What to watch in the US’s Delaware primary elections
Delaware holds the final state primary before the November midterm elections, with polls open from 7am to 8pm ET. Voters will decide contested party nominations for federal and state offices under the state's closed primary rules.
Why It Matters
As the last state to vote before the general election, Delaware's results will conclude the primary calendar and determine which nominees appear on the November 3 ballot; the state's races are also relevant to the broader balance of power even though Delaware is widely expected to remain Democratic.
Key Facts
- Primary day polling hours: Polls open 7am ET (12:00 GMT), close 8pm ET (0:00 GMT)
- Primary system: Closed primary — only registered Democrats can vote in Democratic primary and only registered Republicans in Republican primary
- Contested primary rule: Primaries held only when more than one candidate per party is running; unopposed candidates advance to the November 3 general election
- Offices on ballot: US Senate, US House, state attorney general (incumbents seeking re-election), state legislature seats, and an open state treasurer seat
- US Senate Democratic candidates: Incumbent Senator Chris Coons; challengers Jeff Appelhans, Mary Louve, and Eric Hansen (appearing as 'E. No-Trump Hansen')
Delaware is holding the last state primary before the midterm general election, with in-person voting beginning at 7am ET and ending at 8pm ET. The state uses a closed primary system: only registered Democrats may participate in Democratic contests and only registered Republicans in Republican contests. Additionally, primary contests occur only when multiple candidates from the same party seek a nomination; unopposed nominees advance automatically to the November 3 general election.
Several key contests are on the ballot. Delaware’s Democratic US senator, US representative and state attorney general are all running for re-election. Voters will also select party nominees for the state legislature and fill the party lineups for an open state treasurer seat. While national control of Congress could hinge on a small number of close races, Delaware’s seats are widely expected to remain in Democratic hands given the state’s partisan trajectory since the 1990s.
The US Senate primary features incumbent Democratic Senator Chris Coons facing three Democratic challengers: University of Delaware history professor Jeff Appelhans, naval architect Mary Louve, and former business executive Eric Hansen, who will appear on the ballot as "E. No-Trump Hansen" and was the Republican Senate nominee in 2024. On the Republican side, former state Senator Michael Katz and US Army Reserve Colonel John Shulli are competing for their party’s nomination.
Delaware’s lone US House seat has Democratic incumbent Sarah McBride running unopposed in her primary as she seeks a second term. Three Republicans — Joseph Arminio, Earl Cooper and John Whalen — are competing for their party’s nomination to challenge her in November.
Voter registration in Delaware as of September 1 included about 808,000 registered voters, with roughly 331,000 registered Democrats and about 199,000 registered Republicans. Those figures frame the partisan composition of the electorate heading into the primary and the November general election on November 3.
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