2012 Delaware Senate election should not be confused with 2012 United States Senate election in Delaware.
| Election Name: | 2012 Delaware Senate election |
| Country: | Delaware |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2010 Delaware Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2010 |
| Next Election: | 2014 Delaware Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2014 |
| Seats For Election: | All 21 seats in the Delaware Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 11 |
| Image1: | 3x4.svg |
| Leader1: | Tony DeLuca (lost re-nomination) |
| Party1: | Democratic |
| Colour1: | 3333ff |
| Leader Since1: | January 8, 2009 |
| Leaders Seat1: | 11th – Brookside |
| Last Election1: | 14 |
| Seats Before1: | 14 |
| Seats After1: | 13 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 225,241 |
| Percentage1: | 62.50% |
| Party2: | Republican |
| Colour2: | ff3333 |
| Leader Since2: | January 8, 2009 |
| Leaders Seat2: | 18th – Milford |
| Last Election2: | 7 |
| Seats Before2: | 7 |
| Seats After2: | 8 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| Popular Vote2: | 127,505 |
| Percentage2: | 35.38% |
| Map Size: | 130px |
| President pro tempore | |
| Before Election: | Tony DeLuca |
| Before Party: | Delaware Democratic Party |
| After Election: | Patti Blevins |
| After Party: | Delaware Democratic Party |
The 2012 Delaware Senate election was held on November 6, 2012 to elect all 21 members of the Delaware Senate. The election coincided with the elections for other offices, including the Presidency, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor, and state house. The primary election was held on September 11, 2012.[1]
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harris McDowell III | Dem | Harris McDowell III | Dem | |||
| 2 | Margaret Rose Henry | Dem | Margaret Rose Henry | Dem | |||
| 3 | Robert Marshall | Dem | Robert Marshall | Dem | |||
| 4 | Michael Katz | Dem | Gregory Lavelle | Rep | |||
| Liane Sorenson | Rep | ||||||
| 5 | Catherine Cloutier | Rep | Catherine Cloutier | Rep | |||
| 6 | New Seat | Ernesto Lopez | Rep | ||||
| 7 | Patti Blevins | Dem | Patti Blevins | Dem | |||
| 8 | David Sokola | Dem | David Sokola | Dem | |||
| 9 | Karen Peterson | Dem | Karen Peterson | Dem | |||
| 10 | Bethany Hall-Long | Dem | Bethany Hall-Long | Dem | |||
| 11 | Tony DeLuca | Dem | Bryan Townsend | Dem | |||
| 12 | Dorinda Connor | Rep | Nicole Poore | Dem | |||
| 13 | David McBride | Dem | David McBride | Dem | |||
| 14 | Bruce Ennis | Dem | Bruce Ennis | Dem | |||
| 15 | David Lawson | Rep | David Lawson | Rep | |||
| 16 | Colin Bonini | Rep | Colin Bonini | Rep | |||
| 17 | Brian Bushweller | Dem | Brian Bushweller | Dem | |||
| 18 | Gary Simpson | Rep | Gary Simpson | Rep | |||
| 19 | Joseph Booth | Rep | Brian Pettyjohn | Rep | |||
| 20 | George Bunting | Dem | Gerald Hocker | Rep | |||
| 21 | Robert Venables Sr. | Dem | Robert Venables Sr. | Dem | |||
| Party | Candi- dates | Votes | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | +/– ! | % | ||||
| Democratic | 19 | 225,241 | 62.50% | 13 | 1 | 61.90% | ||
| 13 | 127,505 | 35.38% | 8 | 1 | 38.10% | |||
| 3 | 4,734 | 1.31% | 0 | 0.00 | ||||
| 6 | 2,887 | 0.80% | 0 | 0.00 | ||||
| Total | 41 | 360,367 | 100% | 21 | 100 | |||
Incumbent Democrat Harris McDowell III has represented the 1st district since 1977.
Incumbent Democrat Margaret Rose Henry has represented the 2nd district since 1994.
Incumbent Democrat Robert Marshall has represented the 3rd district since 1979.
The new 4th district includes the homes of incumbent Democrat Michael Katz, who has represented the 4th district since 2009, and Republican Liane Sorenson, who has represented the 6th district since 1995. Sorenson didn't seek re-election. Katz lost re-election here to Republican Gregory Lavelle.
Incumbent Republican Catherine Cloutier has represented the 5th district since 2001.
The new 6th district is based in the Cape Region in costal Sussex County, and includes Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, and Milton. The district has no incumbent. Republican Ernesto Lopez won the open seat.
Incumbent Democrat Patti Blevins has represented the 7th district since 1991.
Incumbent Democrat David Sokola has represented the 8th district since 1991.
Incumbent Democrat Karen Peterson has represented the 9th district since 2003.
Incumbent Democrat Bethany Hall-Long has represented the 10th district since 2009.
Incumbent Democrat President pro tempore Tony DeLuca has represented the 11th district since 1999. DeLuca lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Bryan Townsend. Townsend won the general election.
Incumbent Republican Dorinda Connor has represented the 12th district since 1997. Connor lost re-election to Democrat Nicole Poore.
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 Colin Bonini has represented the 16th district since 1995.
Incumbent Democrat Brian Bushweller has represented the 17th district since 2009.
Incumbent Republican Minority Leader Gary Simpson has represented the 18th district since 1999.
Incumbent Republican Joseph Booth has represented the 19th district since 2009. Booth lost re-nomination to fellow Republican Eric Bodenweiser. Bodenweiser later withdrew from the general election and was replaced on the ballot by Brian Pettyjohn. Pettyjohn won the general election.
Incumbent Democrat George Bunting has represented the 20th district since 1997. Bunting retired and Republican Gerald Hocker won the open seat.
Incumbent Democrat Robert Venables Sr. has represented the 21st district since 1989.