2018 Delaware elections

2018 Delaware elections

November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06)

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Delaware on November 6, 2018. Half of Delaware's executive officers were up for election, as well as a United States Senate seat and Delaware's at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on September 6, 2018.[1]

In the general election, Democrats took over all statewide offices and defeated two of the highest ranking Republicans in the Delaware General Assembly.[2][3][4] Those races were all won by Democratic women, putting a record number of women in statewide elected offices in Delaware.[5] The Democratic Party became the first party to hold all nine statewide offices in Delaware since the Republican Party in 1970.[6]

Federal

Senate

House of Representatives

State

Constitutional officers

Attorney general

Incumbent Democratic attorney general Matthew Denn did not run for reelection to a second term in office.[7] The Republican Party originally nominated former chief Sussex County prosecutor Peggy Marshall Thomas, however Thomas later withdrew and the party nominated former New Castle County attorney Bernard Pepukayi.[8][9][10]

Former New Castle County chief administrative officer Kathy Jennings won the Democratic nomination, defeating three opponents, and went on to defeat Pepukayi in the general election.

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathy Jennings 46,038 56.6
Democratic LaKresha Roberts 17,584 21.6
Democratic Chris Johnson 12,194 15.0
Democratic Tim Mullaney 5,513 6.8
Margin of victory 28,454 35.0%
Turnout 81,329 25.4%[11]
Total votes 81,329 100.0
Delaware Attorney General election, 2018[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathy Jennings 218,332 61.31%
Republican Bernard Pepukayi 137,725 38.69%
Total votes 356,057 100%
Democratic hold

Treasurer

Republican nominee and incumbent state treasurer Ken Simpler, Democratic nominee Colleen Davis, and Green nominee David Chandler (who was also the nominee in 2014), were all unopposed in their respective primaries. Davis won the general election, denying Simpler a second term in office.[13]

Delaware State Treasurer election, 2018[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Colleen Davis 187,225 52.36%
Republican Ken Simpler (incumbent) 163,999 45.87%
Green David Chandler 6,300 1.77%
Total votes 357,524 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

Auditor of Accounts

2018 Delaware State Auditor election

 
Nominee Kathy McGuiness James Spadola
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 205,611 149,479
Percentage 57.9% 42.1%

McGuiness:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Spadola:      50–60%      60–70%

Auditor before election

Tom Wagner
Republican

Elected Auditor

Kathy McGuiness
Democratic

Incumbent Republican State Auditor Tom Wagner did not run for reelection to an eighth term. Republican nominee James Spadola was unopposed in his respective primary and won the nomination.

Kathy McGuiness won the Democratic nomination, defeating two opponents, and went on to win the general election against Spadola.

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathy McGuiness 33,240 41.9
Democratic Kathleen Davies 27,748 34.9
Democratic Dennis E. Williams 18,431 23.2
Total votes 79,419 100
Delaware State Auditor election, 2018[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathy McGuiness 205,611 57.90%
Republican James Spadola 149,479 42.10%
Total votes 355,090 100%
Democratic gain from Republican

General Assembly

Senate

The state of Delaware had various State Senate elections in the general election.

House of Representatives

References

  1. ^ "State of Delaware Primary Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. September 6, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ Barrish, Cris (November 6, 2018). "Democrats sweep Delaware statewide offices". WHYY.
  3. ^ Schmidt, Sophia (November 7, 2018). "State House and Senate Minority Whips ousted by Democratic challengers". Delaware Public Media.
  4. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. November 6, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ Goss, Scott (November 7, 2018). "Women led the charge in Delaware's election night victories". The News Journal.
  6. ^ "Del. Democrats Sworn in to Statewide Offices". WBOC 16. January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  7. ^ "Attorney General Matt Denn will not seek re-election".
  8. ^ Diehl, Josh (July 11, 2018). "Peggy Marshall Thomas enters Attorney General race".
  9. ^ "Delaware's lone Republican in the attorney general race drops out".
  10. ^ "Longtime Democrat Bernard Pepukayi to run for Delaware AG as a Republican".
  11. ^ "State of Delaware - Department of Elections · Office of the State Election Commissioner". elections.delaware.gov. Retrieved September 19, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ a b c "State of Delaware General Election (Official Results)". State of Delaware Election Commissioner. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  13. ^ "Simpler to run for re-election as state treasurer".