Delaware Senate


The Delaware Senate is the upper house of the Delaware General Assembly, the state legislature of the US 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.
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

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

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.
PositionNamePartyDistrict
President of the Senate/Lieutenant GovernorBethany Hall-LongDemocratic
President Pro TemDavid McBrideDemocratic13
Majority LeaderNicole PooreDemocratic12
Majority WhipBryan TownsendDemocratic11
Minority LeaderGerald HockerRepublican20
Minority WhipCatherine CloutierRepublican5

Composition

Members

Below are the Senators as of the 150th General Assembly, following the most recent election.
DistrictNamePartyFirst ElectedResidenceSeat up
1stHarris McDowell IIIDem1976North Wilmington2020
2ndDarius J. BrownDem20182022
3rdElizabeth LockmanDem20182022
4thLaura SturgeonDem20182022
5thCatherine CloutierRep2000Heatherbrooke2020
6thErnesto LopezRep2012Lewes2022
7thAnthony DelcolloRep20162020
8thDavid SokolaDem1990Newark2020
9thJack WalshDem20162020
10thStephanie HansenDem2017Middletown2022
11thBryan TownsendDem2012Westover Woods2022
12thNicole PooreDem2012Barbs Farm2020
13thDavid McBrideDem1980Hawk's Nest2020
14thBruce EnnisDem2007Clayton2020
15thDavid G. LawsonRep2010Marydel2020
16thColin BoniniRep1994South Dover2022
17thW. Charles ParadeeDem2018Dover2022
18thDavid L. WilsonRep20182022
19thBrian G. PettyjohnRep2012Georgetown2020
20thGerald HockerRep2012Ocean View2020
21stBryant RichardsonRep2014Laurel2022

Past composition of the Senate