Delaware election 2026: What to know about the U.S. Senate race between Chris Coons and Mike Katz

Delaware, like every other state, has two U.S. senators representing the interests of its residents in the upper chamber of the legislative branch. Senators serve six-year terms. In office, senators work alongside members of the U.S. House of Representatives to write and vote on federal bills. They also sit on committees that review laws and conduct hearings. As a part of the Senate, they approve the president’s cabinet member nominations, federal judges and U.S. Supreme Court justices.

Delaware has not had a Republican in the U.S. Senate in about 25 years, with both U.S. Senate seats being filled by Democrats. The last Republican elected to the seat was the late U.S. Sen. William Roth, who served from 1971 to 2001.

Electing a Republican to the seat would be a turn of events for Delaware, where former Vice President Kamala Harris won by about 15 percentage points in the last general election.

Coons is on the Senate Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Ethics committees, for which he serves as the vice chair. He’s also the ranking Democrat on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee.

“I’ve used my role as an appropriator to bring resources to Delaware, to tackle the problems I hear most Delawareans concerned about: housing, health care, jobs and the cost of living,” Coons told WHYY News.

He also said that through his role on the Foreign Relations Committee, he has been working to end the war in Iran and the ongoing tariff war with Canada, as well as reducing tariff costs. Coons also said that he has worked on delivering legislation across the aisle.

Coons said if he is reelected, he will ensure that he spends as much time in Delaware as he would in Washington, D.C., addressing Delawareans’ needs.

“Whether it’s fighting to repair storm damage in Sussex County beaches, or to bring federal investment to helping improve health care from Lewes to Georgetown, or fighting for our chicken industry, they can count on me as being a solid partner for the things that matter to Delaware and Delawareans,” Coons said.

Other top priorities include addressing the cost of living, affordable housing and foreign policy. He also said that he would stand up to the Trump administration and continue to work on bipartisan legislation.

“It’s striking to me that folks believe I can do both, and I think I’ve shown that I can do both,” Coons said.

Coons has mainly faced criticism from progressives in the Democratic party for his moderate stances. He faced pushback for his support of Israel in its war in Gaza, including receiving over $500,000 in donations this election cycle from pro-Israel political action committees, as well as for donations from sources like a contractor who’s now in prison for illegal contributions.

In addition, Coons recently announced his plan to end his relationship with Palantir, a company focused on artificial intelligence software that has privately donated over $27,000 to his campaign. Palantir donates to many politicians, most notably to President Donald Trump, who has received over $2 million from the firm.

Coons has been endorsed by the Delaware Democratic Party, the Delaware State Education Association, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the League of Conservation Voters, Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council, Delaware Stonewall Political Action Committee, and the Human Rights Campaign among others. He was also endorsed by Delaware U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Delaware U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride and Gov. Matt Meyer.

If elected, Katz said he would work on fixing “a broken health care system,” which would focus on population health, community health and creating more competition for health care providers.

In addition, he said that he would address the cost of living crisis, primarily grocery and gas prices, as well as affordable housing. Katz also said he was concerned with the education system, federal spending, government transparency and single-party concentration in power, particularly in the state’s representation.

“Delaware needs greater balance in government, not because one party has all the answers, because better government comes from checks and balances, accountability and people willing to work across party lines,” Katz said. “And people in Delaware are hurting as well as around the country.”

Katz drew criticism from fellow party members after he called for Republican U.S. House of Representatives nominee Joseph Arminio to withdraw from the race. That’s after Arminio was removed from a candidate’s forum for repeatedly misgendering incumbent U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride.

Katz’s competitor in the primary, John Shulli, has since filed his write-in candidacy, claiming that Katz was attempting to censor Arminio.

The Delaware GOP have since defended Arminio and stated he has a right to free speech.

Travis Jack Stevens and William McVay also are running write-in campaigns.

Organizations that have endorsed Katz include the Delaware Republican Party, Northern New Castle County Republicans, Sussex County Republican Committee, College Republicans of America, Delaware College Republicans and the Independent Party of Delaware. Other notable endorsements come from former U.S. Attorney Julianne Murray, state Sen. Dave Wilson, state Sen. Dave Lawson, state Rep. Danny Short and Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association President Jeff Hague.