technician.[2][3]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Sokola was assigned to the following committees:
- Corrections and Public Safety Committee
- Senate Education Committee
- Executive Committee, Chair
- Rules and Ethics Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
- Legislative Council Committee, Chair
2021-2022
Sokola was assigned to the following committees:
- Corrections and Public Safety Committee
- Senate Education Committee
- Executive Committee, Chair
- Rules and Ethics Committee, Vice-Chair
- Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
- Legislative Council Committee, Chair
2019-2020
Sokola was assigned to the following committees:
- Joint Committee on Capital Improvement, Chair
- Banking, Business, and Insurance Committee, Vice-Chair
- Senate Education Committee
- Capital Improvement Committee, Chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Banking, Business, and Insurance |
| • Capital Improvement, Chair |
| • Education, Chair |
| • Sunset |
| • Joint Committee on Capital Improvement, Chair |
| • Joint Sunset |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Sokola served on the following committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Administrative Services/Elections |
| • Banking and Business |
| • Bond, Chair |
| • Education, Chair |
| • Energy & Transit |
| • Insurance & Telecommunications |
| • Sunset |
| • Joint Committee on Capital Improvement, Chair |
| • Joint Sunset |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Sokola served on the following committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Administrative Services/Elections |
| • Banking |
| • Bond |
| • Children, Youth & Families |
| • Education, Chair |
| • Energy & Transit |
| • Insurance |
| • Public Safety |
| • Small Business |
| • Sunset |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sokola served on these committees:
| Delaware committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Administrative Services/Elections |
| • Bond |
| • Children, Youth & Families |
| • Education, Chair |
| • Insurance |
| • Public Safety |
| • Joint Committee on Capital Improvement |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Sokola served on these committees:[6]
| Delaware committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Administrative Services/Elections |
| • Banking |
| • Bond |
| • Education |
| • Insurance |
| • Public Safety |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Delaware State Senate District 8
Incumbent David Sokola defeated Victor J. Setting II in the general election for Delaware State Senate District 8 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | David Sokola (D) | 62.9 | 8,462 |
| Victor J. Setting II (R) | 37.1 | 4,998 | ||
| Total votes: 13,460 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent David Sokola advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware State Senate District 8.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Victor J. Setting II advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware State Senate District 8.
2020
See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Delaware State Senate District 8
Incumbent David Sokola won election in the general election for Delaware State Senate District 8 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Sokola (D) | 100.0 | 13,281 |
| Total votes: 13,281 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent David Sokola advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware State Senate District 8.
2016
- See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Delaware State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was July 12, 2016.
Incumbent David Sokola defeated Meredith Chapman and David Chandler in the Delaware State Senate District 8 general election.[7][8]
| Delaware State Senate, District 8 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  David Sokola Incumbent |
50.82% | 8,862 | |
| Republican | Meredith Chapman | 46.53% | 8,115 | |
| Green | David Chandler | 2.65% | 462 | |
| Total Votes | 17,439 | |||
| Source: Delaware Department of Elections | ||||
Incumbent David Sokola ran unopposed in the Delaware State Senate District 8 Democratic primary.[9][10][7]
| Delaware State Senate, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | David Sokola Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Meredith Chapman ran unopposed in the Delaware State Senate District 8 Republican primary.[9][10][7]
| Delaware State Senate, District 8 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Meredith Chapman (unopposed) | |
2012
- See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2012
Sokola ran for re-election in the 2012 election for Delaware State Senate District 8. Sokola ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 11, 2012 and defeated William Stritzinger in the general election on November 6, 2012.[11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | David Sokola Incumbent |
60.7% | 10,099 | |
| Republican | William Stritzinger | 39.3% | 6,535 | |
| Total Votes | 16,634 | |||
2010
- See also: Delaware State Senate elections, 2010
Sokola ran for re-election to the 8th District seat in 2010. He defeated A. Louis Saindon in the November 2, 2010, general election.[13]
| Delaware State Senate District 8 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | David Sokola Incumbent |
60.6% | 8,572 | |
| Republican | A. Louis Saindon | 39.4% | 5,583 | |
| Total Votes | 14,155 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Sokola won re-election to the Delaware State Senate from Delaware's 8th Senate District. Sokola defeated Michael Ramone (R) in the election. Sokola received 7,678 votes, while Ramone received 5,608 votes.[14] Sokola raised $126,957 for his campaign in 2008; Ramone raised $101,223.[15]
| Delaware State Senate, District 8 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| David Sokola (D)
|
7,678 | 57.8% | ||
| Michael Ramone | 5,608 | 42.2% | ||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
David Sokola did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
David Sokola did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Delaware scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 9 to June 30.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 10 to June 30. |
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 11 to June 30.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 12 to June 30.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Delaware State Legislature was in session from January 14 to June 30. |
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 8 through June 30.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 9 through June 30.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 10 through June 30. The legislature held a special session on July 2.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 12 through July 1.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 13 through June 30.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 14 through July 1.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Delaware General Assembly was in session from January 8 through July 1. Ballotpedia staff did not find any state legislative scorecards published for this state in 2013. If you are aware of one, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know. |
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Delaware Online, "Senate committees, assignments announced for 151st General Assembly," December 11, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Delaware Senate Democrats, "David P. Sokola," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vote Smart, "David Sokola's Biography," accessed April 23, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Delaware Online, "The Delaware General Assembly starts session Tuesday. What you need to know." January 11, 2021
- ↑ Newark Post, "Sokola, Townsend re-elected to Senate leadership positions," November 11, 2022
- ↑ Delaware Senate, "Committee Assignments," accessed March 20, 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Delaware.gov, "General election candidates," accessed September 27, 2016 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "glist16" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "glist16" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Delaware Department of Elections, "General Election (Official Results)," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Delaware.gov, "Primary election candidates," accessed July 13, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Delaware Department of Elections, Primary Election (Official Returns)," accessed September 22, 2016
- ↑ Delaware Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed July 13, 2012
- ↑ Delaware Department of Elections, "Official Primary Results," accessed March 20, 2014
- ↑ Delaware Elections Division, "Official 2010 Election results," accessed March 20, 2014
- ↑ Delaware Elections Division, "Official 2006 Election results," accessed March 20, 2014
- ↑ Follow The Money, "Campaign contributions," accessed March 20, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Delaware State Senate District 8 1990-Present |
Succeeded by - |
