Full Breakdown
Delaware Primary 2026: GOP Nominees Emerge for Senate and House
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Election Results
On September 16, 2026, Delaware voters completed the final primary before the November 3 midterms. In the Republican Senate primary, former state senator Michael Katz defeated Army Reserve Colonel John Shulli, securing the GOP nomination to challenge three-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Chris Coons. In the Republican primary for the at-large U.S. House seat, political scientist Joseph Arminio prevailed over Rev. Earl Cooper and former candidate John Whalen, becoming the party’s nominee to face incumbent Rep. Sarah McBride, who ran unopposed.
Background & Context
Delaware has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1994 and has held the at-large House seat for Democrats since 2008. The 2026 primaries therefore marked the GOP’s latest attempt to break a decades-long Democratic lock on statewide federal offices.
Data & Statistics
- Senate primary – Katz captured roughly 77 % of the Republican vote; Shulli received about 23 % (Delaware Department of Elections).
- House primary – Reported vote shares for Arminio range from 46 % to 48 % across outlets; Whalen received roughly 32-33 % and Cooper 22 %.
- Turnout – Approximately 128,600 Delawareans voted, a turnout of about 22 %.
Official Statements & Responses
- Chris Coons thanked volunteers and grassroots donors in a social-media post after his primary victory, emphasizing the collective effort that secured his renomination.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our campaign is building a coalition. A coalition of Republicans, Independents and Democratic voters to win this race in November to defeat Chris Coons,” — Mike Katz
- “I will work in areas that I'm able to with this current administration,” — Mike Katz
On-the-Ground Reports
Voters voiced varied concerns at polling locations:
- “I wanted to exercise my vote because a lot of things are not going right, so I wanted to express my voice vote for a change,” said Art Gatwood.
- “Try to get these gas prices down and the economy and everything,” remarked Jerolyn Rice.
- “It’s important to vote, period, for my category, but my wife and I come out to vote in every primary,” noted Sanford Grimes.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The exact percentage of the Republican House primary vote for Arminio differs across sources (AP 46 %, DelawareOnline 48 %, AA 47.9 %). No final certified count has been released, leaving the precise margin unresolved pending official certification.
What’s Next
The nominees will face off in the November 3 general election. Katz will challenge Sen. Coons for the Senate seat, while Arminio will contest Rep. McBride’s at-large House seat. Both races will test whether Delaware’s longstanding Democratic dominance can be broken.