2022 Delaware Senate election

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.

2022 Delaware Senate election

November 8, 2022
All 21 seats in the Delaware Senate 11 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	42.68%
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 1 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.

Background

See also: Political party strength in Delaware

Predictions

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

Overview

Party		Candidates	Votes		Seats
			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

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

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

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

Retiring incumbents

Democrats

1. District 14: Bruce Ennis retired.

Republicans

1. District 6: Ernesto Lopez retired.

Incumbents defeated

In primary elections

Republicans

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

Detailed results

District 1

See also: Delaware's 1st Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 2nd Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 3rd Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 4th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 5th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 6th Senate district

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.

Democratic primary

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

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

See also: Delaware's 7th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 8th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 9th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 10th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 11th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 12th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 13th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 14th Senate district

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

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

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

See also: Delaware's 15th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 16th Senate district

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

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

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

See also: Delaware's 17th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 18th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 19th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 20th Senate district

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

See also: Delaware's 21st Senate district

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