# 2008 Delaware Senate election

The 2008 Delaware Senate election was held on November 4, 2008, to elect 10 of the 21 members to Delaware's Senate. The election coincided with elections for other offices, including for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and state house. The primary election was held on September 9, 2008.

## Results summary

| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| 2 | Margaret Rose Henry | Dem | Margaret Rose Henry | Dem |
| 3 | Robert Marshall | Dem | Robert Marshall | Dem |
| 4 | Charlie Copeland | Rep | Michael Katz | Dem |
| 6 | Liane Sorenson | Rep | Liane Sorenson | Rep |
| 10 | Steven Amick | Rep | Bethany Hall-Long | Dem |
| 11 | Tony DeLuca | Dem | Tony DeLuca | Dem |
| 16 | Colin Bonini | Rep | Colin Bonini | Rep |
| 17 | John Still III | Rep | Brian Bushweller | Dem |
| 18 | Gary Simpson | Rep | Gary Simpson | Rep |
| 21 | Robert Venables Sr. | Dem | Robert Venables Sr. | Dem |
| Party | Party | Candi- dates | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Seats |
| Party | Party | Candi- dates | No. | % | No. | +/– | % |
| | Democratic | 10 | 110,909 | 65.11% | 16 | 3 | 76.19% |
| | Republican | 6 | 59,428 | 34.89% | 5 | 3 | 23.81% |
| Total | Total | 16 | 170,337 | 100% | 21 | | 100% |
Popular vote
Democratic
65.11%
Republican
34.89% :
Senate seats
Democratic
76.19%
Republican
23.81% :

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Stateline | Safe D | October 15, 2008 |

## Detailed results
### District 2

Incumbent Democrat Majority Leader Margaret Rose Henry has represented the 2nd district since 1994.
Delaware Senate 2nd district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Margaret Rose Henry (incumbent) | 11,872 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,872 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 3

Incumbent Democrat Robert Marshall has represented the 3rd district since 1979.
Delaware Senate 3rd district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert Marshall (incumbent) | 10,225 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,225 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 4

Incumbent Republican Minority Leader Charlie Copeland has represented the 4th district since 2003. Copeland retired to run for Lieutenant Governor. Democrat Michael Katz won the open seat. Democratic primary
Delaware Senate 4th district Democratic primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Michael Katz | 2,428 | 63.00% |
| | Democratic | Dee Durham | 1,426 | 37.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,854 | 100% |
Republican primary
Delaware Senate 4th district Republican primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Clatworthy | 1,822 | 47.77% |
| | Republican | Michael Fleming | 1,366 | 35.82% |
| | Republican | Richard Abbott | 626 | 16.41% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,814 | 100% |
General election
Delaware Senate 4th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Michael Katz | 11,296 | 50.65% |
| | Republican | John Clatworthy | 11,004 | 49.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,300 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 6

Incumbent Republican Liane Sorenson has represented the 6th district since 1995. Democratic primary
Delaware Senate 6th district Democratic primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John Mackenzie | 1,347 | 51.24% |
| | Democratic | Michael Terranova | 1,282 | 48.76% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,629 | 100% |
General election
Delaware Senate 6th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Liane Sorenson (incumbent) | 7,195 | 51.30% |
| | Democratic | John Mackenzie | 6,831 | 48.70% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,026 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 10

Incumbent Republican Steven Amick has represented the 10th district since 1995. Amick didn't seek re-election and Democrat Bethany Hall-Long won the open seat. Republican primary
Delaware Senate 10th district Republican primary election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | James Weldin | 802 | 65.74% |
| | Republican | Andrea Daley | 418 | 34.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,220 | 100% |
General election
Delaware Senate 10th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bethany Hall-Long | 13,965 | 64.90% |
| | Republican | James Weldin | 7,554 | 35.10% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,519 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 11

Incumbent Democrat Tony DeLuca has represented the 11th district since 1999.
Delaware Senate 11th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tony DeLuca (incumbent) | 13,318 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,318 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 16

Incumbent Republican Colin Bonini has represented the 16th district since 1995.
Delaware Senate 16th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Colin Bonini (incumbent) | 11,156 | 56.39% |
| | Democratic | Harold Stafford | 8,629 | 43.61% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,785 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 17

Incumbent Republican John Still III has represented the 17th district since 1988. Still didn't seek re-election and Democrat Brian Bushweller won the open seat.
Delaware Senate 17th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brian Bushweller | 10,279 | 56.47% |
| | Republican | James Hutchinson | 7,923 | 43.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,202 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 18

Incumbent Republican Gary Simpson has represented the 18th district since 1999.
Delaware Senate 18th district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gary Simpson (incumbent) | 14,596 | 55.11% |
| | Democratic | Gary Downes | 11,891 | 44.89% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,487 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 21

Incumbent Democrat Robert Venables Sr. has represented the 21st district since 1989.
Delaware Senate 21st district general election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Robert Venables Sr. (incumbent) | 12,603 | 100% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,603 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |