Joseph Arminio pulled off an upset. The Republican political scientist beat two better-funded, better-known rivals to win Delaware's at-large U.S. House primary on Sept. 15. Arminio, a Wilmington native with a doctorate from MIT, ran on cutting debt and pulling back from foreign wars. "We need to heed George Washington," he said after the win. "We are entangled with Ukraine, with Israel." [](#ngr-9608b526-7de5-436f-92a6-982e8ce9987f)
Arminio took 18,629 votes, 47.86%, beating Whalen's 12,523 (32.17%) and Cooper's 7,772 (19.97%). Whalen, a 20-year Delaware State Police veteran, was the GOP's 2024 nominee. Cooper, a pastor and nonprofit president, had the party's formal endorsement. Delaware's Department of Elections still lists the results as unofficial.
Cook Political Report and Inside Elections both call the general election "Solid D." Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it a notch safer, "Safe D." Rep. Sarah McBride, the Democratic incumbent, didn't even draw a primary opponent. On Kalshi, Democrats are favored for the seat at over 98% as of Sept. 17.
Winner
Joseph Arminio pulled off an upset.
The Republican political scientist beat two better-funded, better-known rivals to win Delaware's at-large U.S. House primary on Sept. 15. Arminio, a Wilmington native with a doctorate from MIT, ran on cutting debt and pulling back from foreign wars. "We need to heed George Washington," he said after the win. "We are entangled with Ukraine, with Israel." ## Primary Field
Arminio took 18,629 votes, 47.86%, beating Whalen's 12,523 (32.17%) and Cooper's 7,772 (19.97%).
Whalen, a 20-year Delaware State Police veteran, was the GOP's 2024 nominee. Cooper, a pastor and nonprofit president, had the party's formal endorsement. Delaware's Department of Elections still lists the results as unofficial. ## Race Context
Cook Political Report and Inside Elections both call the general election "Solid D." Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it a notch safer, "Safe D." Rep. Sarah McBride, the Democratic incumbent, didn't even draw a primary opponent.
On Kalshi, Democrats are favored for the seat at over 98% as of Sept. 17. ## What's Next
Arminio faces McBride, the first openly transgender person to serve in the House, on Nov. 3. Money tells the story of this matchup: FEC filings show Arminio's campaign reported only $6,634 through Aug. 26. Rep. McBride, meanwhile, has reported $5,060,925 over that same stretch. Add in the ratings that favor Democrats across the board and a commanding market edge, and McBride enters the general as a heavy favorite.
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