United States Senate election in Delaware (September 6, 2018 Democratic primary)

Elections in Delaware, 2018

• General election: Nov. 6
• Voter registration deadline: Oct. 13
• Early voting: N/A
• Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: No
• Voter ID: Non-photo ID requested
• Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

---

On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Attorney General • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Democratic primaries • Republican primaries

2020 → ← 2014
U.S. Senate, Delaware
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: July 10, 2018
Primary: September 6, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent: Tom Carper (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in Delaware
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic Inside Elections: Solid Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
U.S. Senate, Delaware U.S. Senate • At-large Delaware elections, 2018 U.S. Congress elections, 2018 U.S. Senate elections, 2018 U.S. House elections, 2018 Arizona U.S. Senate raceCalifornia U.S. Senate raceConnecticut U.S. Senate raceDelaware U.S. Senate raceFlorida U.S. Senate raceHawaii U.S. Senate raceIndiana U.S. Senate raceMaine U.S. Senate raceMaryland U.S. Senate raceMassachusetts U.S. Senate raceMichigan U.S. Senate raceMinnesota U.S. Senate raceMinnesota U.S. Senate race (special)Mississippi U.S. Senate raceMississippi U.S. Senate race (special)Missouri U.S. Senate raceMontana U.S. Senate raceNebraska U.S. Senate raceNevada U.S. Senate raceNew Jersey U.S. Senate raceNew Mexico U.S. Senate raceNew York U.S. Senate raceNorth Dakota U.S. Senate raceOhio U.S. Senate racePennsylvania U.S. Senate raceRhode Island U.S. Senate raceTennessee U.S. Senate raceTexas U.S. Senate raceUtah U.S. Senate raceVermont U.S. Senate raceVirginia U.S. Senate raceWashington U.S. Senate raceWest Virginia U.S. Senate raceWisconsin U.S. Senate raceWyoming U.S. Senate raceSubmit

Incumbent Sen. Tom Carper (D) defeated progressive community organizer Kerri Evelyn Harris in the Democratic primary on September 6, 2018. He received 65 percent of the vote to Harris' 35 percent. Carper was seeking his fourth term in the Senate.

During the primary, some media outlets compared Harris' progressive challenge to the one Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez launched against 10-term U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley in New York's 14th District Democratic primary, which Ocasio-Cortez won.

Carper was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000 and won his 2012 re-election bid by a 37-point margin. He campaigned on his legislative record on healthcare and the environment, emphasizing his work on the Senate Finance Committee to pass the Affordable Care Act and his support for renewable energy development, including tax credits and more charging stations for electric vehicles. He also touted his authorship of parts of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Harris, an Air Force veteran and community organizer, said that Carper had not gone far enough on healthcare, the environment, or banking regulations. She campaigned on Medicare for All and called for a "Green New Deal"—the creation of jobs with a focus on renewable energy. She criticized Carper's support for the Keystone XL pipeline and his co-sponsorship of Senate Bill 2155, which exempted community banks from certain Dodd-Frank provisions.

Carper highlighted his record of bipartisan negotiation in the Senate and, in an August 27 debate, defended his legislative record, saying, "I have actually fixed things." Harris in turn argued that Congress needs "diversity in experience" as opposed to career politicians.

Carper was endorsed by former Vice President Joe Biden (D), Planned Parenthood Action Fund, The Moderate Democrats PAC, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, among others.

Harris was backed by several progressive groups, including Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, and the Working Families Party. Ocasio-Cortez also supported Harris.

Through August 17, 2018, Carper raised $2.5 million, and Harris raised $120,540.

Candidates and election results

See also: Statistics on U.S. Congress candidates, 2018

Incumbent Tom Carper defeated Kerri Evelyn Harris in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Delaware on September 6, 2018.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Delaware

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom Carper	64.6	53,635
		Kerri Evelyn Harris	35.4	29,407

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 83,042
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Tykiem Booker (D)

Candidate profiles

Tom Carper

Before entering politics, Carper served as an aircraft mission commander in the Naval Reserve. He obtained a B.A. in economics and an M.B.A.

Carper was elected as Delaware's state treasurer in 1976 and served three terms. He then served as the state's at-large representative in the U.S. House for 10 years. In 1993, Carper started his first of two terms as Delaware's governor. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. As of the 2018 election, Carper sat on the Senate Finance, Environment and Public Works, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees.

Carper said he earned "a reputation as a results-oriented centrist" during his time on the House Financial Services Committee and touted his record of bipartisan negotiations throughout his political career. He said his negotiations led to economic improvements during his time as governor and high fuel standards during his Senate tenure. He also emphasized his role in passing the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Act.

Carper's 2018 campaign highlighted the following policy priorities: improving the ACA and reducing out-of-pocket costs; improving the economy through good schools and better infrastructure; working for clear water and air; and increasing transparency concerning the executive branch's activities. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the state Democratic Party, and the Delaware AFL-CIO were among his endorsers.

Kerri Evelyn Harris

After 9/11, Harris joined the Air Force and served as a loadmaster, transporting troops and equipment to military bases. She was medically retired in 2008 and worked several jobs including at a gas station and an auto body shop. Harris volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross during these years. Harris holds an associate degree in business and, as of the 2018 election, was pursuing a bachelor's in nonprofit management.

Harris' professional experience includes working as the program director of Achievement Matters, where she said she leads "a team working with youth to close the educational achievement gap" and as operations director at the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, work she described as teaching "young people how to fight for social change." She has also volunteered with the Center for Popular Democracy and as an organizer for Network Delaware, a nonprofit focused on developing grassroots support for its social and economic policy priorities.

Harris had not served elected office as of 2018. She emphasized her experience as a veteran, mother, and worker in her campaign. "My life story echoes millions of others who feel called to service to improve our communities for the next generation," her campaign website said.

Harris' policy priorities included Medicare for All, a $15 minimum wage, allowing the purchase of prescription drugs from Canada, restorative justice, universal public pre-school, opposing fracking and offshore drilling, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She was backed by Our Revolution, Justice Democrats, and the Working Families Party, among other progressive groups.

Endorsements

Democratic candidate endorsements
Endorsement	Tom Carper	Kerri Evelyn Harris
National figures
Former Vice Pres. Joe Biden	‎✔	‎
State figures
Delaware Democratic Party	‎✔	‎
State Rep. Sean M. Lynn (D)	‎	✔
The News Journal	‎✔	‎
Unions
Delaware AFL-CIO	‎✔	‎
Delaware Laborers	‎✔
Delaware Education Association	‎✔
Organizations‎
Working Families Party	‎	✔
Demand Universal Healthcare	‎	✔ ‎
Center for Popular Democracy Action	‎	✔ ‎
Delaware United	‎	✔ ‎
Justice Democrats	‎	✔ ‎
The People for Bernie	‎	✔ ‎
Our Revolution	‎	✔
Democracy for America	‎	✔
Giffords Courage to Fight Gun Violence	‎✔
Human Rights Campaign	‎✔	‎
PACs
Delaware Stonewall PAC	‎✔	‎
Planned Parenthood Action Fund	‎✔
Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund	‎✔
VoteVets PAC	‎✔	‎
The Moderate Democrats PAC	‎✔	‎
League of Conservation Voters Action Fund	‎✔	‎

Campaign themes and policy stances

Tom Carper

The following campaign themes were taken from Carper's campaign website.

“	Making health care more affordable In the Declaration of Independence our nation’s founders set forth one of the earliest promises of our country: that every American would have the unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The fact is that none of those rights can exist without access to health care. When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law of the land, millions of American families gained health insurance, many for the first time in their lives. In addition to expanding coverage, the ACA made great strides in transforming our country’s network of doctors, hospitals and clinics from a “sick care” system to a “health care” system, helping hospitals and doctors coordinate care for their patients and deliver better, healthier outcomes. Helping to pass the ACA was one of my proudest achievements as a senator, but just like Medicare before it, we didn’t get everything right the first time and we need to make it better. We should be working together, Republican and Democrat alike, to continue to improve our health care system and reduce out-of-pocket costs for consumers. Creating jobs and growing the economy As a recovering governor, I believe that one of the most important roles of government is to create a nurturing environment for job creation and job preservation. How do we do that? We need to invest in a world-class workforce by making our schools second to none. We need to facilitate commerce with a bold infrastructure plan that would rebuild and maintain our roads, highways, bridges and transit systems, while making key investments that reduce congestion and make it easier for goods and people to travel across this great land. We need to pursue every opportunity to export American goods by breaking down trade barriers and helping our farmers and manufacturers reach new markets across the globe. And we need to reform our tax code to spark innovation and encourage businesses to expand and create good-paying jobs here in the United States. If we do these things, we will see fortunes rise and communities thrive in every corner of our country. Fighting for clean air and clean water for every American Every American, no matter where they live, should have clean air to breathe and safe water to drink. Over the last few decades, our country has made significant progress to protect our environment and public health. Unfortunately, the current administration is putting the health of every American at great risk by rolling back common-sense consumer protections that keep families safe, denying the threat of climate change and ignoring the sacred responsibility to pass onto the next generation a healthier, more sustainable environment. It’s up to Congress to fight back. I’ve long said we don’t have to choose between strong environmental protections and jobs. Moving our country toward a clean energy future goes hand in hand with job creation. By encouraging companies to reduce their carbon footprint and invest in green technology, we can harness American innovation, lead the world in developing new clean energy technologies and create the clean-energy manufacturing jobs of the future. I believe that the reality of climate change is undeniable. From our coastal communities dealing with rising sea levels to our rural communities faced with more unpredictable growing seasons, the threat of climate change is real and growing. I believe we need to take action on a global scale to curb the human contribution to climate change. Holding Washington accountable As a U.S. Senator I’ve championed efforts to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse across the federal government. I authored bills to rein in outsize federal spending and reduce the billions of dollars wasted annually on bad contracts and foolish projects, empowering agency managers to end federal programs that don’t work and rooting out unnecessary earmarks that help members of Congress, not the public good. More than ever, it’s critical that Congress shines sunlight on the inner workings of our executive branch. I believe that the business of the President of the United States is the business of the people of the United States. That’s why I’ve raised a number of concerns about the lack of transparency, questionable ethics and potential for conflicts of interest within the Trump administration. Our democracy hinges on public trust in our political institutions, and that trust is eroding. Conducting rigorous oversight is key to restoring public trust in American democracy and holding Washington accountable to taxpayers.	”
—Tom Carper's campaign website (2018)

Kerri Evelyn Harris

The following campaign themes were taken from Harris' campaign website.

“	Our Health Agenda Health care is a right. Currently too many of our neighbors have to decide whether to go to the doctor or pay their rent. No matter one’s income, we have to work together to ensure people can get the treatment they need to thrive, tackle substance abuse issues, support their kids, and strengthen their communities. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Free access to a ”Medicare-for-All” system that includes dental and vision, while also expanding mental health Allowing people to buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada Protecting a woman’s right to choose Eliminating racial and socio-economic disparities in the healthcare system Protecting Medicaid funding Preventing “Big Pharma” from price gouging Increasing taxes and fees on opioids to pay for drug treatment and prevention (without costs being shifted to the consumer) Banning “gag clauses” that stop pharmacists from sharing information about cheaper generic drugs with consumers Our Economic Agenda In Delaware, we have so many dedicated and hardworking individuals who want to put in a hard day’s work and all they ask is an honest day’s pay. One of the best ways to tackle crime, advance education for our youth, and have a bright financial future is to focus on fair jobs for all those who seek them. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour (and indexing it to inflation) Earned sick leave for all workers Paid parental leave for births and/or adoptions A well designed job guarantee program (i.e. a job for anyone that seeks employment) Expanding employee ownership centers and worker-owned cooperatives Strengthening labor and union rights Investing in infrastructure such as transportation systems, high-speed internet, flooding abatement, and water well systems. Providing student loan forgiveness and reduction programs Institute policy protections for those who live in mobile homes Push for affordable rental housing Our Criminal Justice Agenda Currently, too many individuals, families, and communities suffer due to mass incarceration. Especially those who end up behind bars. They’ll go in with the prospect of being sentenced under a mandatory minimum. Then they’ll leave with the prospects of unemployment and low-wage work, despite having served their time in prison, which then costs us in terms of state assistance and loss of tax revenue. This is no way to treat our own. When our public safety and criminal justice system rely on smart, restorative practices rather than promoting high rates of imprisonment, then we improve safety for all. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: A restorative justice system, instead of a punitive-based system Repealing the death penalty Ending our cash bail system Taxing and regulating marijuana Ending the criminalization of private debt De-escalation training and demilitarizing the police Stopping mandatory minimums and excessive sentences for nonviolent crimes A culture of community policing Strengthening re-entry programs Dismantling the for-profit criminal justice system (and include retraining opportunities for personnel) Our Education Agenda We hear all the cliches about “children being the future” but words without action does not lead to excellence. We must invest in all children. Children in low-income areas and children of color should have access to high-quality education. When there is equity in education, then the playing field will become more leveled for all to find success in our State. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: High-quality universal public pre-K Affordable college education Equitable education funding to provide needed resources to all children Ending the school-to-prison pipeline Increasing teacher pay School apprenticeship and trade programs Diversity within the education system Ending For-Profit Management of Public Schools Our Environmental Justice Agenda Our environment thrives when we have a long-term plan for the future, instead of just thinking of today. Future generations deserve to live in a world even better than ours, so we have to be good stewards to bring about a sustainable tomorrow. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Green jobs training for those who wish to transition Reinvestment of subsidies for fossil fuel companies into renewable energy companies Federal loan assistance for power plants to ensure they are structurally sound Ensuring all people have access to clean air, water, and green space Investment in public transportation and active transportation methods Reduction of pollution and health hazards in low-income and communities of color Preventing fracking and offshore drilling Federal investment in farms that focus on organic farming Our Good Government Agenda Government has an active role to play in improving people’s lives. For too long, politicians have used government to advance their own political gains and big-money interests. Through some common sense reforms we can make sure our government advances justice for all. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Reducing fines and fees that disproportionately impact low-income people Ending Citizens United and reducing the amount of money in politics Protecting and expanding voting rights Early voting and same day voter registration in all elections Government contracts that are task-oriented and people-centric, rather than focused on corporate profits A new budget process to focus on long-term priorities instead of short-term spending An independent redistricting process Abolishing ICE Reinstating net neutrality Our Human Rights and Equity Agenda “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice” said Martin Luther King Jr. While we have made strides for fairness and equity, we still have a long way to go to ensure every child, community, and identity gets every opportunity this great state has to offer. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Requiring large corporations to pay an “Equity Tax” for any workers receiving government assistance Fighting for protection and expansion of civil rights Standing against racial and religious bigotry Protecting the rights of those without a home Expanding LGBTQ rights (e.g. in the workplace, schools, etc.) Fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Racial equity impact assessments when drafting and voting on policy A fair pathway to citizenship Supporting the Disability Integration Act of 2017 Our Financial Agenda Economic inequality hurts everyone, whether you’re a working family or a large company. “Trickle-down” policies don’t work, so we must focus on “middle out” economic policies. Right now wealth is concentrated in the hands of a select few families and large corporations, while families across our state struggle to make ends meet. This is unacceptable. We need to ensure our financial systems support the interests of the average American, rather than shareholders of large companies. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Ensuring corporations pay their fair share of taxes A progressive tax system Taxing capital gains and dividends at the same level as income A Wall Street speculation tax Replacing the payroll tax cuts with targeted tax rebates to focus on increased hiring Reinstating Glass-Steagall to separate commercial banking from investment banking Simplifying regulations for small businesses and community banks Foster a “middle out” economy Our Gun Violence Reduction Agenda Everyday we have arguments about where to point the finger for the cause of gun violence. Yet we miss the most important fact, and that’s the fact that we lose innocent lives everyday. We need to balance the rights of individuals with the safety of the general public. We must enforce current laws and implement legislation in areas we are lacking. Whether a mass shooting or a steady stream of gun-related deaths in our neighborhoods, we are starting to become numb to them. We cannot delay, we must take vigorous action to handle the range of gun violence issues plaguing our communities. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Banning high capacity assault weapons and magazines Prohibit firearms trafficking and institute stiffer penalties for straw purchases Encourage repeal of “Stand Your Ground” laws Expand preventative counseling and mental health treatment Establish a waiting period of 14 days for all firearm purchases Universal background checks for gun and ammo buyers National database for guns and ammo Our Military and Veterans Agenda Those of us who have served in the military or have family members who have served, often feel that we’re given lip service, but very little actual focus on our issues. Why do so many come home from their service unable to find a job? Why do so many struggle to receive even basic health care? We have to do better in supporting those who serve. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Preventing privatization of the VA and expanded access to community health services Streamline the VA disability application process Preparing transition services for all military members to immediately move into the civilian workforce Support to families of active military members Maintaining caregiver programs and assistance Expand mental health services for veterans Advocate for preventative dental care for all veterans with disability ratings Enhance services for children of service members born with disabilities Ensure that military spending enhances the well-being of troops NOT corporations Our Agriculture and Rural Economy Agenda Too often we make policy that ignores our farmers and rural communities. We need thriving farms, healthy food, and clean water in all parts of our state. In particular we need to support our small operations as more and more mega-corporations take control. We need to protect families’ nutrition aid and important conservation programs. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Shifting subsidies to small family farmers instead of large corporations Enforcing antitrust laws against agribusiness and food corporations Independent processing and distribution businesses Investment in broadband and high-speed internet services to rural areas Supporting community banks to improve access to capital and financial services Investment in research on how to enhance green farming techniques A program for migrant farmworkers to support the agricultural community Providing incentives to farmers that invest in green farming techniques Our Foreign Affairs Agenda We must exhaust all diplomatic solutions before resorting to military action. All too often the unintended consequences of military conflict leave behind remnants of crumbling infrastructure and human lives in need of repair. When legislators fail to properly consider the consequences of their foreign policy decisions, we risk American and foreign lives. We also risk our national security and the balance of power throughout the world. Broken governments and feelings of resentment create breeding grounds for terrorist ideology, broken alliances, and corporate globalization. If we work with our international partners we can end global poverty, while ensuring mutual prosperity and security. Delaware, let’s Dare to Act for: Emphasizing diplomacy first and making war a last resort Fair trade agreements rather than corporate trade agreements Building a peaceful and secure solution for Israel and Palestine Ending arms sales to authoritarian countries Working directly with developing countries to increase their self-sufficiency Strengthen international alliances to ensure mutual security and development	”
—Kerri Evelyn Harris' campaign website (2018)

Campaign finance

The campaign finance reports below were obtained from the Federal Election Commission.

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Tom Carper	Democratic Party	$4,394,417	$4,887,154	$360,642	As of December 31, 2018
Kerri Evelyn Harris	Democratic Party	$183,527	$184,613	$-1,086	As of December 31, 2018
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2018. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

Campaign strategies and tactics

Campaign advertisements

Tom Carper

"Bridges" released August 16, 2018

Kerri Evelyn Harris

"Momentum" released August 13, 2018

Kerri vs. Carper on the Issues

Harris argued that Carper had not gone far enough in the Senate to advance certain policies. Harris' campaign website featured a section entitled "Kerri vs. Carper — on the Issues," where Harris described her positions on eight issues followed by some of Carper's legislative actions, such as votes and bill sponsorships, related to those issues to demonstrate where the two candidates diverge.

The eight policy areas highlighted were abortion, healthcare, criminal justice, the environment, sexual assault victims' protections, the minimum wage, foreign policy, and banking regulations. See the webpage here.

Carper vs. Trump

Following an August 27 debate, Carper's campaign website featured a page framing Carper as the candidate best equipped to work against President Donald Trump's trade, healthcare, and environmental policies in Congress. It read, "Delawareans can trust that Tom will wield his experience, relationships and influence to stop Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda and fight for good-paying jobs, high quality health care and clean air and water for every Delawarean."

Read the full page here.

Debates and forums

August 27, 2018

Carper and Harris participated in a debate on August 27. See the video here.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

One of three Delaware counties—33.33 percent—is a Pivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald 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
County	Trump margin of victory in 2016	Obama margin of victory in 2012	Obama margin of victory in 2008
Kent County, Delaware	4.87%	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 by Daily Kos.

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
District	Obama	Romney	2012 Margin	Clinton	Trump	2016 Margin	Party Control
1	90.63%	8.63%	D+82	87.34%	9.62%	D+77.7	D
2	92.21%	7.06%	D+85.1	88.72%	8.32%	D+80.4	D
3	88.46%	10.52%	D+77.9	84.86%	12.35%	D+72.5	D
4	59.01%	39.33%	D+19.7	62.94%	31.39%	D+31.6	D
5	83.11%	15.90%	D+67.2	78.51%	18.23%	D+60.3	D
6	60.77%	37.50%	D+23.3	60.56%	34.04%	D+26.5	D
7	64.21%	34.08%	D+30.1	61.76%	32.89%	D+28.9	D
8	60.00%	38.72%	D+21.3	54.75%	40.34%	D+14.4	D
9	51.62%	47.03%	D+4.6	46.45%	48.21%	R+1.8	R
10	60.49%	37.91%	D+22.6	58.39%	36.45%	D+21.9	D
11	44.38%	53.62%	R+9.2	34.07%	60.29%	R+26.2	R
12	48.50%	50.01%	R+1.5	53.04%	41.44%	D+11.6	R
13	69.88%	28.51%	D+41.4	59.74%	34.95%	D+24.8	D
14	50.16%	48.86%	D+1.3	50.08%	46.81%	D+3.3	D
15	66.88%	31.72%	D+35.2	61.89%	33.61%	D+28.3	D
16	86.44%	12.71%	D+73.7	79.69%	17.08%	D+62.6	D
17	75.35%	23.44%	D+51.9	67.45%	28.15%	D+39.3	D
18	73.77%	24.71%	D+49.1	66.80%	28.17%	D+38.6	D
19	63.86%	34.20%	D+29.7	54.36%	40.20%	D+14.2	D
20	46.68%	52.12%	R+5.4	42.84%	52.98%	R+10.1	R
21	58.87%	39.52%	D+19.3	53.84%	40.20%	D+13.6	R
22	50.65%	47.97%	D+2.7	51.53%	43.26%	D+8.3	R
23	59.53%	38.25%	D+21.3	59.93%	33.33%	D+26.6	D
24	67.87%	30.39%	D+37.5	59.76%	34.09%	D+25.7	D
25	63.13%	34.55%	D+28.6	59.44%	34.18%	D+25.3	D
26	73.18%	25.66%	D+47.5	67.83%	27.17%	D+40.7	D
27	61.16%	37.36%	D+23.8	56.68%	38.07%	D+18.6	D
28	61.47%	37.05%	D+24.4	52.86%	42.09%	D+10.8	D
29	52.73%	46.05%	D+6.7	47.38%	48.10%	R+0.7	D
30	38.81%	59.30%	R+20.5	28.57%	66.67%	R+38.1	R
31	63.67%	35.03%	D+28.6	61.48%	32.66%	D+28.8	D
32	63.41%	35.03%	D+28.4	57.28%	36.72%	D+20.6	D
33	45.67%	53.08%	R+7.4	37.57%	57.12%	R+19.5	R
34	46.85%	51.75%	R+4.9	42.61%	51.87%	R+9.3	R
35	39.90%	58.62%	R+18.7	32.25%	64.32%	R+32.1	R
36	43.06%	55.73%	R+12.7	36.10%	59.53%	R+23.4	R
37	46.44%	52.42%	R+6	37.67%	59.00%	R+21.3	R
38	36.85%	62.07%	R+25.2	32.78%	64.18%	R+31.4	R
39	41.34%	57.27%	R+15.9	34.48%	61.33%	R+26.9	R
40	37.36%	61.31%	R+23.9	26.76%	69.12%	R+42.4	R
41	42.12%	56.63%	R+14.5	33.75%	62.59%	R+28.8	R
Total	58.61%	39.98%	D+18.6	53.35%	41.92%	D+11.4	-
Source: Daily Kos

State overview

Partisan control

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

Congressional delegation

• Following the 2016 elections, Democrats held both U.S. Senate seats in Delaware.
• Democrats held the only U.S. House seat in Delaware.

State executives

• As of September 2018, Democrats held 5 of 12 state executive positions, Republicans held two, and the remaining positions were officially nonpartisan.
• The governor of Delaware was Democrat John Carney Jr. The state held elections for governor and lieutenant governor on November 3, 2020.

State legislature

• Democrats controlled both chambers of the Delaware 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 a Democratic 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:

• One U.S. Senate seat
• One U.S. House seat
• Three lower state executive positions
• Ten of 21 state Senate seats
• 41 state House seats

Demographics

Demographic data for Delaware
	Delaware	U.S.
Total population:	944,076	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	1,949	3,531,905
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) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here 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 census here.

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).

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Delaware from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Delaware 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
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2016	Hillary Clinton	53.4%	Donald Trump	41.9%	11.5%
2012	Barack Obama	58.6%	Mitt Romney	40.0%	18.6%
2008	Barack Obama	61.9%	John McCain	36.9%	25.0%
2004	John Kerry	53.4%	George W. Bush	45.7%	7.7%
2000	Al Gore	54.9%	George W. Bush	41.9%	13.0%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.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
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2014	Chris Coons	55.8%	Kevin Wade	42.2%	13.6%
2012	Thomas Carper	66.4%	Kevin Wade	29.0%	37.4%
2010	Chris Coons	56.6%	Christine O'Donnell	40.0%	16.6%
2008	Joe Biden	64.7%	Christine O'Donnell	35.3%	29.4%
2006	Tom Carper	67.1%	Jan Ting	27.4%	39.7%
2002	Joe Biden	58.2%	Raymond Clatworthy	40.8%	17.4%
2000	Tom Carper	55.5%	William Roth	43.7%	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
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2016	John Carney	58.3%	Colin Bonini	39.2%	19.9%
2012	Jack Markell	69.3%	Jeff Cragg	28.6%	40.7%
2008	Jack Markell	67.5%	William Swain Lee	32.0%	35.5%
2004	Ruth Ann Minner	50.9%	William Swain Lee	45.8%	5.1%
2000	Ruth Ann Minner	59.2%	John Burris	39.7%	19.5%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

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

Congressional delegation, Delaware 2000-2016
Year	Republicans	Republicans (%)	Democrats	Democrats (%)	Balance of power
2016	1	100%	0	0%	D+1
2014	1	100%	0	0%	D+1
2012	1	100%	0	0%	D+1
2010	1	100%	0	0%	D+1
2008	1	100%	0	0%	R+1
2006	1	100%	0	0%	R+1
2004	1	100%	0	0%	R+1
2002	1	100%	0	0%	R+1
2000	1	100%	0	0%	R+1

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state 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.

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	25
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	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	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	D

See also

• United States Senate election in Delaware, 2018
• United States Senate election in Delaware (September 6, 2018 Republican primary)
• United States Senate elections, 2018
• United States House of Representatives elections in Delaware, 2018

Footnotes

[show]

Delaware's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Lisa Blunt Rochester (D)

Chris Coons (D)

Representatives

Sarah McBride (D)

Democratic Party (3)

Ballotpedia

About

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

---

Executive: Leslie Graves, Founder and CEO • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves, Director of Communications • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Frank Festa • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond
External Relations: Geoff Pallay, Director of External Relations • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Ashley Fleming • Thomas Mardik • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski, Director of Operations • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Tech: Matt Latourelle, Director of Technology Operations • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Joseph Sanchez • Mary Susmitha

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

---

Editorial Content

Josh Altic, Director of Content • Daniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & Data • Cory Eucalitto, Associate Director of Features • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot Measures • Mandy McConnell, Managing Editor of News • Doug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local Expansion • Abbey Smith, Managing Editor of Elections • Janie Valentine, Managing Editor of Law • Joel Williams, Managing Editor of Events • Andrew Bahl • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Jon Dunn • Victoria Edwards • Thomas Ellis • Nicole Fisher • Joseph Greaney • Thomas Grobben • Brianna Hosea • Molly Kehoe • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Norm Leahy, Senior Editor • Nathan Maxwell • Jimmy McAllister • Brandon McCauley • Ellie Mikus • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Annelise Reinwald • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Emma Soukup • Alexis Thacker • Mina Vogel • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox