Delaware is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The Government of Delaware is composed of the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch. Delaware's executive branch has five elected offices, they are Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Auditor of Accounts, and Insurance Commissioner. The state legislature is made of the Delaware House of Representatives and Delaware Senate. From 1776 to 1792, the position of Governor was known as President.
Additionally, the state sends two senators and one representative to the United States Congress. All three seats are elected at-large. As of the 2024 House of Representatives election, the state's representative is Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.
In the 1960s and 1970s the state's politics were dominated by the Republican party. In the 1980s the state began to shift towards the Democratic party. Writing for The News Journal, William B. Golin credited the shift towards the Democratic party to the upset victory of then-County Councilman Joe Biden in the 1972 United States Senate election.
1777–1900
YearExecutive officesGeneral AssemblyUnited States CongressElectoral votesGovernorAttorney GeneralTreasurerAuditorState SenateState HouseU.S. Senator (Class I)U.S. Senator (Class II)U.S. House1777John McKinly rowspan=3 no such officeno elections heldThomas McKean George Read 1778Gunning Bedford Jr. Samuel PattersonCaesar Rodney 177917801781John Dickinson 1782John Cook 1783Nicholas Van Dyke 17841785James Tilton1786Thomas Collins Joshua Clayton 1787Eleazer McComb17881789George Read Richard Bassett John Vining Washington/Adams Jehu Davis Joshua Clayton John Gordon1790Nicholas Ridgely1791Francis ManyRichard Bassett 1792Robert Clark1793Joshua Clayton John Vining John Patten 1794Thomas SippleThomas MontgomeryvacantHenry Latimer 1795Henry Latimer Henry Latimer John Vining John Patten 1796Gunning Bedford Sr. Adams/Pinckney 1797F majority14F, 7DRJames A. Bayard Daniel Rogers 1798John ClarkeF majorityF majorityJoshua Clayton 1799Richard Bassett F majorityF majorityWilliam H. Wells 1800F majority14F, 7DRAdams/Pinckney 1801Nicholas Van Dyke 6F, 3DRSamuel White James Sykes 1802David Hall 1803Caesar Augustus Rodney 1804Pinckney/King 1805Nathaniel Mitchell James A. Bayard James M. Broom 1806Outerbridge Horsey 1807vacant1808George Truitt Henry Molleston Nicholas Van Dyke 18091810Thomas Clayton Outerbridge Horsey 1811Joseph Haslet Henry M. Ridgely 1812Clinton/Ingersoll 1813William H. Wells 2F1814Daniel Rodney Samuel Paynter 1815James Rogers18167F, 2DRKing/Howard 1817John Clark Nicholas Van Dyke 1F, 1DR1818Cornelius P. Comegys 6F, 3DR18191820Henry Molleston Monroe/Tompkins Jacob Stout 1821John Collins vacant18225DR, 4F11DR, 10FCesar Augustus Rodney 2FCaleb Rodney 1823Joseph Haslet Ezekiel Cowgill5DR, 4F13DR, 8FvacantvacantLouis McLane Charles Thomas 1824Samuel Paynter William W. Green5F, 4DR14F, 7DRThomas Clayton Nicholas Van Dyke Jackson/Calhoun 182513F, 8DRThomas Clayton Nicholas Van Dyke Louis McLane 182614DR, 7FDaniel Rodney 1827Charles Polk Jr. Ezekiel Cowgill5DR, 4F13F, 8DRLouis McLane Henry M. Ridgely vacant18285A-J, 3J, 1?11A-J, 10JKensey Johns Jr. Adams/Rush 18295NR, 4D14NR, 7DvacantJohn M. Clayton 1830David Hazzard Robert FrameCornelius P. Comegys Arnold Naudain 18317NR, 2D16NR, 5DJohn J. Milligan 183214NR, 7DClay/Sergeant 1833Caleb P. Bennett 18341835James RogersPeter S. Parker6W, 3D14W, 7D1836Harrison/Granger Charles Polk Jr. Richard H. Bayard Thomas Clayton 1837Cornelius P. Comegys Richard H. Bayard Thomas Clayton John J. Milligan 18381839Elijah Cannon6D, 3W13D, 8WThomas Robinson Jr. 1840Edward W. GilpinvacantHarrison/Tyler 1841William B. Cooper William D. Waples J. L. Harper5D, 4W21WRichard H. Bayard George B. Rodney 1842Gardner H. Wright18437W, 2D14W, 7D1844Clay/Frelinghuysen 1845Thomas Stockton James S. Buckmaster6W, 3DJohn M. Clayton John W. Houston 1846Joseph Maull William Temple 1847William Tharp Abraham Staats5W, 4D11W, 10DPresley Spruance 1848Taylor/Fillmore 1849Jacob Faris Hiram W. McColley6W, 3D13W, 7D, 1?John Wales 1850Willard Saulsbury Sr. 1851William H. H. Ross William Cannon Luther Swigget5D, 4W14D, 7WJames A. Bayard Jr. George R. Riddle 1852Pierce/King 185313W, 8DJohn M. Clayton 18541855Peter F. Causey George P. Fisher John R. SudlerWilliam T. Alrichs6KN, 2D, 1W19KN, 2DElisha D. Cullen 1856Buchanan/Breckinridge 1857William J. Clarke5D, 4O21DJoseph P. Comegys William G. Whiteley 18581859William Burton Aaron B. Marvel7D, 2O14D, 7OWillard Saulsbury Sr. 1860Alfred WootenBreckinridge/Lane 1861Samuel B. HitchW. N. Hamilton5D, 4R11R, 10DGeorge P. Fisher 18621863William Cannon Locksley R. JacobsAndrew J. Calley14D, 7RWilliam Temple 1864Jacob Moore George R. Riddle Nathaniel B. Smithers McClellan/Pendleton 1865Lewellyn ThorpRobert G. Ellegood6D, 3RJohn A. Nicholson Gove Saulsbury 18661867William J. ClarkeRobert Lambden15D, 6RJames A. Bayard Jr. 1868Seymour/Blair 1869Charles B. Lore 9D21DThomas F. Bayard Benjamin T. Biggs 18701871James Ponder Robert H. DavisRobert G. EllegoodEli Saulsbury 1872Grant/Wilson 18738D, 1RJames R. Lofland 1874John B. Penington 1875John P. Cochran Thomas B. GilesNathan Pratt James Williams 1876Tilden/Hendricks 18779D18781879John W. Hall George Gray Robert J. Reynolds John F. StaatsEdward L. Martin 1880Hancock/English 18818D, 1R14D, 7R18821883Charles C. Stockley John M. Houston Jesse L. Long7D, 2R21DCharles B. Lore 1884Cleveland/Hendricks 1885John H. Paynter9DGeorge Gray 18861887Benjamin T. Biggs John BiggsWilliam HerbertJames H. BoyceJohn B. Penington 1888Cleveland/Thurman 18895R, 4D14R, 7DAnthony Higgins 18901891Robert J. Reynolds Wilbur H. BurniteJohn P. Dulaney7D, 2RJohn W. Causey 1892John R. NicholsonCleveland/Stevenson 18935D, 4R21D18941895Joshua H. Marvil Robert C. WhiteCharles H. AtkinsBeniah L. Lewis15R, 6DvacantJonathan S. Willis William T. Watson 1896McKinley/Hobart 1897Ebe W. Tunnell William M. Ross 20D, 1RRichard R. Kenney L. Irving Handy 18981899L. Heisler Ball John A. Lingo 9D, 8R22R, 13DvacantJohn H. Hoffecker 1900Isaac N. FooksMcKinley/Roosevelt Walter O. Hoffecker
1901–present
YearExecutive officesGeneral AssemblyUnited States CongressElectoral votesGovernorLt. GovernorAttorneyGeneralTreasurerAuditorInsuranceCommissionerStateSenateStateHouseU.S. Senator(Class I)U.S. Senator(Class II)U.S. House1901John Hunn Philip L. Cannon Herbert H. Ward Martin B. Burris Purnal B. Norman George W. Marshall 9R, 8D20R, 15DvacantvacantL. Heisler Ball 1902190310R, 7DL. Heisler Ball J. Frank Allee Henry A. Houston 1904Roosevelt/Fairbanks 1905Preston Lea Isaac T. Parker Robert H. Richards Thomas N. Rawlins George H. Dick 21R, 14DvacantHiram R. Burton 19061907Thomas C. Roe 11R, 6D25R, 10DHenry A. du Pont Harry A. Richardson 1908Taft/Sherman 1909Simeon S. Pennewill John M. Mendinhall Andrew C. Gray David O. Moore Theodore F. Clark Charles H. Maull 18D, 17RWilliam H. Heald 191019119R, 8D22R, 13D1912Wilson/Marshall 1913Charles R. Miller Colen Ferguson Josiah O. Wolcott Charles A. Hastings Walter Poole Prettyman William R. McGabe 21D, 14RWillard Saulsbury Jr. Franklin Brockson 19141915William J. Swain Charles J. Luff 19R, 16DThomas W. Miller 1916Hughes/Fairbanks 1917John G. Townsend Jr. Lewis E. Eliason David J. Reinhardt William G. Roe Thomas R. Wilson 10R, 7D19D, 16RJosiah O. Wolcott Albert F. Polk 19181919George M. Fisher Daniel Thompson 23R, 12DL. Heisler Ball Caleb R. Layton 1920Harding/Coolidge 1921William D. Denney J. Danforth Bush Sylvester D. Townsend Jr. Horace Sudler 12R, 5D18D, 17RT. Coleman du Pont 19221923Thomas S. Fouracre Joseph Morris Harrington Charles M. Hollis 11R, 6DThomas F. Bayard Jr. William H. Boyce 1924Coolidge/Dawes 1925Robert P. Robinson James H. Anderson Clarence A. Southerland James G. Shaw 9D, 8R22R, 13DT. Coleman du Pont Robert G. Houston 19261927Howard M. Ward Edward Baker 18R, 17D1928Hoover/Curtis 1929C. Douglass Buck James H. Hazel Reuben Satterthwaite Jr. 9R, 8D26R, 9DJohn G. Townsend Jr. Daniel O. Hastings 19301931George S. Williams 12R, 5D22R, 13D1932Hoover/Curtis 1933Roy F. Corley Daniel J. Layton James H. Hazel 9R, 8D22D, 13RWilbur L. Adams P. Warren Green 19341935Warren T. Moore James Postles Hammond 10R, 7D23R, 12DJ. George Stewart 1936Roosevelt/Garner 1937Richard McMullen Edward W. Cooch Ernest C. Blackstone James W. Wise 11R, 6D21D, 14RJames H. Hughes William F. Allen 19381939James R. Morford Fagan H. Simonton Benjamin I. Shaw William J. Swain 20R, 15DGeorge S. Williams 1940Roosevelt/Wallace 1941Walter W. Bacon Isaac J. MacCollum Peter S. Collins Harrison M. Manning 10R, 7DJames M. Tunnell Philip A. Traynor 19421943Clair J. Killoran John S. Isaacs Joseph M. Harrington 24R, 11DC. Douglass Buck Earle D. Willey 1944Roosevelt/Truman 1945Elbert N. Carvel Jesse S. Cooper Jr. Wilbur E. Jacobs 11R, 6D22R, 13DPhilip A. Traynor 19461947Albert W. James Benjamin F. Johnson Benjamin I. Shaw 24R, 11DJohn J. Williams J. Caleb Boggs 1948Dewey/Warren 1949Elbert N. Carvel Alexis I. du Pont Bayard Willard D. Boyce James W. W. Baker 9R, 8D18R, 17DJ. Allen Frear Jr. 19501951H. Albert Young Ralph W. Emerson G. Dan Enterline William R. Murphy 9D, 8R19R, 16D1952Eisenhower/Nixon 1953J. Caleb Boggs John W. Rollins Clarence Collins Jr. 10R, 7D18R, 17DHerbert Warburton 19541955Joseph D. Craven Howard H. Dickerson Clifford E. Hall Harry S. Smith 12D, 5R27D, 8RHarris McDowell 19561957David P. Buckson Vera Davis Dale E. Wheatley 13D, 4R19D, 16RHal Haskell 19581959Januar D. Bove Jr. Belle Everett Ernest E. Killen 11D, 6R26D, 9RHarris McDowell 1960Kennedy/Johnson 1961Elbert N. Carvel Eugene Lammot 20D, 15RJ. Caleb Boggs 19621963David P. Buckson Robert Short 10D, 7R24D, 11R1964Johnson/Humphrey 1965Charles L. Terry Jr. Sherman W. Tribbitt Charles F. Moore 13D, 5R30D, 5R19661967Daniel Ross George W. Cripps 9R, 9D23R, 12DWilliam Roth 1968Nixon/Agnew 1969Russell W. Peterson Eugene Bookhammer 13R, 6D26R, 13D19701971W. Laird Stabler Jr. Emily Womach 23R, 16DWilliam Roth Pete du Pont 19721973Sherman W. Tribbitt Mary Jornlin F. Earl McGinnes 11R, 10D21R, 20DJoe Biden 19741975Richard R. Wier Jr. Richard T. Collins 13D, 8R25D, 16R1976Carter/Mondale 1977Pete du Pont James D. McGinnis Tom Carper David H. Elliott 26D, 15RThomas B. Evans Jr. 19781979Richard S. Gebelein 21D, 20R1980Reagan/Bush 1981Mike Castle Thomas W. Spruance 12D, 9R25R, 16D19821983Charles Oberly Janet Rzewnicki Dennis Greenhouse 13D, 8R25D, 16RTom Carper 19841985Mike Castle S. B. Woo David N. Levinson 22R, 19D198619871988Bush/Quayle 1989Dale E. Wolf Tom Wagner 1990199115D, 6R24R, 17D1992Clinton/Gore 1993Tom Carper Ruth Ann Minner Donna Lee Williams 22R, 19DMike Castle 19941995M. Jane Brady 12D, 9R27R, 14D1996199712D, 9R23R, 18D19981999Jack Markell 13D, 8R26R, 15D2000Gore/Lieberman 2001Ruth Ann Minner John Carney Tom Carper 2002200329R, 12D2004Kerry/Edwards 2005Matthew Denn 26R, 15D2006Carl Danberg 2007Beau Biden 23R, 18D2008Obama/Biden 2009Jack Markell Matthew Denn Velda Jones-Potter Karen Weldin Stewart 16D, 5R24D, 17RTed Kaufman 201015D, 6RChris Coons 2011Chipman Flowers Jr. 14D, 7R26D, 15RJohn Carney 2012201313D, 8R27D, 14R20142015vacantMatthew Denn Ken Simpler 12D, 9R25D, 16R2016Clinton/Kaine 2017John Carney Bethany Hall-Long Trinidad Navarro 11D, 10RLisa Blunt Rochester 20182019Kathy Jennings Colleen Davis Kathy McGuiness 12D, 9R26D, 15R2020Biden/Harris 202114D, 7R2022Dennis Greenhouse 2023Lydia York 15D, 6R2024Harris/Walz 2025Matt Meyer Kyle Evans Gay 27D, 14RLisa Blunt Rochester Sarah McBride 2026
Notes
References
See also Law and government in Delaware Politics of Delaware Elections in Delaware