Delaware’s 2026 State Primary: A Handy Guide for Voters

Tomorrow, Delaware’s Democrats and Republicans will each hold a primary to pick their nominees for a slew of statewide offices. It’s the last primary before the November general election, and while the national spotlight will focus on the U.S. Senate and House, there’s a lot more happening down the ballot.

Who’s on the ballot? Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Coons is hunting a third full term, but he’s not cruising. He’s up against University of Delaware history professor Jeff Appelhans, naval architect Mary Louve, and a curious character who once ran as a Republican: “E. No‑Trump Hansen,” a former business exec now filing as a Democrat. Coons has already raised roughly $6.9 million, dwarfing Appelhans’ $1,500, while Hansen and Louve haven’t reported any fundraising yet.

On the Republican side, former state Sen. Michael Katz and Army Reserve Col. John Shulli are battling for the GOP nod. Katz has about $159,000 on hand; Shulli is a little behind with $118,000.

In the House, Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride is sailing unopposed for a second term, though she’ll still face a Republican challenger in November. Three Republicans—Joseph Arminio, Earl Cooper and John Whalen—are jockeying for the party’s chance to unseat her.

The attorney general’s race is also on the docket. Democrat Kathy Jennings is being challenged by attorney Dwayne Bensing and domestic‑violence advocate Patty Rickman. On the GOP side, David Graham stands alone for the nomination.

Perhaps the most open contest is the state treasurer’s office. Incumbent Democrat Colleen Davis isn’t running again, leaving the seat up for grabs. Investment manager Ted Lauzen, business owner Mike Miller and economist Michael Smith are vying for the Democratic ticket, while former state Rep. Michael Ramone is unopposed for the Republicans.

Half of the 21 state Senate seats and every one of the 41 state House seats are up for election, too. Democrats currently hold about a two‑to‑one advantage in both chambers, a cushion they’ll likely keep given the state’s solidly blue trend over the past three decades.

Voting logistics – Polls shut at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Only voters registered with a party can vote in that party’s primary; independents are excluded from both. As of Sept. 1, Delaware had roughly 808,000 registered voters: about 331,000 Democrats, 199,000 Republicans and the rest unaffiliated.

Turnout in the 2024 primaries was modest—around 86,000 Democratic votes and 37,000 Republican votes. Early‑voting and mail‑in ballots made up about a quarter of each party’s total, a pattern that’s expected to repeat.

By Friday night, roughly 30,800 ballots had already been counted—22,200 Democratic and 8,500 Republican. Delaware’s three counties usually release early‑vote totals early in the evening, then follow up with in‑person Election Day results.

When will we know the winners? The Associated Press typically starts reporting results within 20‑30 minutes after polls close. In 2024, the final tally was posted by 11:30 p.m. ET. The AP will only call a race when math shows no comeback is possible; otherwise, they’ll stick to straight reporting and note any concessions or victory speeches.

If the margin is razor‑thin—under 1,000 votes for statewide races, or under 1,000 votes or 0.5 % for lower‑level contests—a recount kicks in automatically. That could keep the night lively for a few more hours.

All told, Delaware’s primary is a micro‑cosm of the larger 2026 midterm story: Democrats are defending a stronghold while Republicans hope a national mood swing will finally crack the blue wall. Voters who show up tomorrow will help shape that narrative, one ballot at a time.