The Delaware Senate is the upper house of the Delaware General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is composed of 21 Senators, each of whom is elected to a four-year term, except when reapportionment occurs, at which time Senators may be elected to a two-year term. There is no limit to the number of terms that a Senator may serve. The Delaware Senate meets at the Legislative Hall in Dover.

Delaware State Senate
Delaware General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 10, 2023
Leadership
Bethany Hall-Long (D)
since January 17, 2017
President Pro Tempore
David Sokola (D)
since November 4, 2020
Majority Leader
Bryan Townsend (D)
since November 4, 2020
Minority Leader
Gerald Hocker (R)
since November 7, 2018
Structure
Seats21
Political groups
Majority
  •   Democratic (15)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle III, Section 1, Delaware Constitution
Salary$48,237/year.[1]
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(21 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(10 seats)
RedistrictingLegislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Delaware Legislative Hall
Dover, Delaware
Website
Delaware State Senate

In order to accommodate the ten-year cycle of reapportionment, the terms of office of the several Senators are staggered so that ten Senators are elected to terms of two years at the first biennial general election following reapportionment, followed by two four-year terms, and eleven Senators are elected at the said election for two four-year terms, followed by a two-year term.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions, boards, or justices to the Delaware Supreme Court.

Qualifications

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Senators must be citizens of the United States, have lived in Delaware for three years, and have been a resident of their respective district for at least one year preceding their election. They must also be at least 27 years old at the time of their election.

Senate leadership

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The Lieutenant Governor of Delaware serves as the President of the Senate, but only casts a vote if required to break a tie. In his or her absence, the President Pro Tempore presides over the Senate. The President Pro Tempore is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the entire Senate through a Senate Resolution. The President Pro Tempore is the chief leadership position in the Senate. The other Senate leaders are elected by their respective party caucuses.

Position Name Party District
President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long Democratic N/A
President Pro Tem David Sokola Democratic 8
Majority Leader Bryan Townsend Democratic 11
Majority Whip Elizabeth Lockman Democratic 3
Minority Leader Gerald Hocker Republican 20
Minority Whip Brian G. Pettyjohn Republican 19

Composition

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15 6
Democratic Republican
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Democratic Republican Vacant
November 7, 2018[2] 14 7 21 0
November 7, 2022 15 6 21 0
Latest voting share 71% 29%

Members

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Below are the Senators as of the 152nd General Assembly (2022–2024), following the most recent election.

District Name Party First elected Residence Seat up
1st Sarah McBride Dem 2020 North Wilmington 2026
2nd Darius J. Brown Dem 2018 Wilmington 2024
3rd Elizabeth Lockman Dem 2018 Wilmington 2024
4th Laura Sturgeon Dem 2018 Brandywine Hundred 2024
5th Kyle Gay Dem 2020 Heatherbrooke 2026
6th Russ Huxtable Dem 2022 Lewes 2024
7th Spiros Mantzavinos Dem 2020 Westgate Farms 2026
8th David Sokola Dem 1990 Newark 2026
9th Jack Walsh Dem 2016 Newport 2026
10th Stephanie Hansen Dem 2017 Middletown 2024
11th Bryan Townsend Dem 2012 Westover Woods 2024
12th Nicole Poore Dem 2012 Barbs Farm 2026
13th Marie Pinkney Dem 2020 New Castle County 2026
14th Kyra Hoffner Dem 2022 Leipsic 2026
15th David G. Lawson Rep 2010 Marydel 2026
16th Eric Buckson Rep 2022 Camden 2024
17th W. Charles Paradee Dem 2018 Dover 2024
18th David L. Wilson Rep 2018 Lincoln 2024
19th Brian G. Pettyjohn Rep 2012 Georgetown 2026
20th Gerald Hocker Rep 2012 Ocean View 2026
21st Bryant Richardson Rep 2014 Laurel 2024

Past composition of the Senate

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2022 Legislator Compensation". ncsl.org. National Conference of State Legislatures.
  2. ^ Delaware legislators' terms begin the second Wednesday in November (i.e. the day after Election Day), even though they are not sworn in until January. Constitution of Delaware, Article II, Section 3
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