Delaware Democrats secure supermajority to pass constitutional changes alone
Unofficial results show the party holds 73% of House seats and 71% of Senate seats, allowing them to approve eight pending amendments without Republican votes.
By Adewale Fletcher ·
Delaware Democrats now command 73% of the seats in the state House and 71% of the seats in the Senate, according to unofficial results from the November 3 midterm election. This level of control grants the party the ability to approve constitutional amendments without relying on Republican support. Under Article XVI of the state constitution, a proposed change requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each chamber.
The shift in power resulted from Democrats capturing three House districts previously held by Republicans. No Democratic-held seats flipped to the Republican side. The new General Assembly will convene in January to consider eight proposed amendments that passed a first vote in the prior legislative session. These proposals address topics including early voting, absentee voting procedures, marriage laws, and the death penalty.
The path to this supermajority began with a surge in voter participation. Turnout reached 47.5% in this election, a rise from 42.7% in the 2022 midterm. Despite having no presidential race on the ballot, Democratic candidates secured between 60% and 65% of the vote in all five federal and statewide contests. U.S. Senator Chris Coons received 63.6% of the vote, while U.S. Representative Sarah McBride received 64.3%.
The closest race in the state occurred in House District 34 in Kent County. Democrat Annie Norman defeated incumbent Republican Representative Lyndon D. Yearick by a margin of 150 votes. Norman received 4,905 votes to Yearick's 4,755. Yearick is the only incumbent state legislator who lost his seat in this election. In Sussex County, Democrat Gregg Lindner won House District 4 with 8,039 votes, defeating Republican Dan Zitofsky by 381 votes.
New Castle County saw a large margin of victory in House District 9. Democrat Ayanna Khan-Flowers received 8,451 votes to Republican Jamar Money's 4,753. Republicans retained control of other open seats they previously held, including House Districts 33, 38, and 41, as well as Senate District 15. The Department of Elections noted that all 530 election districts had reported by 3 a.m. on Wednesday.
The state’s registration data shows a demographic reality that contrasts with the legislative balance. Registered Democrats comprise 41% of the state's voters, while registered Republicans make up 25%. The remaining 34% of voters are registered as other or independent. Despite this registration gap, Democrats have historically performed well in midterms, and this cycle was no exception.
The 154th General Assembly will now vote on whether to give final approval to the eight pending amendments. If Democrats vote as a unified bloc, they possess enough votes to pass all eight measures. The math allows the party to spare no more than two votes in the House and one vote in the Senate while still maintaining the required two-thirds majority. Republicans do not have enough seats to block the changes if the Democratic caucus stays together.
Results remain unofficial until the state certifies them, a process that follows the tabulation of absentee ballots in all three counties. The state Department of Elections cautioned that county updates on absentee ballot tabulation do not necessarily mean every ballot has been counted. The final certification will confirm the seat counts that enable the legislative supermajority.
