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 | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
New session started | January 10, 2023 |
| Leadership | |
President Pro Tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 21 |
 | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Authority | Article 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) |
| Redistricting | Legislative 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
editSenators 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
editThe 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
edit| 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
editBelow 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
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "2022 Legislator Compensation". ncsl.org. National Conference of State Legislatures.
- ^ 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