# 2016 Delaware Senate election

The 2016 Delaware Senate election was held on November 8, 2016 to elect 11 of the 21 members to Delaware's Senate. The election coincided with the elections for other offices, including the Presidency, U.S. House of Representatives, and state house. The primary election was held on September 13, 2016.
Delaware Republicans needed to have a net gain of two seats to flip the chamber from the Democrats. However, they gained only one seat (winning 10 seats compared to 11 seats for the Democrats).

## Results summary

| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 1 | Harris McDowell III | Dem | Harris McDowell III | Dem |
| 5 | Catherine Cloutier | Rep | Catherine Cloutier | Rep |
| 7 | Patti Blevins | Dem | Anthony Delcollo | Rep |
| 8 | David Sokola | Dem | David Sokola | Dem |
| 9 | Karen Peterson | Dem | Jack Walsh | Dem |
| 12 | Nicole Poore | Dem | Nicole Poore | Dem |
| 13 | David McBride | Dem | David McBride | Dem |
| 14 | Bruce Ennis | Dem | Bruce Ennis | Dem |
| 15 | David Lawson | Rep | David Lawson | Rep |
| 19 | Brian Pettyjohn | Rep | Brian Pettyjohn | Rep |
| 20 | Gerald Hocker | Rep | Gerald Hocker | Rep |
| Party | Party | Candi- dates | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Candi- dates | No. | % | No. | +/– | % |
| | Democratic | 9 | 106,963 | 52.30% | 11 | 1 | 52.38% |
| | Republican | 8 | 97,082 | 47.47% | 10 | 1 | 47.62% |
| | Green | 1 | 462 | 0.23% | 0 | | 0.00% |
| Total | Total | 18 | 204,507 | 100% | 21 | | 100% |
Popular vote
Democratic
52.30%
Republican
47.47%
Green
0.23% :
Senate seats
Democratic
52.38%
Republican
47.62% :

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Governing | Safe D | October 12, 2016 |

## Detailed results
### District 1

Incumbent Democrat Harris McDowell III had represented the 1st district since 1977.
Delaware Senate 1st district Democratic primary election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Harris McDowell III (incumbent) | 3,876 | 70.84% |
| | Democratic | Joseph D. McCole | 1,596 | 29.16% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,472 | 100% |
Delaware Senate 1st district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Harris McDowell III (incumbent) | 11,858 | 56.32% |
| | Republican | James Spadola | 9,195 | 43.68% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,053 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 5

Incumbent Republican Catherine Cloutier had represented the 5th district since 2001.
Delaware Senate 5th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Catherine Cloutier (incumbent) | 14,083 | 59.48% |
| | Democratic | Denise Bowers | 9,596 | 40.52% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,679 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 7

Incumbent Democrat President pro tempore Patti Blevins had represented the 7th district since 1991. She lost re-election to Republican Anthony Delcollo.
Delaware Senate 7th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Anthony Delcollo | 9,604 | 50.55% |
| | Democratic | Patti Blevins (incumbent) | 9,398 | 49.45% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,002 | 100% |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### District 8

Incumbent Democrat David Sokola had represented the 8th district since 1991.
Delaware Senate 8th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | David Sokola (incumbent) | 8,862 | 50.81% |
| | Republican | Meredith Chapman | 8,115 | 46.53% |
| | Green | David B. Chandler | 462 | 2.66% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,439 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 9

Incumbent Democrat Karen Peterson had represented the 9th district since 2003. Peterson retired and fellow Democrat Jack Walsh won the open seat.
Delaware Senate 9th district Democratic primary election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Walsh | 1,364 | 57.17% |
| | Democratic | Caitlin M. Olsen | 1,022 | 42.83% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,386 | 100% |
Delaware Senate 9th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jack Walsh | 13,500 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,500 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 12

Incumbent Democrat Nicole Poore had represented the 12th district since 2013.
Delaware Senate 12th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Nicole Poore (incumbent) | 18,961 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,961 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 13

Incumbent Democrat Majority Leader David McBride had represented the 13th district since 1979.
Delaware Senate 13th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | David McBride (incumbent) | 14,503 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,503 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 14

Incumbent Democrat Bruce Ennis had represented the 14th district since 2007.
Delaware Senate 14th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bruce Ennis (incumbent) | 13,454 | 59.55% |
| | Republican | Carl Pace | 9,138 | 40.45% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,592 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 15

Incumbent Republican David Lawson had represented the 15th district since 2011.
Delaware Senate 15th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Lawson (incumbent) | 15,036 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,036 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 19

Incumbent Republican Brian Pettyjohn had represented the 19th district since 2013.
Delaware Senate 19th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Brian Pettyjohn (incumbent) | 14,003 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,003 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 20

Incumbent Republican Gerald Hocker had represented the 20th district since 2013.
Delaware Senate 20th district general election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gerald Hocker (incumbent) | 17,908 | 72.39% |
| | Democratic | Perry J. Mitchell | 6,831 | 27.61% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,739 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |