| Election Name: | 2016 Delaware Senate election |
| Country: | Delaware |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2014 Delaware Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2014 |
| Next Election: | 2018 Delaware Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2018 |
| Seats For Election: | 11 of the 21 seats in the Delaware Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 11 |
| Turnout: | 65.35% |
| Image1: | 3x4.svg |
| Leader1: | Patti Blevins (lost re-election) |
| Party1: | Democratic |
| Colour1: | 3333ff |
| Leader Since1: | January 8, 2013 |
| Leaders Seat1: | 7th - Elsmere |
| Last Election1: | 12 |
| Seats Before1: | 12 |
| Seats1: | 6 |
| Seats After1: | 11 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 106,963 |
| Percentage1: | 52.30% |
| Party2: | Republican |
| Colour2: | ff3333 |
| Leader Since2: | January 8, 2009 |
| Leaders Seat2: | 18th - Milford |
| Last Election2: | 9 |
| Seats Before2: | 9 |
| Seats2: | 5 |
| Seats After2: | 10 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| Popular Vote2: | 97,082 |
| Percentage2: | 47.47% |
| Map Size: | 130px |
| President pro tempore | |
| Before Election: | Patti Blevins |
| Before Party: | Delaware Democratic Party |
| After Election: | David McBride |
| After Party: | Delaware Democratic Party |
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.[1]
Delaware Republicans needed to have a net gain of 2 seats to flip the chamber from the Democrats, however, they gained only 1 seat (winning 10 seats compared to 11 seats for the Democrats).
| 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 | 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 | Candi- dates | Votes | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | +/– ! | % | ||||
| Democratic | 9 | 106,963 | 52.30% | 11 | 1 | 52.38% | ||
| 8 | 97,082 | 47.47% | 10 | 1 | 47.62% | |||
| 1 | 462 | 0.23% | 0 | 0.00% | ||||
| Total | 18 | 204,507 | 100% | 21 | 100% | |||
Incumbent Democrat Harris McDowell III has represented the 1st district since 1977.
Incumbent Republican Catherine Cloutier has represented the 5th district since 2001.
Incumbent Democrat President pro tempore Patti Blevins has represented the 7th district since 1991. She lost re-election to Republican Anthony Delcollo.
Incumbent Democrat David Sokola has represented the 8th district since 1991.
Incumbent Democrat Karen Peterson has represented the 9th district since 2003. Peterson retired and fellow Democrat Jack Walsh won the open seat.
Incumbent Democrat Nicole Poore has represented the 12th district since 2013.
Incumbent Democrat Majority Leader David McBride has represented the 13th district since 1979.
Incumbent Democrat Bruce Ennis has represented the 14th district since 2007.
Incumbent Republican David Lawson has represented the 15th district since 2011.
Incumbent Republican Brian Pettyjohn has represented the 19th district since 2013.
Incumbent Republican Gerald Hocker has represented the 20th district since 2013.