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Coons and Katz Win Delaware Primaries, Setting November Senate Rematch

Their wins on Tuesday lock in a November Senate contest in a state that strongly favors Democrats.

Overview

  • Delaware’s final 2026 primary concluded on Tuesday, Sept. 15, with the Associated Press calling Chris Coons the Democratic Senate winner at about 8:16 p.m. after counties released early and mail ballots.
  • Dr. Mike Katz won the Republican Senate primary and was called by the AP at about 8:19 p.m., giving Republicans a single nominee to challenge Coons in the Nov. 3 general election.
  • Rep. Sarah McBride faced no Democratic opposition and remains the party’s nominee for Delaware’s lone U.S. House seat.
  • Delaware uses a closed primary system and as of Sept. 1 had about 808,000 registered voters, roughly 331,000 Democrats and 199,000 Republicans, a makeup that helps explain why statewide nominees are generally favored for November.
  • The results shift campaigns into the general-election phase in a deep-blue state, with Coons broadly seen as the November favorite even as progressives criticized his Israel votes and unusual candidacies such as ‘E. No‑Trump Hansen’ drew attention; the open state treasurer race will also move toward certification and November campaigning.