Raucous primary season reaches final act in deep-blue stronghold, kickstarting sprint to November
Delaware Prepares for Final 2026 Primary as Democrats and Republicans Line Up Candidates
Delaware voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide the state’s nominees for the 2026 general election, marking the end of the year‑long primary season that began with contests in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas. In the final day of primaries, the state’s Democratic and Republican parties will set their slate of candidates for all statewide offices, including the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and Attorney General.
Democratic Contests
Senate. Incumbent U.S. Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat seeking a third full term, faces a crowded field in the primary. Challengers include University of Delaware history professor Jeff Appelhans, naval architect Mary Louve, and former business executive Eric Hansen, who previously served as a Republican before switching parties. Coons, who has served in the Senate since 2010, will need to fend off a mix of academic, professional and political newcomers.
House. Representative Sarah McBride, the state’s only statewide member of the U.S. House and a Democrat, is running unopposed in the primary. She is campaigning for a second term after being first elected in 2022. McBride has been praised for her advocacy on LGBTQ rights and criminal‑justice reform.
Attorney General. State Attorney General Kathy Jennings, a Democrat who has held the office since 2015, is challenged in the primary by attorney Dwayne Bensing and domestic‑violence victims’ advocate Patty Rickman. Jennings will defend her record on consumer protection and criminal‑justice matters.
Republican Contests
Senate. Former state Senator Michael Katz and U.S. Army Reserve Colonel John Shulli are vying for the Republican nomination to replace retiring Senator Tom Carper. Katz is a longtime state legislator, while Shulli is a military veteran and former business executive.
House. Republicans Joseph Arminio, Earl Cooper and John Whalen are competing for the nomination for the U.S. House seat. Arminio, a state legislator, and the other challengers will seek to capture the district that has been held by Democrat Sarah McBride.
Attorney General. David Graham, a former state prosecutor, faces no opposition in the Republican primary for attorney general. Graham has highlighted his record on law‑enforcement and business regulation.
National Context: A Progressive Surge
Delaware’s primaries are part of a broader national pattern in which progressive and Democratic Socialist of America (DSA)‑backed candidates have won a number of high‑profile contests. In the past year, the left has unseated several long‑time incumbents: DSA members Melat Kiros defeated 15‑term Colorado congresswoman Diana DeGette, and Darializa Avila Chevalier ousted five‑term New York Representative Adriano Espaillat. In statewide contests, progressives have carried the Michigan Senate primary with Abdul El‑Sayed, the Minnesota Senate primary with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and the Florida House seat with Rep. Angie Nixon. While there have been setbacks—such as Francesca Hong’s loss in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary—the left’s overall gains have reshaped the ideological direction of the Democratic Party.
“We cannot underestimate the coalition progressives have built,” said veteran Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo. “They have a message that can buoy a candidate when they are an acceptable alternative to the status quo. What is incumbent upon progressives, if they want to continue to be successful, is to put forward candidates who are serious, credible, and are accessible to the public.”
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