Number of Delaware state legislative incumbents facing primary challengers near average from 2010-2022

Delaware has 13 contested state legislative primaries this year, one less than in 2022 when 14 state legislative primaries were contested.

Of the 13 contested primaries, 10 are for Democrats and three are for Republicans. For Democrats, this is one less than in 2022 when there were 11 Democratic primaries. The three Republican primaries are the same number as in 2022.

Seven incumbents face primary challenges, representing 15.2% of all 46 incumbents running for re-election. This is nearly equivalent to the average number (7.29) and percentage (14.6%) of contested incumbents from 2010-2022. The average number of incumbents running across all state legislative elections from 2010-2022 was 48.86.

Of the 7 incumbents in contested primaries, five are Democrats and two are Republicans.

Overall, 81 major party candidates—52 Democrats and 32 Republicans—filed to run. All 41 House seats and 10 of 21 Senate seats are up for election.

Five of those seats (8.1%) are open, meaning no incumbents filed, and newcomers will hold those seats next year. This is slightly below 5.7 (9.2%), the average number of incumbents who retired each election year from 2010-2022.

Delaware has had a Democratic trifecta since the party won control of the House in 2008. Democrats currently have a 26-15 majority in the House and a 15-6 majority in the Senate. As of July 24, 2024, there were 23 Republican trifectas, 17 Democratic trifectas, and 10 divided governments where neither party held trifecta control.

Delaware’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for Sept. 10.