Delaware held its general election on November 6, 2018, deciding 51 legislative seats and 3 statewide offices. No chamber changed party control.
Highlights
- Democrats swept the statewide offices, taking the treasurer's and auditor's posts from Republicans, and ousted the Republican minority whips in both chambers, adding a seat to each of their legislative majorities.
- Democrats came out of the election holding all nine statewide elective positions, the three congressional seats included, something no party had done since Republicans in 1969 and 1970. Colleen Davis (D) ousted one-term Treasurer Ken Simpler (R) by more than 6 points, and Kathy McGuiness (D) defeated James Spadola (R) for the auditor's office that Republican Tom Wagner had held for 28 years. Kathy Jennings (D) won the attorney general's race over Bernard Pepukayi (R).
- In the Senate, where 10 of 21 seats were up, newcomer Laura Sturgeon (D) beat Minority Whip Greg Lavelle (R) by about 1,300 votes in District 4. Lavelle had served in the legislature since 2000. In the House, Krista Griffith (D) unseated Minority Whip Deborah Hudson (R) by about 800 votes in District 12. The two wins took Democrats to 12-9 in the Senate, one seat short of three-fifths, and 26-15 in the House.
- Lavelle and Hudson were the only legislative incumbents to lose. The one other race inside two points was the open House District 22, where Michael F. Smith (R) held a retiring Republican's seat over Guillermina Gonzalez (D) by 140 votes. Of the 51 legislative seats on the ballot, 15 went uncontested.
Legislature
- House (41 seats): 25 D, 16 R before the election, 26 D, 15 R after; control stayed with Democrats.
- Senate (21 seats): 11 D, 10 R before the election, 12 D, 9 R after; control stayed with Democrats.
Statewide races
| Race | Winner | Others | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney General | Kathy Jennings (D) 61.3% | Bernard Pepukayi (R) 38.7% | |
| Auditor | Kathy McGuiness (D) 57.9% | James Spadola (R) 42.1% | Flipped R to D |
| Treasurer | Colleen Davis (D) 52.4% | Ken Simpler (R) 45.9%, David Chandler (G) 1.8% | Flipped R to D; Incumbent defeated |