Weygand defeated a tough pro-abortion opponent in the Democratic primary in September and faces an uphill battle against Chafee, whose father enjoyed great popularity. Senator Bill Roth served four years in the U.S. House before being elected to the Senate in 1970. He has held statewide office longer than anyone in Delaware's history. Roth is being challenged by pro-abortion governor and former Congressman Tom Carper, who has held elected office since 1977. Roth voted for the ban on partial-birth abortion, voted against tax funding of abortion, and voted for the Child Custody Protection Act.
Carper supports abortion on demand and tax funding of abortion.
Like Roth, Gorton also voted against partial-birth abortion, voted against tax funding of abortion, and voted for the Child Custody Protection Act. Their Democratic opponents, Hillary Rodham Clinton in New York and former investment banker John Corzine in New Jersey, respectively, support unlimited abortion on demand. They both support legal partial-birth abortion, tax funding of abortion on demand, and they oppose parental notification requirements. Washington Congressman Jack Metcalf is also retiring. Her son, former state Rep. Steve Danner, is the Democratic nominee for the seat.