State, District Primary

Delaware voters will choose nominees for the state's U.S. Senate Class II seat today, September 15, in primaries that pit an incumbent Democrat against challengers in both parties.

The general election is scheduled for November 3.

The race is rated Solid Democratic by Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections. Delaware, with a 2024 population of about one million, holds one of two U.S. Senate seats in the state.

The Candidates

Sen. Chris Coons is the Democratic incumbent and is running.

Two Republicans compete for their party's nomination: Michael Katz and John Shulli. Shulli was deployed to Iraq in 2003.

Eric No-Trump Anthony Hansen, Travis Jack Stevens, Jeff Appelhans, and Mary Louve are listed as Democratic primary candidates for the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Delaware. Appelhans is a University of Delaware history professor.

The Money Behind the Race

Total fundraising across all candidates reached $7,197,195.

Outside spending has been negligible, with just $10 in finalized independent expenditures reported as of September 15. An additional $11,559 in pending independent-expenditure notices has been filed but not yet finalized, bringing the combined total, including pending activity, to $11,569.

The National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee has $11,559 in pending support spending, while Sierra Club Independent Action reported $10 in finalized support spending, all directed to Democratic candidates.

No outside spending supporting or opposing Republican candidates has been reported, and no opposition spending has targeted any candidate in the race.

Ratings vs. Odds

Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections classify Delaware's Senate seat as Solid Democratic.

According to Kalshi, Democrats have a 96.5 percent probability of holding the seat, while Republicans have a 3.5 percent chance, as of September 15.

Trading volume on Kalshi's Delaware Senate market was $10,544.

The combination of an incumbent running unopposed in the Democratic primary and a Solid Democratic rating means the real contest today is the two-way Republican primary, though the winner faces long odds in November.

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