Results from the September 15th Primary in Delaware

Toplines

Delaware

U.S Senate

• One (1D) woman filed as a candidate in the U.S. Senate Democratic primary but was unsuccessful.

U.S. House

• Incumbent U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D) was unopposed in her bid for the Democratic nomination for Delaware’s at-large U.S. House seat. She will seek re-election in a general election contest currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report. McBride is the only major-party woman candidate for U.S. House in Delaware in 2026.  

Statewide Elective Executive

• Women are 3 of 5 (60%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Delaware, including 2 of 3 (66.7%) Democrats and 1 of 2 (50%) Republicans, including an all woman contest between incumbent Lydia York (D) and April Callaway (R) for auditor.

Delaware

U.S. Senate

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 0 of 2 (0%) major-party nominees for U.S. Senate in Delaware. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 1 of 2 (50%) seats in the Delaware delegation to the U.S. Senate. Incumbent U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) is the only woman who has served in the U.S. Senate from Delaware. She is not up for re-election this year.

Women Candidates in 2026: One (1D) woman filed as a candidate for U.S. Senate in Delaware in 2026. She was 1 of 6 (16.7%) total major-party candidates for U.S. Senate in 2026.

U.S. House

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 1 of 2 (50%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Delaware. Incumbent U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D) was unopposed in her bid for the Democratic nomination. 

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: A woman – incumbent U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D) – currently holds Delaware’s at-large seat in the U.S. House. Two (2D) women have served in the U.S. House from Delaware. 

Women Candidates in 2026: One (1D) woman filed as a candidate for U.S. House in Delaware in 2026. She was 1 of 4 (25%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2026.

Statewide Elective Executive Office

Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 3 of 5 (60%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Delaware, including 2 of 3 (66.7%) Democrats and 1 of 2 (50%) Republicans. 

The number of women major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office falls short of the previous high (5). One (1D) woman statewide executive candidate was unsuccessful. Of the 3 (2D, 1R) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in Delaware: 2 (2D) are incumbents, and 1 (1R) is a challenger. A new woman is all but assured to win in the all-woman contest for auditor.

Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 4 of 6 (66.7%) statewide elective executive offices in Delaware. Sixteen (11D, 5R) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Delaware, including two women who have served in more than one statewide elective executive office. 

• Incumbent Treasurer Colleen Davis (D) is not running for re-election this year. 
• Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay (D) is not up for re-election this year. 

Women Candidates in 2026: Four (3D, 1R) women filed as candidates for statewide elective executive office in Delaware in 2026. This is not a record high. They were 4 of 9 (44.4%) total major-party candidates for statewide elective executive office in 2026.