Delaware holds U.S. Senate primary and more races to watch today

Delaware voters will cast their votes on Tuesday for their nominees in the U.S. Senate, House and various local races, marking the final primary contests of the 2026 midterm election cycle. State and local primaries in general election years are traditionally held on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in September; this year's primary falls in the third week of September.

The U.S. Senate race is expected to be a straightforward victory for Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, who has been serving the state since 2010. Coons is up against three minor candidates, including former business executive Eric Hansen, who will run as E. No-Trump Hansen. Coons has raised over $6.8 million for his reelection campaign, while his closest rival has reported just $150,000 in fundraising. Other two candidates have not disclosed any donation records so far.

Two Republicans are also competing for the opportunity to challenge Coons, although the state is traditionally Democratic and Coons is favored to win handsomely in November. It is worth noting that a Republican has not won a Delaware Senate seat since 1966, when J. Caleb Boggs was elected and then defeated six years later by a young Joe Biden.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, Delaware's sole representative, incumbent Rep. Sarah McBride, will be seeking re-election, with no primary opponents. McBride is the first transgender member of Congress and has been a focal point of controversy and opposition from the Republican Party. In her first term, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a ban requiring all House members to use the restroom corresponding to their biological sex, targeting McBride.

Despite initially complying with the rule, McBride later stated she was using it as a diversion from real issues facing the nation. Three Republicans are running to replace her in November, including an individual who switched parties from her 2024 Democratic primary opponent and the candidate she faced in the 2024 general election, John Whalen III.