Delaware's at-large congressional district
At-large U.S. House district for Delaware
Delaware's at-large congressional district Representative Area 2,489 sq mi (6,450 km2 ) Distribution 83.3% urban[ 1] 16.7% rural Population (2023) 1,031,890 Median household $81,361[ 2] Ethnicity Cook PVI D+7[ 3]
Delaware's at-large congressional district is a congressional district that includes the entire U.S. state of Delaware . It is the nation's oldest congressional district, having existed uninterrupted since the 1st United States Congress in 1789. It is also the most populous congressional district in the nation. Delaware has always had only one member of the United States House of Representatives , except for a single decade from 1813 to 1823, when the state had two at-large members. The two seats were filled by a statewide ballot, with the two candidates receiving the highest votes being elected.
Mike Castle , a Republican and former governor of Delaware , held this seat from January 1993 until his retirement in January 2011, after his unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination to run for U.S. Senator . Even as Delaware swung heavily Democratic at the state and national level, Castle was usually reelected without serious difficulty. Since his retirement, however, the Democrats have held it with no substantive opposition.
The district is currently represented by Lisa Blunt Rochester , a Democrat, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2024, taking office in January 2025, and will be succeeded by representative-elect Sarah McBride , the first transgender person elected to Congress, in January 2025.
Recent statewide results
List of members representing the district
Member
Party
Term
Congress
Electoral history
John Vining (Dover )
Pro-
March 4, 1789 –
1st 2nd
Elected in 1789 .Re-elected in 1790 .
John Patten (Dover )
Anti-
March 4, 1793 –
3rd
Elected in 1792 .
Henry Latimer (Newport )
Pro-
February 14, 1794 –
3rd
Won election contest.
John Patten (Dover )
Democratic-
March 4, 1795 –
4th
Elected in 1794 .
James A. Bayard (Wilmington )
Federalist
March 4, 1797 –
5th 6th 7th
Elected in 1796 .Re-elected in 1798 .Re-elected in 1800 .
Caesar Augustus Rodney (Wilmington )
Democratic-
March 4, 1803 –
8th
Elected in 1802 .
Vacant
March 4, 1805 –
9th
James A. Bayard was elected in 1804 but declined to serve, having also been elected U.S. senator.
James M. Broom (Wilmington )
Federalist
October 1, 1805 –
9th 10th
Elected October 1, 1805 to finish Bayard's term and seated December 2, 1805.Re-elected in 1806 , but declined the seat.
Nicholas Van Dyke (New Castle )
Federalist
October 6, 1807 –
10th 11th
Elected to finish Broom's term .Re-elected in 1808 .
Henry M. Ridgely (Dover )
Federalist
March 4, 1811 –
12th 13th
Elected in 1810 .Re-elected in 1812 .
Thomas Clayton (Dover )
Federalist
March 4, 1815 –
14th
Elected in 1814 .
Louis McLane (Wilmington )
Federalist [ a] March 4, 1817 –
15th 16th 17th 18th 19th
Elected in 1816 .Re-elected in 1818 .Re-elected in 1820 .Re-elected in 1822 .Re-elected in 1824 .Re-elected in 1826 but declined to serve having been elected U.S. senator .
Jacksonian
March 4, 1825 –
Vacant
March 3, 1827 –
20th
Kensey Johns Jr. (New Castle )
Anti-
October 2, 1827 –
20th 21st
Elected October 2, 1827 to finish McLane's term and seated December 3, 1827.Re-elected in 1828 .
John J. Milligan (Wilmington )
Anti-
March 4, 1831 –
22nd 23rd 24th 25th
Elected in 1830 .Re-elected in 1832 .Re-elected in 1834 .Re-elected in 1836 .
Whig
March 4, 1837 –
Thomas Robinson Jr. (Georgetown )
Democratic
March 4, 1839 –
26th
Elected in 1838 .
George B. Rodney (New Castle )
Whig
March 4, 1841 –
27th 28th
Elected in 1840 .Re-elected in 1842 .
John W. Houston (Georgetown )
Whig
March 4, 1845 –
29th 30th 31st
Elected in 1844 .Re-elected in 1846 .Re-elected in 1848 .
George R. Riddle (Wilmington )
Democratic
March 4, 1851 –
32nd 33rd
Elected in 1850 .Re-elected in 1852 .
Elisha D. Cullen (Georgetown )
Know
March 4, 1855 –
34th
Elected in 1854 .
William G. Whiteley (New Castle )
Democratic
March 4, 1857 –
35th 36th
Elected in 1856 .Re-elected in 1858 .
George P. Fisher (Dover )
Union
March 4, 1861 –
37th
Elected in 1860 .
William Temple (Smyrna )
Democratic
March 4, 1863 –
38th
Elected in 1862 .
Vacant
May 28, 1863 –
38th
Nathaniel B. Smithers (Dover )
Union
December 7, 1863 –
38th
Elected to finish Temple's term .
John A. Nicholson (Dover )
Democratic
March 4, 1865 –
39th 40th
Elected in 1864 .Re-elected in 1866 .
Benjamin T. Biggs (Summit Bridge )
Democratic
March 4, 1869 –
41st 42nd
Elected in 1868 .Re-elected in 1870 .
James R. Lofland (Milford )
Republican
March 4, 1873 –
43rd
Elected in 1872 .
James Williams (Kenton )
Democratic
March 4, 1875 –
44th 45th
Elected in 1874 .Re-elected in 1876 .
Edward L. Martin (Seaford )
Democratic
March 4, 1879 –
46th 47th
Elected in 1878 .Re-elected in 1880 .
Charles B. Lore (Wilmington )
Democratic
March 4, 1883 –
48th 49th
Elected in 1882 .Re-elected in 1884 .
John B. Penington (Dover )
Democratic
March 4, 1887 –
50th 51st
Elected in 1886 .Re-elected in 1888 .
John W. Causey (Milford )
Democratic
March 4, 1891 –
52nd 53rd
Elected in 1890 .Re-elected in 1892 .
Jonathan S. Willis (Milford )
Republican
March 4, 1895 –
54th
Elected in 1894 .
L. Irving Handy (Newark )
Democratic
March 4, 1897 –
55th
Elected in 1896 .
John H. Hoffecker (Smyrna )
Republican
March 4, 1899 –
56th
Elected in 1898 .
Vacant
June 16, 1900 –
Walter O. Hoffecker (Smyrna )
Republican
November 6, 1900 –
Elected to finish his father's term .
L. Heisler Ball (Faulkland )
Republican
March 4, 1901 –
57th
Elected in 1900 .run for U.S. senator .
Henry A. Houston (Millsboro )
Democratic
March 4, 1903 –
58th
Elected in 1902 .
Hiram R. Burton (Lewes )
Republican
March 4, 1905 –
59th 60th
Elected in 1904 .Re-elected in 1906 .
William H. Heald (Wilmington )
Republican
March 4, 1909 –
61st 62nd
Elected in 1908 .Re-elected in 1910 .
Franklin Brockson (Clayton )
Democratic
March 4, 1913 –
63rd
Elected in 1912 .
Thomas W. Miller (Wilmington )
Republican
March 4, 1915 –
64th
Elected in 1914 .
Albert F. Polk (Georgetown )
Democratic
March 4, 1917 –
65th
Elected in 1916 .
Caleb R. Layton (Georgetown )
Republican
March 4, 1919 –
66th 67th
Elected in 1918 .Re-elected in 1920 .
William H. Boyce (Dover )
Democratic
March 4, 1923 –
68th
Elected in 1922 .
Robert G. Houston (Georgetown )
Republican
March 4, 1925 –
69th 70th 71st 72nd
Elected in 1924 .Re-elected in 1926 .Re-elected in 1928 .Re-elected in 1930 .
Wilbur L. Adams (Wilmington )
Democratic
March 4, 1933 –
73rd
Elected in 1932 .run for U.S. senator .
J. George Stewart (Wilmington )
Republican
January 3, 1935 –
74th
Elected in 1934 .
William F. Allen (Seaford )
Democratic
January 3, 1937 –
75th
Elected in 1936 .
George S. Williams (Millsboro )
Republican
January 3, 1939 –
76th
Elected in 1938 .
Philip A. Traynor (Wilmington )
Democratic
January 3, 1941 –
77th
Elected in 1940 .
Earle D. Willey (Dover )
Republican
January 3, 1943 –
78th
Elected in 1942 .
Philip A. Traynor (Wilmington )
Democratic
January 3, 1945 –
79th
Elected in 1944 .
J. Caleb Boggs (Wilmington )
Republican
January 3, 1947 –
80th 81st 82nd
Elected in 1946 .Re-elected in 1948 .Re-elected in 1950 .run for Governor of Delaware .
Herbert Warburton (Wilmington )
Republican
January 3, 1953 –
83rd
Elected in 1952 .run for U.S. senator .
Harris McDowell (Middletown )
Democratic
January 3, 1955 –
84th
Elected in 1954 .
Harry G. Haskell Jr. (Wilmington )
Republican
January 3, 1957 –
85th
Elected in 1956 .
Harris McDowell (Middletown )
Democratic
January 3, 1959 –
86th 87th 88th 89th
Elected in 1958 .Re-elected in 1960 .Re-elected in 1962 .Re-elected in 1964 .
William Roth (Wilmington )
Republican
January 3, 1967 –
90th 91st
Elected in 1966 .Re-elected in 1968 .run for U.S. senator and resigned after the election.
Vacant
December 31, 1970 –
91st
Pete du Pont (Rockland )
Republican
January 3, 1971 –
92nd 93rd 94th
Elected in 1970 .Re-elected in 1972 .Re-elected in 1974 .run for Governor of Delaware .
Thomas B. Evans Jr. (Wilmington )
Republican
January 3, 1977 –
95th 96th 97th
Elected in 1976 .Re-elected in 1978 .Re-elected in 1980 .
Tom Carper (Wilmington )
Democratic
January 3, 1983 –
98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd
Elected in 1982 .Re-elected in 1984 .Re-elected in 1986 .Re-elected in 1988 .Re-elected in 1990 .run for Governor of Delaware .
Mike Castle (Wilmington )
Republican
January 3, 1993 –
103rd 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th 111th
Elected in 1992 .Re-elected in 1994 .Re-elected in 1996 .Re-elected in 1998 .Re-elected in 2000 .Re-elected in 2002 .Re-elected in 2004 .Re-elected in 2006 .Re-elected in 2008 .run for U.S. senator .
John Carney (Wilmington )
Democratic
January 3, 2011 –
112th 113th 114th
Elected in 2010 .Re-elected in 2012 .Re-elected in 2014 .run for Governor of Delaware .
Lisa Blunt Rochester (Wilmington )
Democratic
January 3, 2017 –
115th 116th 117th 118th
Elected in 2016 .Re-elected in 2018 .Re-elected in 2020 .Re-elected in 2022 .for U.S. Senator .
Sarah McBride (elect) (Wilmington )
Democratic
January 3, 2025
Elected in 2024 .
From 1813 to 1823, Delaware elected two members of the United States House of Representatives. Both were elected statewide at-large. Four men held the second seat during that decade.
Member
Party
Term
Congress
Electoral history
Thomas Cooper (Georgetown )
Federalist
March 4, 1813 –
13th 14th
Elected in 1812 .Re-elected in 1814 .
Willard Hall (Dover )
Democratic-
March 4, 1817 –
15th 16th
Elected in 1816 .Re-elected in 1818 .
Vacant
January 22, 1821 –
16th
Caesar Augustus Rodney (Wilmington )
Democratic-
March 4, 1821 –
17th
Elected in 1820 .
Vacant
January 24, 1822 –
Daniel Rodney (Lewes )
Federalist
October 1, 1822 –
Elected to finish his cousin's term .
Electoral history
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Notes
References
^ "Urban Rural Population United States in 2010 – Distribution" . Statista . Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018 .^ "My Congressional District" .^ "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List" . The Cook Political Report. July 12, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2023 .^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ Representatives, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of. "Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives – 404" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2018 . {{cite web }}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )^ "2000 ELECTION STATISTICS" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2018 .^ "2002 ELECTION STATISTICS" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on January 5, 2007. Retrieved May 7, 2018 .^ "2004 ELECTION STATISTICS" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2018 .^ "2006 Election Statistics" . clerk.house.gov . Archived from the original on January 30, 2008. Retrieved May 7, 2018 .^ "State of Delaware Primary Election Official Results" . State of Delaware. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2012 .^ a b c "State of Delaware General Election (Official Results)" . State of Delaware Election Commissioner. Archived from the original on November 26, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014 .^ "2020 General Election Report" . Delaware Department of Elections .^ "2022 General Election Report" . Delaware Department of Elections .^ "Delaware State Sen. Sarah McBride, John Whalen to face off for congressional seat in November" . September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024 .
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