Additionally, current Governor John Carney and U.S. Senator Tom Carper, both from the Democratic Party, will not be seeking reelection. Collectively, they have served in various political capacities in Delaware for a total of over 70 years. Carper has announced his retirement while Carney is campaigning for the role of Wilmington’s mayor.
To succeed Carper, Democratic U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester is running for the Senate seat. Blunt Rochester has represented Delaware’s only U.S. House seat since 2017 and has the distinction of being the first African American and the first woman to hold this position in Congress. Should she win the Senate seat, Blunt Rochester would be one of only three Black women elected to the U.S. Senate, and the first since Harris took on the vice presidency.
Meanwhile, Democratic State Senator Sarah McBride is vying for Blunt Rochester’s current U.S. House seat. If successful, she would not only make history as the first transgender person elected to federal office but also become the youngest representative Delaware has sent to Washington, D.C., since Biden’s Senate election in 1972.
Historically, Delaware was an influential predictor of presidential election outcomes throughout the 20th century; however, it has supported Democratic candidates in the last eight presidential elections, starting in 1992. Republicans have faced a dry spell in statewide offices, having not won the governorship since 1988, a U.S. Senate seat since 1994, or a House seat since 2008.
In terms of election coverage, projections about winners are strictly under the purview of associated news agencies, with announcements made only when it’s verified that trailing candidates cannot recover. Continuous updates will be provided on various developments, such as concession speeches or declarations of victory by any candidate involved.
Here is some information on what to anticipate regarding the 2024 election in Delaware:
**Election Day:** November 5.
**Poll Closing Time:** 8 p.m. ET.
**Presidential Electoral Votes:** 3 to the winner statewide.
**Key Races and Candidates:**
*President:* Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Vermin Supreme (Constitution) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Independent Party of Delaware) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian).
*U.S. Senate:* Blunt Rochester (D) vs. Eric Hansen (R) vs. Michael Katz (Independent Party of Delaware).
*Governor:* Matt Meyer (D) vs. Mike Ramone (R).
**Other Notable Races:** These include contests for the U.S. House, the state Senate, and House, as well as positions for lieutenant governor, insurance commissioner, and Wilmington mayor.
**Recent Presidential Election Results:** In 2020, Biden (D) received 59% of the vote, while Trump (R) garnered 40%.
**Voter Registration and Turnout:** As of October 1, 2024, there are 786,577 registered voters in Delaware, with approximately 45% registered as Democrats, 26% as Republicans, and 23% with no party affiliation. Voter turnout for the 2020 presidential election was recorded at 68% of registered voters.
**Pre-Election Day Voting Trends:** In the 2020 elections, roughly 32% of votes were cast prior to Election Day, while this dropped to around 24% in 2022. Latest statistics for early voting in 2024 will be available via voting trackers.
**Vote Counting Timeline:** The first votes were reported on November 3, 2020, at 8:16 p.m. ET, with about 99% of total votes recorded by midnight ET.