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Delaware House of Representatives District 20

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Delaware House of Representatives District 20
Incumbent
Assumed office: August 6, 2025

Delaware House of Representatives District 20 is represented by Alonna Berry (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Delaware state representatives represented an average of 24,167 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 21,973 residents.


About the office

Members of the Delaware House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits.[1] Delaware legislators assume office ​the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November (the day after election day).[2][3]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article II, Section 3 of the Delaware Constitution states: "No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of twenty-four years, and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the State three years next preceding the day of his or her election, and the last year of that term an inhabitant of the Representative District in which he or she shall be chosen, unless he or she shall have been absent on the public business of the United States or of this State."[4]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[5]
SalaryPer diem
$50,678/yearNo per diem is paid.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Delaware General Assembly, the presiding officer of the house in which the vacancy happens must call for a special election within 10 days of the creation of the vacancy. The election must be called for no less than 30 days but no more than 35 days after the writ for the special election has been issued. The governor may issue a writ if the legislature is not in session.[6]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Delaware Code Ann. tit. 15, § 7101


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Delaware after the 2020 census

On November 2, 2021, Gov. John Carney (D) signed Senate Bill 199 into law, enacting the state's new House and Senate district lines.[7] The Delaware General Assembly previously approved the final House and Senate map proposals on November 1, 2021.[8] The Delaware House of Representatives voted 40-1 in favor of the maps with state Rep. Michael Smith (R) voting against it. The Delaware State Senate approved the maps along party lines with all 14 Democrats in favor and all seven Republicans against.[8] These maps took effect for Delaware's 2022 legislative elections.

How does redistricting in Delaware work? Because Delaware has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. The state legislature draws state legislative district lines. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.[9][10]

State law requires that state legislative districts be "insofar as possible, contiguous and bounded by roads, streams and other natural boundaries." Further, state law stipulates that district lines "may not be drawn to unduly favor any person or political party." Because these requirements are statutory, the legislature may amend them at its discretion.[9][10]

Delaware House of Representatives District 20
until November 8, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Delaware House of Representatives District 20
starting November 9, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2025

See also: Delaware state legislative special elections, 2025

A special election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 was called for August 5, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was July 11, 2025.[11]

The seat became vacant after Stell Selby (D) resigned due to health issues.[12]

General election

Special general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20

Alonna Berry defeated Nikki Miller in the special general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 on August 5, 2025.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Alonna Berry
Alonna Berry (D)
 
50.6
 
4,653
Nikki Miller (R)
 
49.3
 
4,536
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.0
 
4

Total votes: 9,193
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2024

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20

Incumbent Stell Selby defeated Nikki Miller in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Stell Selby
Stell Selby (D)
 
50.7
 
8,857
Nikki Miller (R)
 
49.3
 
8,612

Total votes: 17,469
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20

Incumbent Stell Selby defeated Brian Jenkins in the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 on September 10, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Stell Selby
Stell Selby
 
83.1
 
2,774
Brian Jenkins
 
16.9
 
564

Total votes: 3,338
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Nikki Miller advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20.

2022

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20

Stell Selby defeated Dallas Wingate in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Stell Selby
Stell Selby (D)
 
51.4
 
6,635
Dallas Wingate (R)
 
48.6
 
6,264

Total votes: 12,899
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Stell Selby advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Dallas Wingate advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20.

2020

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20

Incumbent Stephen Smyk defeated Lisa Truitt in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Stephen Smyk
Stephen Smyk (R)
 
89.3
 
12,883
Lisa Truitt (Independent) (Write-in)
 
10.7
 
1,541

Total votes: 14,424
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Stephen Smyk advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20.

2018

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20

Incumbent Stephen Smyk defeated John Bucchioni and Harry Smouse Jr. in the general election for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Stephen Smyk
Stephen Smyk (R)
 
56.1
 
8,187
Image of John Bucchioni
John Bucchioni (D) Candidate Connection
 
43.0
 
6,281
Harry Smouse Jr. (L)
 
0.9
 
134

Total votes: 14,602
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20

John Bucchioni advanced from the Democratic primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 on September 6, 2018.

Candidate
Image of John Bucchioni
John Bucchioni Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20

Incumbent Stephen Smyk advanced from the Republican primary for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 on September 6, 2018.

Candidate
Image of Stephen Smyk
Stephen Smyk

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Delaware House of Representatives 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 Stephen Smyk defeated Barbara Vaughan and Donald R. Ayotte in the Delaware House of Representatives District 20 general election.[13][14]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 20 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Stephen Smyk Incumbent 61.57% 9,209
     Democratic Barbara Vaughan 36.97% 5,529
     Independent Donald R. Ayotte 1.46% 218
Total Votes 14,956
Source: Delaware Department of Elections


Barbara Vaughan ran unopposed in the Delaware House of Representatives District 20 Democratic primary.[15][16][13]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 20 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Barbara Vaughan  (unopposed)


Incumbent Stephen Smyk ran unopposed in the Delaware House of Representatives District 20 Republican primary.[15][16][13]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 20 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Stephen Smyk Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Delaware House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 8, 2014. M. Marie Mayor was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Stephen T. Smyk was unopposed in the Republican primary. Smyk defeated Mayor and Donald R. Ayotte (I) in the general election.[17][18][19]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 20, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngStephen T. Smyk Incumbent 58.1% 5,473
     Democratic M. Marie Mayor 39.6% 3,737
     Independent Donald R. Ayotte 2.3% 217
Total Votes 9,427

2012

See also: Delaware House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Delaware House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on February 11, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 6, 2012. Stephen Smyk (R) defeated Marie Mayor (D) and Valerie Valeska in the general election. The candidates ran unopposed in the February 7 primary elections.[20] [21]

Delaware House of Representatives, District 20, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngStephen Smyk 53.2% 6,469
     Democratic M. Marie Mayor 46.8% 5,689
Total Votes 12,158

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Delaware House of Representatives District 20 raised a total of $919,843. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $31,719 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Delaware House of Representatives District 20
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $102,193 3 $34,064
2022 $86,682 2 $43,341
2020 $23,453 1 $23,453
2018 $67,095 2 $33,548
2016 $71,433 3 $23,811
2014 $90,862 3 $30,287
2012 $95,372 5 $19,074
2010 $65,844 2 $32,922
2008 $52,563 2 $26,282
2006 $122,685 3 $40,895
2004 $54,486 1 $54,486
2002 $42,800 1 $42,800
2000 $44,375 1 $44,375
Total $919,843 29 $31,719


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Delaware General Assembly," "Delaware House of Representatives," accessed December 16, 2013
  2. Delaware Constitution, "Article II, Section 3," accessed November 1, 2021
  3. Delaware Constitution, "Article II, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
  4. The Delaware Code Online, "Article II. Legislature - Section 3," accessed May 21, 2025
  5. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  6. Delaware Legislature, "Delaware Election Code," accessed May 22, 2014 (Statutes § 7101 and § 7104, Delaware Code)
  7. Delaware General Assembly, "Senate Bill 199," accessed Nov. 15, 2021
  8. 8.0 8.1 WGMD, "Redistricting Legislation Passes in Delaware – Waiting for Governor’s Signature," Nov. 1, 2021
  9. 9.0 9.1 All About Redistricting, "Delaware," accessed April 22, 2015
  10. 10.0 10.1 Delaware Code, "Title 29, Chapter 8," accessed April 22, 2015
  11. Delaware Public Media, "Date, candidates set for special election to fill vacant 20th District House seat," July 3, 2025
  12. ‘’News From The States’', "Rep. Parker Selby resigns after prolonged absence”, June 24, 2025
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 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
  14. Delaware Department of Elections, "General Election (Official Results)," accessed November 23, 2016
  15. 15.0 15.1 Delaware.gov, "Primary election candidates," accessed July 13, 2016
  16. 16.0 16.1 Delaware Department of Elections, Primary Election (Official Returns)," accessed September 22, 2016
  17. State of Delaware, "Official primary election candidate list," accessed July 10, 2014
  18. State of Delaware, "Official general election candidate list," accessed July 10, 2014
  19. State of Delaware, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
  20. Delaware Secretary of State, "2012 General Election," November 4, 2013
  21. Delaware Secretary of State, "2012 General Primary,” November 4, 2013


Current members of the Delaware House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Melissa Minor-Brown
Majority Leader:Kerri Harris
Minority Leader:Timothy Dukes
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
Sean Lynn (D)
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
Democratic Party (27)
Republican Party (14)