An election was held on November 4, 2008 to elect all 41 members to Delaware's House of Representatives. The election coincided with elections for other offices, including for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and state senate. The primary election was held on September 9, 2008.[1]Democrats regained control of the House after 24 years after gaining seven seats, winning 25 seats compared to 16 seats for the Republicans.Representative Dianna Williams (D - District 6) announced immediately after the election that she would be resigning. A special election was held on December 20, 2008 to fill the seat at which Tom Kovach gained the seat for the Republicans.
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All 41 seats in the Delaware House of Representatives 21 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Results: Democratic gain Democratic hold Republican hold | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Representative | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dennis Williams | Dem | Dennis Williams | Dem | ||
| 2nd | Hazel Plant | Dem | Hazel Plant | Dem | ||
| 3rd | Helene Keeley | Dem | Helene Keeley | Dem | ||
| 4th | Gerald Brady | Dem | Gerald Brady | Dem | ||
| 5th | Melanie George Marshall | Dem | Melanie George Marshall | Dem | ||
| 6th | Diana McWilliams | Dem | Diana McWilliams | Dem | ||
| 7th | Bryon Short | Dem | Bryon Short | Dem | ||
| 8th | Bethany Hall-Long | Dem | Quinn Johnson | Dem | ||
| 9th | Richard Cathcart | Rep | Richard Cathcart | Rep | ||
| 10th | Robert Valihura | Rep | Dennis Williams | Dem | ||
| 11th | Gregory Lavelle | Rep | Gregory Lavelle | Rep | ||
| 12th | Deborah Hudson | Rep | Deborah Hudson | Rep | ||
| 13th | Larry Mitchell | Dem | Larry Mitchell | Dem | ||
| 14th | Peter Schwartzkopf | Dem | Peter Schwartzkopf | Dem | ||
| 15th | Valerie Longhurst | Dem | Valerie Longhurst | Dem | ||
| 16th | J.J. Johnson | Dem | J.J. Johnson | Dem | ||
| 17th | Michael Mulrooney | Dem | Michael Mulrooney | Dem | ||
| 18th | Terry Spence | Rep | Michael Barbieri | Dem | ||
| 19th | Robert Gilligan | Dem | Robert Gilligan | Dem | ||
| 20th | Nick Manolakos | Rep | Nick Manolakos | Rep | ||
| 21st | Pamela Maier | Rep | Michael Ramone | Rep | ||
| 22nd | Joseph Miró | Rep | Joseph Miró | Rep | ||
| 23rd | Teresa Schooley | Dem | Teresa Schooley | Dem | ||
| 24th | William Orbele Jr. | Rep | William Orbele Jr. | Rep | ||
| 25th | John Kowalko Jr. | Dem | John Kowalko Jr. | Dem | ||
| 26th | John Viola | Dem | John Viola | Dem | ||
| 27th | Vincet Lofink | Rep | Earl Jaques Jr. | Dem | ||
| 28th | William Carson Jr. | Dem | William Carson Jr. | Dem | ||
| 29th | Pamela Thornburg | Rep | Pamela Thornburg | Rep | ||
| 30th | William Outten | Rep | William Outten | Rep | ||
| 31st | Nancy Wagner | Rep | Darryl Scott | Dem | ||
| 32nd | Donna Stone | Rep | Brad Bennett | Dem | ||
| 33rd | Robert Walls | Dem | Robert Walls | Dem | ||
| 34th | Donald Blakey | Rep | Donald Blakey | Rep | ||
| 35th | J. Benjamin Ewing | Rep | David Wilson | Rep | ||
| 36th | V. George Carey | Rep | V. George Carey | Rep | ||
| 37th | Joseph Booth | Rep | Joseph Booth | Rep | ||
| 38th | Gerald Hocker | Rep | Gerald Hocker | Rep | ||
| 39th | Daniel Short | Rep | Daniel Short | Rep | ||
| 40th | Clifford Lee | Rep | Clifford Lee | Rep | ||
| 41st | Gregory Hastings | Rep | John Atkins | Dem | ||
Statewide
| Party | Candi- dates | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 37 | 208,990 | 56.87% | 25 |  7 | |
| Republican | 32 | 156,832 | 42.68% | 16 |  7 | |
| Independent | 2 | 642 | 0.17% | 0 |  | |
| Working Families | 5 | 431 | 0.12% | 0 | | |
| Blue Enigma | 3 | 346 | 0.09% | 0 | | |
| Libertarian | 2 | 243 | 0.07% | 0 | | |
| Total | 81 | 367,484 | 100% | 41 | | |
Detailed Results
District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40 • District 41 |
Results of the 2008 Delaware House of Representatives election by district:[2][3]
District 1
Incumbent Democrat Dennis Williams has represented the 1st district since 1994.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dennis Williams (incumbent) | 7,422 | 91.09% | |
| Republican | James McClain Jr. | 726 | 8.91% | |
| Total votes | 8,148 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 2
Incumbent Democrat Hazel Plant has represented the 2nd district since 2000.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Hazel Plant (incumbent) | 5,729 | 94.26% | |
| Independent Party | Robert Brown | 349 | 5.74% | |
| Total votes | 6,078 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 3
Incumbent Democrat Helene Keeley has represented the 3rd district and its predecessors since 1996.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Helene Keeley (incumbent) | 5,419 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 5,419 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 4
Incumbent Democrat Gerald Brady has represented the 4th district since 2006.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gerald Brady (incumbent) | 7,174 | 73.36% | |
| Republican | Tyler Patrick Nixon[a] | 2,605 | 26.64% | |
| Total votes | 9,779 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 5
Incumbent Democrat Melanie George Marshall has represented the 5th district since 2002.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Melanie George Marshall (incumbent) | 7,212 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 7,212 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 6
Incumbent Democrat Diana McWilliams has represented the 6th district since 2004.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Diana McWilliams (incumbent) | 8,331 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 8,331 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 7
Incumbent Democrat Bryon Short has represented the 7th district since winning a 2007 special election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bryon Short (incumbent) | 6,281 | 58.57% | |
| Republican | James Bowers | 4,443 | 41.43% | |
| Total votes | 10,724 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 8
Incumbent Democrat Bethany Hall-Long has represented the 8th district since 2002. Hall-Long retired to run for the state senate and fellow Democrat Quinn Johnson won the open seat.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Quinn Johnson | 7,524 | 57.24% | |
| Republican | Martha Sturtevant | 5,621 | 42.76% | |
| Total votes | 13,145 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 9
Incumbent Republican Richard Cathcart has represented the 9th district since 1998.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Richard Cathcart (incumbent) | 7,436 | 53.84% | |
| Democratic | Rebecca Walker | 6,375 | 46.16% | |
| Total votes | 13,811 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 10
Incumbent Republican Robert Valihura Jr. has represented the 10th district since 1998. Valihura lost re-election to Democrat Dennis Williams.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dennis Williams[b] | 5,091 | 50.97% | |
| Republican | Robert Valihura Jr. (incumbent) | 4,898 | 49.03% | |
| Total votes | 9,989 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 11
Incumbent Republican Gregory Lavelle has represented the 11th district since 2001.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gregory Lavelle (incumbent) | 6,731 | 63.34% | |
| Democratic | Charles Old Jr. | 3,895 | 36.66% | |
| Total votes | 10,626 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 12
Incumbent Republican Deborah Hudson has represented the 12th district since 1994.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Deborah Hudson (incumbent) | 7,428 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 7,428 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 13
Incumbent Democrat Larry Mitchell has represented the 13th district since 2006.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Larry Mitchell (incumbent) | 6,547 | 96.14% | |
| Blue Enigma | Jeffrey Brown | 263 | 3.86% | |
| Total votes | 6,810 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 14
Incumbent Democratic Majority Leader Peter Schwartzkopf has represented the 14th district since 2002.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Peter Schwartzkopf (incumbent) | 10,616 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 10,616 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 15
Incumbent Democrat Valerie Longhurst has represented the 15th district since 2004.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Valerie Longhurst (incumbent) | 10,570 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 10,570 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 16
Incumbent Democrat J.J. Johnson has represented the 16th district since 2004.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | J.J. Johnson (incumbent) | 7,078 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 7,078 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 17
Incumbent Democrat Michael Mulrooney has represented the 17th district since 1998.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael Mulrooney (incumbent) | 6,981 | 83.41% | |
| Republican | David Lee Osborn | 1,388 | 16.59% | |
| Total votes | 8,369 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 18
Incumbent Republican House Speaker Terry Spence has represented the 18th district and its predecessors since 1980. Spence lost re-election to Democrat Michael Barbieri.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael Barbieri | 4,164 | 51.99% | |
| Republican | Terry Spence (incumbent)[c] | 3,845 | 48.01% | |
| Total votes | 8,009 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 19
Incumbent Democrat House Speaker Robert Gilligan has represented the 19th district since 1972.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Gilligan (incumbent) | 6,482 | 78.38% | |
| Republican | Joseph Sakeley | 1,729 | 20.91% | |
| Blue Enigma | Stephen Michael Annand | 59 | 0.71% | |
| Total votes | 8,270 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 20
Incumbent Republican Nick Manolakos has represented the 20th district since 2006.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Nick Manolakos (incumbent) | 8,045 | 99.70% | |
| Blue Enigma | Daniel Rappa Jr. | 24 | 0.30% | |
| Total votes | 8,069 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 21
Incumbent Republican Pamela Maier has represented the 21st district since 1994. Maier didn't seek re-election and fellow Republican Michael Ramone won the open seat.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michael Ramone | 5,474 | 55.14% | |
| Democratic | Patricia Creedon | 4,454 | 44.86% | |
| Total votes | 9,928 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 22
Incumbent Republicans Joseph Miró has represented the 22nd district since 1998.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Joseph Miró (incumbent) | 6,999 | 66.13% | |
| Democratic | Rebecca Young | 3,585 | 33.87% | |
| Total votes | 10,584 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 23
Incumbent Democrat Teresa Schooley has represented the 23rd district since 2004.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Teresa Schooley (incumbent) | 6,098 | 74.95% | |
| Republican | Jesse Priester IV[d] | 2,038 | 25.05% | |
| Total votes | 8,136 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 24
Incumbent Republican William Orbele Jr. has represented the 24th district since 1976.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William Orbele Jr. (incumbent)[e] | 4,057 | 54.01% | |
| Democratic | Daniel Basara | 3,455 | 45.99% | |
| Total votes | 7,512 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 25
Incumbent Democrat John Kowalko Jr. has represented the 25th district since 2006.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Kowalko Jr. (incumbent) | 5,008 | 73.39% | |
| Republican | James Gates | 1,816 | 26.61% | |
| Total votes | 6,824 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 26
Incumbent Democrat John Viola has represented the 26th district since 1998.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Viola (incumbent) | 6,316 | 79.93% | |
| Republican | Jeremy Filliben | 1,586 | 20.07% | |
| Total votes | 7,902 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 27
Incumbent Republican Vincet Lofink has represented the 27th district since 1990. Lofink lost re-election to Democrat Earl Jaques Jr..
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Earl Jaques Jr. | 4,708 | 48.72% | |
| Republican | Vincet Lofink (incumbent)[f] | 4,662 | 48.25% | |
| Independent Party | James Spencer | 293 | 3.03% | |
| Total votes | 9,663 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 28
Incumbent Democrat Bruce Ennis has represented the 28th district since 1982. Ennis retired to run for the state senate and fellow Democrat William Carson Jr. won the open seat.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William Carson Jr. | 7,198 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 7,198 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 29
Incumbent Republican Pamela Thornburg has represented the 29th district since 2000.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Pamela Thornburg (incumbent) | 5,624 | 50.22% | |
| Democratic | Charles Paradee | 5,574 | 49.78% | |
| Total votes | 11,198 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 30
Incumbent Republican William Outten has represented the 30th district since 2004.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William Outten (incumbent) | 6,921 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 6,921 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 31
Incumbent Republican Nancy Wagner has represented the 31st district since 1992. Wagner lost re-election to Democrat Darryl Scott.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Darryl Scott | 4,372 | 52.64% | |
| Republican | Nancy Wagner (incumbent) | 3,934 | 47.36% | |
| Total votes | 8,306 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 32
Incumbent Republican Donna Stone has represented the 32nd district since 1994. Stone lost re-election to Democrat Brad Bennett.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Brad Bennett | 3,742 | 57.03% | |
| Republican | Donna Stone (incumbent) | 2,820 | 42.97% | |
| Total votes | 6,562 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 33
Incumbent Democrat Robert Walls has represented the 33rd district since 2006.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Walls (incumbent) | 5,546 | 53.66% | |
| Republican | Harold Peterman | 4,790 | 46.34% | |
| Total votes | 10,336 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
District 34
Incumbent Republican Donald Blakey has represented the 34th district since 2006.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Donald Blakey (incumbent) | 6,229 | 61.30% | |
| Democratic | G. Bruce Hamilton | 3,933 | 38.70% | |
| Total votes | 10,162 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 35
Incumbent Republican J. Benjamin Ewing has represented the 35th district since 1986. Ewing didn't seek re-election and fellow Republican David Wilson won the open seat.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Wilson | 5,174 | 60.98% | |
| Democratic | L. Aaron Chaffinch | 3,311 | 39.02% | |
| Total votes | 8,485 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 36
Incumbent Republican V. George Carey has represented the 36th district since 1984.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | V. George Carey (incumbent) | 8,963 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 8,963 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 37
Incumbent Republican Joseph Booth has represented the th district since 2002.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Joseph Booth (incumbent) | 6,242 | 64.20% | |
| Democratic | Helen Truitt | 3,480 | 35.80% | |
| Total votes | 9,722 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 38
Incumbent Republican Gerald Hocker has represented the 38th district since 2002.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Gerald Hocker (incumbent) | 9,769 | 72.08% | |
| Democratic | Mary Ryan | 3,784 | 27.92% | |
| Total votes | 13,553 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 39
Incumbent Republican Daniel Short has represented the 39th district since 2006.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Daniel Short (incumbent) | 5,185 | 68.79% | |
| Democratic | Jerry Semper[g] | 2,352 | 31.21% | |
| Total votes | 7,537 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 40
Incumbent Republican Clifford Lee has represented the 40th district since 1990.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Clifford Lee (incumbent) | 5,191 | 58.85% | |
| Democratic | Barbara Hudson | 3,630 | 41.15% | |
| Total votes | 8,821 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
District 41
Incumbent Republican Gregory Hastings has represented the 41st district since winning a special election in May 2007. Hastings lost re-election to his predecessor, John Atkins, now a member of the Democratic Party.
- Democratic primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Atkins | 1,095 | 53.86% | |
| Democratic | Barbara Lifflander | 938 | 46.14% | |
| Total votes | 2,033 | 100% | ||
- General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Atkins | 5,665 | 52.99% | |
| Republican | Gregory Hastings (incumbent) | 5,025 | 47.01% | |
| Total votes | 10,690 | 100% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||