Delaware Senate Voting Record: Roll-Call Analysis for 2026 Candidates

Introduction: Public Voting Records as a Research Foundation

The 2026 Delaware Senate election presents a field of candidates whose public voting records offer a substantive basis for competitive research. Legislative roll calls—cast in the U.S. House, state Senate, or state House—serve as a verifiable record of a candidate's positions on key issues. This article examines the publicly available voting histories of declared and potential candidates, drawing from official congressional and state legislative sources. Researchers and campaigns may use these records to anticipate lines of attack, inform debate preparation, and understand the ideological contours of the race. (Source: GovTrack, Delaware General Assembly archives, FEC candidate filings.)

Candidate Biographies and Legislative Backgrounds

Incumbent: Senator Chris Coons (Democrat)

Chris Coons has served in the U.S. Senate since 2010. Prior to that, he was New Castle County Executive (2005–2010). His Senate voting record is fully available through GovTrack and Senate roll-call votes. Coons has voted on major legislation including the Affordable Care Act (no vote, as he was not in office at the time), the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (voted no), the American Rescue Plan (voted yes), and the Inflation Reduction Act (voted yes). He has a lifetime score of approximately 90% from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action and near 0% from the American Conservative Union. (Source: GovTrack, ADA, ACU.)

Potential Republican Candidate: State Senator Bryant Richardson

Bryant Richardson represents the 21st District in the Delaware State Senate, first elected in 2014. His state legislative voting record is available through the Delaware General Assembly's roll-call database. Richardson has sponsored bills on election integrity, tax relief, and education. He has voted against budget increases and gun control measures. His voting record may be compared to the state Senate Democratic majority on issues such as minimum wage, abortion access, and environmental regulation. (Source: Delaware General Assembly.)

Potential Republican Candidate: State Representative Kevin Hensley

Kevin Hensley has served in the Delaware House of Representatives since 2014, representing the 9th District. His voting record includes support for pro-business legislation, opposition to tax increases, and votes on education reform. Hensley has been a consistent vote against abortion access bills and for Second Amendment protections. His House voting record is publicly accessible. (Source: Delaware General Assembly.)

Other Potential Candidates

Other names mentioned in early speculation include former state officials and business figures whose public voting records may be limited to prior office. For candidates without legislative experience, researchers would examine other public records such as campaign statements, donor networks, and public speeches. (Source: Delaware Department of Elections, FEC.)

Race Context: Delaware's Political Landscape

Delaware is a solidly blue state in federal elections. President Joe Biden won the state by 19 points in 2020. The state's at-large congressional district is held by Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester. The state Senate has a Democratic supermajority (15-6). The state House is also Democratic-controlled (26-15). However, the state's moderate tradition means Republicans can compete in down-ballot races. The 2026 Senate race is rated as Safe Democratic by most analysts, but the presence of a primary or a well-funded Republican challenger could shift dynamics. (Source: Cook Political Report, Delaware election results.)

The last Republican to win a Senate seat in Delaware was William Roth in 1994. Since then, Democrats have held both Senate seats. The 2020 election saw Coons win by 11 points against Republican challenger Lauren Witzke. The 2024 presidential race may influence turnout and coattails. (Source: FEC, Delaware election results.)

Competitive-Research Framing: What the Records Show

For Democratic Incumbent Chris Coons

Coons's voting record is consistent with a mainstream Democrat. He has voted with President Biden's position on legislation over 95% of the time. (Source: FiveThirtyEight.) Researchers may examine his votes on bipartisan bills, such as the infrastructure law and the CHIPS Act, to highlight cross-aisle cooperation. Conversely, his votes on the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan could be used by Republicans to tie him to progressive spending. His votes on judicial confirmations, including Supreme Court justices, are also part of the record. (Source: Senate roll-call votes.)

For Republican Challengers

Republican candidates' state legislative records may be used by Democrats to characterize them as extreme. For example, votes against abortion access, against minimum wage increases, or against environmental regulations could be highlighted in a general election. Conversely, Republicans may point to votes for tax cuts or against government spending as fiscal responsibility. The absence of a federal voting record for state-level candidates means researchers would rely on state roll calls and sponsor records. (Source: Delaware General Assembly.)

Comparative Analysis

A side-by-side comparison of Coons's federal voting record and a Republican candidate's state record would require mapping state issues to federal ones. For instance, a state vote on a resolution supporting the Second Amendment may be compared to a federal vote on background checks. Researchers may also examine voting frequency and bipartisanship scores. (Source: GovTrack, Delaware General Assembly.)

Source-Posture Analysis: Reliability and Gaps

All candidates' voting records cited here are sourced from official government databases: GovTrack for federal votes, and the Delaware General Assembly's legislative information system for state votes. These are primary sources. However, gaps exist: not all state votes are recorded by name if they are voice votes; committee votes are not always publicly recorded; and candidates who have never held office have no legislative voting record. For such candidates, researchers would turn to campaign finance reports, public statements, and third-party ratings. (Source: OppIntell research methodology.)

Researchers should also note that a candidate's voting record may not reflect their current positions if they have shifted ideologically. The date of each vote is important context. (Source: OppIntell best practices.)

Campaign Use Cases: How This Information May Be Used

OppIntell's platform enables campaigns to compile and analyze these voting records for messaging. A Democratic campaign might use a Republican candidate's state votes to create a 'voting record' attack ad. A Republican campaign might highlight Coons's votes on tax increases or spending bills. Debate prep teams may review specific roll calls to anticipate questions. Journalists may use the records to fact-check claims. (Source: OppIntell platform.)

The ability to access and cross-reference voting records quickly gives campaigns a strategic advantage. OppIntell's tools allow for export of roll-call data, comparison across candidates, and integration with other public records. (Source: OppIntell product description.)

Conclusion: The Value of Public Voting Records

Public voting records are a cornerstone of political intelligence. For the 2026 Delaware Senate race, they provide a factual foundation for understanding candidates' past positions. While not predictive of future votes, they offer a baseline for accountability. OppIntell will continue to update these records as new votes are cast and new candidates enter the race. (Source: OppIntell.)