DOVER, Del. — The Senate race in Delaware presents a unique opportunity for a significant milestone in the state’s political history. U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Democrat, is in a competitive run against Republican Eric Hansen and independent candidate Michael Katz in the upcoming election.
If successful, Blunt Rochester would achieve the distinction of being the first woman and the first Black individual to represent Delaware in the Senate. Historically, only three Black women have occupied seats in the Senate, with two being elected and one appointed. Blunt Rochester is regarded as the frontrunner due to her established visibility and the strong Democratic voter base in Delaware, a state that last elected a Republican to the Senate in 2008. She has also amassed significantly more campaign funds, reporting over $9 million in contributions, while Hansen has raised just above $1 million, which includes personal loans to his campaign of more than $800,000.
Katz, a physician with experience serving a term in the Delaware state Senate, has opted out of taking external campaign contributions entirely. The candidates are competing to fill the vacancy left by Democrat Tom Carper, who has served since 2000. Upon announcing his retirement last year, Carper expressed his support for Blunt Rochester as his preferred successor. Notably, she previously worked as an intern for Carper while he was in the House and held positions in his administration during his governorship.
Blunt Rochester has held the position of Delaware’s sole representative in the House for four consecutive terms. Throughout her tenure, she has put forth 90 bills and seven resolutions, predominantly focused on enhancing healthcare access for women and minorities. Although only one of her sponsored measures has become law— a resolution to honor 19th-century anti-slavery activist Mary Ann Shadd Cary by naming a Wilmington post office after her—Blunt Rochester’s contributions are well documented.
Her political career started as a case worker for Carper, and she has taken on various appointed roles, including Delaware’s labor secretary and deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services. Additionally, she served as the CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.
On the other hand, Hansen, a newcomer to politics and formerly a Wal-Mart executive, describes himself as a “nonpolitician.” His platform emphasizes budget balancing and an incremental reduction of government size through more efficient operations and attrition. He has also advocated for instating term limits within Congress.
Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the day of the election, allowing voters to participate in this potentially historic event for Delaware.