Delaware Senate

Delaware State Senate
Delaware State Senate
Delaware General Assembly
Type
Type	Upper house
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 10, 2023
Leadership
President	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
Seats	21
Political groups	Majority Democratic (15); Minority Republican (6);
Length of term	4 years
Authority	Article III, Section 1, Delaware Constitution
Salary	$48,237/year.
Elections
Last election	November 8, 2022; (21 seats)
Next election	November 5, 2024; (10 seats)
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place
	State Senate Chamber; Delaware Legislative Hall; Dover, Delaware
Website
	Delaware State Senate

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.

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.

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

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

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