Delaware voters head to the polls on Tuesday to select their nominees for the U.S. Senate, House, and various local offices, marking the final primary contests of the 2026 midterm election cycle. State law dictates that primaries take place on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in September, pushing voting into the third week of the month this year. Democratic Senator Chris Coons, initially elected in 2010 to fill the vacancy left when Joe Biden became vice president, is widely expected to secure a victory. He faces three primary challengers, including former business executive Eric Hansen, who appears on the ballot under the name “E. No-Trump Hansen”. Coons has raised over $6.8 million for his reelection campaign, compared to $150,000 for his closest primary opponent, while the other two candidates have not reported fundraising totals. Two Republicans are competing for their party’s nomination, though Delaware remains a reliably blue state where Coons is favored in November. No Republican has won a Delaware Senate seat since 1966. Delaware’s sole U.S. House member, Representative Sarah McBride, is running for reelection without facing any primary opponents. McBride, the first transgender member of Congress, has drawn significant attention from House Republicans during her initial term. In November 2024, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a rule requiring members to use restrooms corresponding to their biological sex, following a ban introduced by GOP Representative Nancy Mace specifically targeting McBride. McBride stated at the time that the rule was meant to distract from major national issues, though she confirmed she would comply. Three Republicans are running to challenge McBride in the general election, including Earl Cooper, who switched from the Democratic party after running in her 2024 primary, and John Whalen III, her 2024 general election opponent.
Source: cbsnews.com
