Delaware lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2024
U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • Lt. Gov • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • All other local • How to run for office |
← 2020
|
Delaware Lieutenant Governor |
---|
Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
Election details |
Filing deadline: July 9, 2024 |
Primary: September 10, 2024 General: November 5, 2024 Pre-election incumbent(s): Bethany Hall-Long (D) |
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 2024 Impact of term limits in 2024 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2024 |
Delaware executive elections |
Governor |
Delaware held an election for lieutenant governor on November 5, 2024. The primary was September 10, 2024. The filing deadline was July 9, 2024.
Kyle Evans Gay won election in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.
For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:
- Delaware lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2024 (September 10 Democratic primary)
- Delaware lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2024 (September 10 Republican primary)
Candidates and election results
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
Kyle Evans Gay defeated Ruth Briggs King in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Kyle Evans Gay (D) ![]() | 55.2 | 272,828 |
Ruth Briggs King (R) ![]() | 44.8 | 221,256 |
Total votes: 494,084 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
Kyle Evans Gay defeated Sherry Dorsey Walker and Debbie Harrington in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Kyle Evans Gay ![]() | 48.2 | 40,638 |
![]() | Sherry Dorsey Walker | 36.8 | 31,035 | |
![]() | Debbie Harrington ![]() | 15.0 | 12,640 |
Total votes: 84,313 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Ruth Briggs King advanced from the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware.
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Hi, I’m Kyle, and I’m running to be Delaware’s 27th Lieutenant Governor. I’m a mom, an advocate, an attorney, and a State Senator. I was elected to represent Delaware’s 5th Senate District in 2020, flipping a 40-year Republican-held seat from red to blue. Since then, I’ve worked hard to advocate and pass legislation to promote the ideals I campaigned on, including abortion access, voting rights, gun safety, and investment in childcare and education. I’m proud of my record as a State Senator, and I’m now running for Lieutenant Governor to advance my work. If elected, I will continue to lead on legislation that will help expand abortion access, create an economy that works for everyone, invest in our schools and childcare, protect our state from the threats of climate change, and foster safer communities in Delaware."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware in 2024.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "Ruth Briggs King is the Republican candidate for Delaware’s next Lieutenant Governor. She previously served as the 37th Dist. Representative serving the district since a special election in 2009 until stepping aside in 2023. She now serves as a speaker as well as a consultant for not-for-profit organizations and her business, Workforce Solution Today, LLC. Ruth is a nurse and former educator who also worked banking & finance with an emphasis on leadership, organizational development, & strategic planning. Ruth is known for her honesty, straight forwardness, problem solving abilities and her focus on issues to get results. Ruth has received awards from a diverse range of groups including Elysian Magazine as a distinguished and inspiration woman, an award from the Ability Network of Delaware, and a National legislative award from Mental Health America Assn. She is also recognized as a Distinguished Legislator by the National Foundation of Women Legislators where she serves on the Board. In the Legislature, Ruth served on the most important committees in the Delaware Legislature including the House Judiciary, Health and Human Services, Public Safety & Homeland Security, Transportation, Land Use & Infrastructure, Veteran Affairs Committees as well as the Joint Finance Committee. Ruth also served on taskforces on cancer, behavioral health, long term care/ dementia, & the Delaware Healthy Women and Infants Taskforce. Learn more at ruthfordelaware.com"
This information was current as of the candidate's run for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware in 2024.
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Delaware
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Collapse all
|
Kyle Evans Gay (D)
Delaware has what it takes to be a national leader on gun violence prevention. If elected, I will strengthen the historic progress we’ve made on preventing senseless gun violence in our communities
We need to create an economy that works for Delawareans. If elected, I will continue to help lead legislation that promotes economic mobility for working parents, creates jobs equipped for our future, and supports our small and local businesses.
Ruth Briggs King (R)
2. Reducing Crime and its impact on all Delawareans. Violent crime has been affecting all areas of our state and the current leadership has not responded to this in fact. Ruth knows we need to put first things first in public safety. Delaware’s most vulnerable communities have now been subjected to rising gang violence & drug use. As a State Representative, Ruth pushed for funding to expand the Safe Streets Initiative that was implemented in Kent County. Ruth will also fight to address the increased thefts occurring to small businesses to reduce costs to consumers & make our towns safer for business. Reducing recidivism is also key to these goals. Ruth envisions a Delaware with the safest workplaces, schools, communities in America.
3. Delaware ranked 34th in the nation for business in a 2024 CNBC report getting failing grades in costs of doing business & innovation. This must change. As a successful businesswoman, Ruth understands the issues impacting Main Street. Small businesses cannot develop because they lack the appropriate infrastructure. She fought to reduce government regulation & ease the burden on entrepreneurs. By removing regulatory roadblocks, Ruth will push legislation that allows businesses - large & small - to flourish. Quick state project approvals are necessary to build a strong economy. Ruth fully supports vocational education, believing that trade work helping local businesses grow & thrive. Learn more at ruthfordelaware.com

Kyle Evans Gay (D)
No one should face barriers to voting and participating in our democracy. That’s why I led on legislation for automatic voter registration and voting by mail.
I’ve been a leading advocate for access to reproductive healthcare and access to medical services in the state for all.Ruth Briggs King (R)

Kyle Evans Gay (D)
Ruth Briggs King (R)
Ruth Briggs King (R)
One of my Democratic colleagues in the Legislature, as I was leaving the House, said on the floor the following:
“In my 12 years as a legislator, including my time on City Council, you were -by far - the best legislator I’ve ever been in the room with. I marveled at your preparedness, your thoughtfulness, whether you were for it or against it, you not only read the bill; you understood the bill and you sought to make sure that it was in line with what we were here for to ensure we’re doing things for our constituents and on behalf of our state. You are a great legislator. You show the best in ourselves, and you help us to be better legislators.”
After hearing this, I don’t know that I have ever received a better endorsement for my career in public service and I definitely cherish these sentiments as highly as any of the awards and recognitions that I have ever received.Ruth Briggs King (R)
Ruth Briggs King (R)

Kyle Evans Gay (D)

Kyle Evans Gay (D)

Kyle Evans Gay (D)

Kyle Evans Gay (D)
Ruth Briggs King (R)

Kyle Evans Gay (D)
Ruth Briggs King (R)
Past elections
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2012.
2020
General election candidates
- Bethany Hall-Long (Incumbent) (Democratic Party) ✔
- Donyale Hall (Republican Party)
Did not make the ballot:
- Kevin Baron (Independent)
Democratic primary candidates
This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
- Bethany Hall-Long (Incumbent) ✔
Republican primary candidates
This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:
2016
The general election for lieutenant governor was held on November 8, 2016.
Bethany Hall-Long defeated La Mar Gunn in the Delaware lieutenant governor election.
Delaware Lieutenant Governor, 2016 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
59.44% | 248,141 | |
Republican | La Mar Gunn | 40.56% | 169,291 | |
Total Votes | 417,432 | |||
Source: Delaware Secretary of State |
2012
Incumbent Matthew Denn defeated challengers Sher Valenzuela (R) and Margie Waite-McKeown (L) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
Lieutenant Governor of Delaware General Election, 2012 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
61.6% | 238,959 | |
Republican | Sher Valenzuela | 37.1% | 143,978 | |
Libertarian | Margie Waite-McKeown | 1.3% | 5,206 | |
Total Votes | 388,143 | |||
Election results via Delaware State Board of Elections |
Election analysis
Click the tabs below to view information about demographics, past elections, and partisan control of the state.
- Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the state.
- Statewide elections - Information about recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections in the state.
- State partisanship - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.
- Demographics - Information about the state's demographics and how they compare to the country as a whole.
Cook PVI by congressional district
Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index for Delaware, 2024 | |||
---|---|---|---|
District | Incumbent | Party | PVI |
Delaware's At-Large | Open (Lisa Blunt Rochester) | ![]() |
D+7 |
2020 presidential results by 2024 congressional district lines
2020 presidential results in congressional districts based on 2024 district lines, Delaware[1] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
District | Joe Biden ![]() |
Donald Trump ![]() | ||
Delaware's At-Large | 58.8% | 39.8% |
2012-2020
How a state's counties vote in a presidential election and the size of those counties can provide additional insights into election outcomes at other levels of government including statewide and congressional races. Below, four categories are used to describe each county's voting pattern over the 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections: Solid, Trending, Battleground, and New. Click [show] on the table below for examples:
County-level voting pattern categories | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | |||||||
Status | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | ||||
Solid Democratic | D | D | D | ||||
Trending Democratic | R | D | D | ||||
Battleground Democratic | D | R | D | ||||
New Democratic | R | R | D | ||||
Republican | |||||||
Status | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | ||||
Solid Republican | R | R | R | ||||
Trending Republican | D | R | R | ||||
Battleground Republican | R | D | R | ||||
New Republican | D | D | R |
Following the 2020 presidential election, 57.7% of Delawareans lived in New Castle County, the state's one Solid Democratic county, which voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 2012 to 2020, and 24.0% lived in Sussex County, the state's one Solid Republican county. Overall, Delaware was Solid Democratic, having voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2012, Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016, and Joe Biden (D) in 2020. Use the table below to view the total number of each type of county in Delaware following the 2020 election as well as the overall percentage of the state population located in each county type.
Delaware county-level statistics, 2020 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solid Democratic | 1 | 57.7% | |||||
Solid Republican | 1 | 24.0% | |||||
Battleground Democratic | 1 | 18.4% | |||||
Total voted Democratic | 2 | 76.0% | |||||
Total voted Republican | 1 | 24.0% |
Historical voting trends
Delaware presidential election results (1900-2020)
- 15 Democratic wins
- 16 Republican wins
Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winning Party | R | R | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | D | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
This section details the results of the five most recent U.S. Senate and gubernatorial elections held in the state.
U.S. Senate elections
The table below details the vote in the five most recent U.S. Senate races in Delaware.
U.S. Senate election results in Delaware | ||
---|---|---|
Race | Winner | Runner up |
2020 | 59.4%![]() |
37.9%![]() |
2018 | 60.0%![]() |
37.8%![]() |
2014 | 55.8%![]() |
42.4%![]() |
2012 | 66.4%![]() |
29.0%![]() |
2010 | 56.6%![]() |
40.0%![]() |
Average | 59.6 | 37.4 |
Gubernatorial elections
- See also: Governor of Delaware
The table below details the vote in the five most recent gubernatorial elections in Delaware.
Gubernatorial election results in Delaware | ||
---|---|---|
Race | Winner | Runner up |
2016 | 59.5%![]() |
38.6%![]() |
2012 | 58.3%![]() |
39.2%![]() |
2008 | 69.3%![]() |
28.6%![]() |
2004 | 67.5%![]() |
32.1%![]() |
2000 | 50.9%![]() |
45.8%![]() |
Average | 61.1 | 36.9 |
Congressional delegation
The table below displays the partisan composition of Delaware's congressional delegation as of May 2024.
Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Delaware | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | U.S. Senate | U.S. House | Total |
Democratic | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Republican | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vacancies | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 2 | 1 | 3 |
State executive
The table below displays the officeholders in Delaware's top four state executive offices as of May 2024.
State executive officials in Delaware, May 2024 | |
---|---|
Office | Officeholder |
Governor | ![]() |
Lieutenant Governor | ![]() |
Secretary of State | ![]() |
Attorney General | ![]() |
State legislature
Delaware State Senate
Party | As of February 2024 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 15 | |
Republican Party | 6 | |
Other | 0 | |
Vacancies | 0 | |
Total | 21 |
Delaware House of Representatives
Party | As of February 2024 | |
---|---|---|
Democratic Party | 26 | |
Republican Party | 15 | |
Other | 0 | |
Vacancies | 0 | |
Total | 41 |
Trifecta control
The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.
Delaware Party Control: 1992-2024
Sixteen years of Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Governor | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
House | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
The table below details demographic data in Delaware and compares it to the broader United States as of 2022.
Demographic Data for Delaware | ||
---|---|---|
Delaware | United States | |
Population | 989,948 | 331,449,281 |
Land area (sq mi) | 1,948 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White | 63.8% | 65.9% |
Black/African American | 22% | 12.5% |
Asian | 4.1% | 5.8% |
Native American | 0.3% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.2% |
Other (single race) | 3.3% | 6% |
Multiple | 6.5% | 8.8% |
Hispanic/Latino | 9.9% | 18.7% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate | 91.2% | 89.1% |
College graduation rate | 34.5% | 34.3% |
Income | ||
Median household income | $79,325 | $75,149 |
Persons below poverty level | 7.5% | 8.8% |
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2017-2022). | ||
**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 census here. |
See also
Delaware | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
|