The 2022 Delaware Senate election were held on November 8, 2022, concurrently with the elections for the Delaware House of Representatives, to elect members to the Delaware General Assembly. All of the 21 seats in the Delaware Senate were up for election. The Democratic and Republican primaries were held on September 13, 2022.[1]

2022 Delaware Senate election

← 2020 November 8, 2022 2024 →

All 21 seats in the Delaware Senate
11 seats needed for a majority
Turnout42.68%
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader David Sokola Gerald Hocker
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since November 4, 2020 November 7, 2018
Leader's seat 8th - Newark 20th - Ocean View
Last election 14 7
Seats before 14 7
Seats won 15 6
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 1
Popular vote 144,347 132,280
Percentage 52.18% 47.82%

Results:
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold

President pro tempore before election

David Sokola
Democratic

Elected President pro tempore

David Sokola
Democratic

Democrats gained one seat, increasing their supermajority to 15 out of 21 seats.[2]

Background

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Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[3] Safe D May 19, 2022

Overview

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Party Candidates[4][5] Votes Seats[6]
No. % Before After +/–
Democratic 16 144,368 51.85 14 15   1
Republican 14 132,293 47.51 7 6   1
Independent 0 1,257 0.45 0 0  
Libertarian 1 541 0.19 0 0  
Total 278,459 100.00 21 21

Summary by district

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District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
1st Sarah McBride Dem Sarah McBride Dem
2nd Darius Brown Dem Darius Brown Dem
3rd Elizabeth Lockman Dem Elizabeth Lockman Dem
4th Laura Sturgeon Dem Laura Sturgeon Dem
5th Kyle Evans Gay Dem Kyle Evans Gay Dem
6th Ernesto Lopez Rep Russ Huxtable Dem
7th Spiros Mantzavinos Dem Spiros Mantzavinos Dem
8th David Sokola Dem David Sokola Dem
9th Jack Walsh Dem Jack Walsh Dem
10th Stephanie Hansen Dem Stephanie Hansen Dem
11th Bryan Townsend Dem Bryan Townsend Dem
12th Nicole Poore Dem Nicole Poore Dem
13th Marie Pinkney Dem Marie Pinkney Dem
14th Bruce Ennis Dem Kyra Hoffner Dem
15th Dave Lawson Rep Dave Lawson Rep
16th Colin Bonini Rep Eric Buckson Rep
17th Trey Paradee Dem Trey Paradee Dem
18th Dave Wilson Rep Dave Wilson Rep
19th Brian Pettyjohn Rep Brian Pettyjohn Rep
20th Gerald Hocker Rep Gerald Hocker Rep
21st Bryant Richardson Rep Bryant Richardson Rep

Closest races

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Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 6, 3.95% gain
  2. District 14, 2.66%

Retiring incumbents

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Democrats

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  1. District 14: Bruce Ennis retired.[7]

Republicans

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  1. District 6: Ernesto Lopez retired.[8]

Incumbents defeated

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In primary elections

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Republicans

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  1. District 16: Colin Bonini lost renomination to Eric Buckson.[9]

Detailed results

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District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 13District 14District 15District 16District 17District 18District 19District 20District 21


District 1

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The 1st district covers the northeastern tip of New Castle County along the Delaware River, including Claymont, Bellefonte, most of Edgemoor, and parts of northern Wilmington. First-term Democratic incumbent Sarah McBride, who was elected in 2020 with 73.3% of the vote, won a second term unopposed.

Delaware Senate 1st district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sarah McBride (incumbent) 13,204 100%
Total votes 13,204 100%
Democratic hold

District 2

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The 2nd district is based in southern and eastern Wilmington along the Delaware River in New Castle County, also covering Minquadale and parts of New Castle and Edgemoor. First-term Democratic incumbent Darius Brown, who was unopposed in 2018, won a second term unopposed.

Delaware Senate 2nd district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Darius Brown (incumbent) 7,689 100%
Total votes 7,689 100%
Democratic hold

District 3

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The 3rd district is based in downtown Wilmington, also covering some unincorporated areas to the south. First-term Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Lockman, who was unopposed in 2018, won a second term unopposed.

Delaware Senate 3rd district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Elizabeth Lockman (incumbent) 5,714 100%
Total votes 5,714 100%
Democratic hold

District 4

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The 4th district covers many of Wilmington's northwestern suburbs in New Castle County, including Hockessin, Greenville, Pike Creek, Talleyville, Granogue, Brandywine, Alapocas, Montchanin, Runnymeade, Delaware Heights, Rockland, Winterthur, Wooddale, and other unincorporated areas. First-term Democratic incumbent Laura Sturgeon, who was elected in 2018 with 53.1% of the vote, won a second term.

Delaware Senate 4th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Laura Sturgeon (incumbent) 10,762 56.58%
Republican Ted Kittila 8,259 43.42%
Total votes 19,021 100%
Democratic hold

District 5

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The 5th district covers the northern suburbs of Wilmington in New Castle County including Arden, Ardencroft, Ardentown, Windsor Hills, Naamans Manor, Wilmont, Talleys Corner, Afton, Shellburne, Windybush, Heatherbrooke, Chalfonte, and other unincorporated areas. First-term Democratic incumbent Kyle Evans Gay, who was elected in 2020 with 52.3% of the vote, won a second term.

Delaware Senate 5th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kyle Evans Gay (incumbent) 10,471 66.28%
Republican Daniel Schmick 5,328 33.72%
Total votes 15,799 100%
Democratic hold

District 6

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The 6th district is based in the Cape Region in coastal Sussex County, covering Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Milton, and the surrounding communities. Three-term Republican incumbent Ernesto Lopez, who was re-elected in 2018 with 52.6% of the vote, announced in July 2022 that he would not run for re-election. Democrat Russ Huxtable went on to flip the seat in the general election.[10]

Democratic primary

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Delaware Senate 6th district Democratic primary election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Russ Huxtable 3,938 67.90%
Democratic Jack Bucchioni 1,862 32.10%
Total votes 5,800 100%

General election

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Delaware Senate 6th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Russ Huxtable 14,131 51.48%
Republican Stephen Smyk 13,048 47.53%
Non-Partisan Delaware Gwendolyn Jones 271 0.99%
Total votes 27,450 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

District 7

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The 7th district covers the immediate western suburbs of Wilmington in New Castle County, including Elsmere, Newport, Westminster, Anglesey, and other unincorporated areas. First-term Democratic incumbent Spiros Mantzavinos, who was elected in 2020 with 51.4% of the vote, won a second term.

Delaware Senate 7th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Spiros Mantzavinos (incumbent) 7,663 58.69%
Republican Sherm Porter 5,394 41.31%
Total votes 13,057 100%
Democratic hold

District 8

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The 8th district is based in Newark – the state's third-largest city – and also covers parts of Hockessin and North Star. Ten-term Democratic incumbent David Sokola, who was unopposed in 2020, won an eleventh term.

Delaware Senate 8th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Sokola (incumbent) 8,462 62.87%
Republican Victor John Setting 4,998 37.13%
Total votes 13,460 100%
Democratic hold

District 9

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The 9th district covers the areas between Newark and Wilmington in New Castle County, including parts of Pike Creek, Pike Creek Valley, Newport, Stanton, and far eastern Newark proper. Second-term Democratic incumbent Jack Walsh, who was elected in 2020 with 67.1% of the vote, won a third term.

Delaware Senate 9th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack Walsh (incumbent) 7,172 61.50%
Republican Brenda Mennella 4,490 38.50%
Total votes 11,662 100%
Democratic hold

District 10

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The 10th district is based in Middletown, also covering Mount Pleasant, Summit Bridge, western Glasgow, and the southernmost reaches of Newark. First-term Democratic incumbent Stephanie Hansen, who was elected in 2018 with 62.1% of the vote, won a second term unopposed.

Delaware Senate 10th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Stephanie Hansen (incumbent) 10,800 100%
Total votes 10,800 100%
Democratic hold

District 11

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The 11th district covers communities immediately to the east of Newark in New Castle County, including Brookside, Christiana, Woodshade, Taylortown, and some of Bear. Third-term Democratic incumbent Bryan Townsend, who was elected in 2018 with 75.8% of the vote, won a fourth term unopposed.

Delaware Senate 11th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bryan Townsend (incumbent) 8,843 100%
Total votes 8,843 100%
Democratic hold

District 12

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The 12th district covers much of central New Castle County along the Delaware River, including Delaware City, Wrangle Hill, Williamsburg, Kirkwood, Greylag, Bayview Manor, Monterey Farms, and parts of Glasgow, Bear, New Castle, and Wilmington Manor. Third-term Democratic incumbent Nicole Poore, who was unopposed in 2020, won a fourth term.

Delaware Senate 12th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nicole Poore (incumbent) 10,226 62.15%
Republican Bill Alexander 6,228 37.85%
Total votes 16,454 100%
Democratic hold

District 13

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The 13th district covers much of unincorporated New Castle County to the south of Wilmington, including Red Lion, Monterey Farms, Fairwinds, Duross Heights, Clearvier Manor, and parts of Bear and Wilmington Manor. First-term Democratic incumbent Marie Pinkney, who was elected in 2020 with 75.8% of the vote, won a second term unopposed.

Delaware Senate 13th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Marie Pinkney (incumbent) 8,611 100%
Total votes 8,611 100%
Democratic hold

District 14

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The 14th district straddles the border between New Castle County and Kent County, covering all of Smyrna, Clayton, Odessa, Blackbird, and Leipsic, as well as parts of Middletown. Four-term Democratic incumbent Bruce Ennis, who was re-elected in 2020 with 59.5% of the vote, announced in 2021 that he would not run for re-election. Democrat Kyra Hoffner went on to win the seat in the general election.

Democratic primary

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Delaware Senate 14th district Democratic primary election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kyra Hoffner 1,015 34.37%
Democratic Michael Hill-Shaner 794 26.89%
Democratic Kevin Musto 570 19.30%
Democratic Robert Sebastiano 312 10.57%
Democratic Sam Noel 262 8.87%
Total votes 2,953 100%

General election

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Delaware Senate 14th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kyra Hoffner 8,404 51.83%
Republican Mark Pugh 7,811 48.17%
Total votes 16,215 100%
Democratic hold

District 15

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The 15th district covers much of Kent County to the west of Dover, including Cheswold, Felton, Kenton, Marydel, Hartly, Willow Grove, Petersburg, Sandtown, and part of Viola. Four-term Republican incumbent Dave Lawson, who was elected in 2020 with 55.3% of the vote, won a fifth term unopposed.

Delaware Senate 15th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dave Lawson (incumbent) 11,814 100%
Total votes 11,814 100%
Republican hold

District 16

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The 16th district covers southern Dover and its suburbs in Kent County, including Highland Acres, Rising Sun-Lebanon, Kent Acres, Riverview, Magnolia, Woodside, Woodside East, Frederica, Little Creek, Bowers, and Little Heaven. Nine-term Republican incumbent Colin Bonini, who was elected in 2018 with 55% of the vote, lost the September 13th Republican primary, finishing last place in a 3-way race. Republican Eric Buckson went on to win the general election unopposed.

Republican primary

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Delaware Senate 16th district Republican primary election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eric Buckson 1,915 51.11%
Republican Kim Petters 1,017 27.14%
Republican Colin Bonini (incumbent) 815 21.75%
Total votes 3,747 100%

General election

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Delaware Senate 16th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Eric Buckson 9,577 100%
Total votes 9,577 100%
Republican hold

District 17

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The 17th district is based in Dover, covering most of the city proper as well as the nearby Kent County communities of Camden, Wyoming, and Rodney Village. First-term Democratic incumbent Trey Paradee, who was elected in 2018 with 64.3% of the vote, won a second term.

Delaware Senate 17th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Trey Paradee (incumbent) 7,551 64.40%
Republican Ed Ruyter 4,174 35.60%
Total votes 11,725 100%
Democratic hold

District 18

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The 18th district covers southern Kent County and northern Sussex County, including the communities of Milford, Harrington, Greenwood, Ellendale, Houston, Farmington, Slaughter Beach, and Lincoln. First-term Republican incumbent Dave Wilson, who was elected in 2018 with 65.2% of the vote, won a second term.

Delaware Senate 18th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dave Wilson (incumbent) 10,867 69.97%
Democratic Billy Devary 4,665 30.03%
Total votes 15,532 100%
Republican hold

District 19

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The 19th district covers central Sussex County, including the communities of Georgetown, Bridgeville, and Long Neck. Third-term Republican incumbent Brian Pettyjohn, who was unopposed in 2020, won a fourth term unopposed.

Delaware Senate 19th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Pettyjohn (incumbent) 13,142 100%
Total votes 13,142 100%
Republican hold

District 20

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The 20th district is based in southeastern Sussex County along the Atlantic Ocean, including the communities of Millsboro, Selbyville, Ocean View, Bethany Beach, Dagsboro, Frankford, Fenwick Island, Millville, South Bethany, Roxana, and Oak Orchard. Third-term Republican incumbent Gerald Hocker, who was unopposed in 2020, won a fourth term unopposed.

Delaware Senate 20th district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gerald Hocker (incumbent) 17,150 100%
Total votes 17,150 100%
Republican hold

District 21

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The 21st district is based in the southwestern corner of Sussex County, including the communities of Seaford, Laurel, Delmar, Bethel, Gumboro, and Reliance. Third-term Republican incumbent Bryant Richardson, who was elected in 2018 with 65.0% of the vote, won a fourth term.

Delaware Senate 21st district general election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bryant Richardson (incumbent) 10,013 86.77%
Non-Partisan Delaware Sonja Mehaffey 986 8.54%
Libertarian Chris Dalton 541 4.69%
Total votes 11,540 100%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "State of Delaware – Department of Elections". elections.delaware.gov. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Delaware's Democratic Party celebrate big wins in Tuesday's election". Delaware First Media. November 9, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. ^ Jacobson, Louis (May 19, 2022). "The Battle for State Legislatures". Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  4. ^ "2022 Primary Election State Candidates List". Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  5. ^ "2022 General Election State Candidates List". Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Elections, The State of Delaware-Department of. "Delaware Election Results". Department of Elections. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  7. ^ Megginson, Charlie (March 3, 2022). "Smyrna's Sen. Bruce Ennis will retire after current term | Delaware LIVE News". Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Sen. Ernie Lopez will not seek re-election". Cape Gazette. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  9. ^ "Buckson defeats incumbent Colin Bonini in District 16 race". 47abc. September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  10. ^ Stayman, Zoe. "(D) Russ Huxtable Wins District 6 Senate Race". WRDE Coast TV. Retrieved November 14, 2022.