Delaware became a U.S. state in 1787, which allowed it to send congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives beginning with the 1st United States Congress in 1789. Voters in each state elect two senators to serve for six years, and members of the House to two-year terms. Before 1914 United States Senators were chosen by the Delaware General Assembly and before 1935 all congressional terms began March 4.
This is a chronological listing, in timeline format, of the congressional delegations from Delaware to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.
The dates for the various Congress represent the range of dates they could have been in session, rather than the actual dates of the sessions. Congressional terms began on March 4 through 1933. Since 1935 they have begun on January 3. The juxtaposition of the terms with the sessions is approximate; see the footnotes for actual dates of special appointments, elections, resignations or deaths.
Current U.S. senators from Delaware | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Delaware
|
Class I senator | Class II senator | ||
Tom Carper (Senior senator) (Wilmington) |
Chris Coons (Junior senator) (Wilmington) | |||
Party | Democratic | Democratic | ||
Incumbent since | January 3, 2001 | November 15, 2010 |
Delaware's current congressional delegation in the 118th Congress consists of its two senators and its sole representative, all of whom are Democrats.
The current dean of the Delaware's delegation is Senator Tom Carper, having served in the Senate since 2001, and previously served in the House from 1983 until 1993.
District | Member (Residence)[2] |
Party | Incumbent since | CPVI (2022)[3] |
District map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At-large | Lisa Blunt Rochester (Wilmington) |
Democratic | January 3, 2017 | D+7 |
The alternating grey and white boxes indicate the duration of the six-year Senate terms.
Class I senator | Congress | Class II senator | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
George Read (PA) | 1st (1789–1791) | Richard Bassett (AA) | ||
2nd (1791–1793) | Richard Bassett (PA) | |||
3rd (1793–1795) | John Vining (PA)[a] | |||
Henry Latimer (PA) | ||||
Henry Latimer (F) | 4th (1795–1797) | |||
5th (1797–1799) | ||||
Joshua Clayton (F)[b] | ||||
William H. Wells (F)[c] | ||||
6th (1799–1801) | ||||
Samuel White (F) | 7th (1801–1803) | |||
8th (1803–1805) | ||||
9th (1805–1807) | James A. Bayard (F) | |||
10th (1807–1809) | ||||
Outerbridge Horsey (F) | 11th (1809–1811) | |||
12th (1811–1813) | ||||
13th (1813–1815) | William H. Wells (F) | |||
14th (1815–1817) | ||||
15th (1817–1819) | Nicholas Van Dyke (F) | |||
16th (1819–1821) | ||||
vacant | 17th (1821–1823) | |||
Caesar A. Rodney (DR) | ||||
vacant | ||||
18th (1823–1825) | ||||
Thomas Clayton (F) | ||||
Thomas Clayton (NR) | 19th (1825–1827) | Daniel Rodney (NR) | ||
Louis McLane (J) | 20th (1827–1829) | Henry M. Ridgely (J) | ||
Arnold Naudain (NR) | 21st (1829–1831) | John M. Clayton (NR) | ||
22nd (1831–1833) | ||||
23rd (1833–1835) | ||||
Richard H. Bayard (NR) | 24th (1835–1837) | |||
Thomas Clayton (NR) | ||||
Richard H. Bayard (W) | 25th (1837–1839) | Thomas Clayton (W) | ||
26th (1839–1841) | ||||
vacant | ||||
Richard H. Bayard (W) | 27th (1841–1843) | |||
28th (1843–1845) | ||||
John M. Clayton (W) | 29th (1845–1847) | |||
30th (1847–1849) | Presley Spruance (W) | |||
John Wales (W) | 31st (1849–1851) | |||
James A. Bayard Jr. (D) | 32nd (1851–1853) | |||
33rd (1853–1855) | John M. Clayton (W) | |||
34th (1855–1857) | Joseph P. Comegys (W) | |||
35th (1857–1859) | Martin W. Bates (D) | |||
36th (1859–1861) | Willard Saulsbury Sr. (D) | |||
37th (1861–1863) | ||||
George R. Riddle (D) | 38th (1863–1865) | |||
39th (1865–1867) | ||||
James A. Bayard Jr. (D) | 40th (1867–1869) | |||
Thomas F. Bayard (D) | 41st (1869–1871) | |||
42nd (1871–1873) | Eli Saulsbury (D) | |||
43rd (1873–1875) | ||||
44th (1875–1877) | ||||
45th (1877–1879) | ||||
46th (1879–1881) | ||||
47th (1881–1883) | ||||
48th (1883–1885) | ||||
George Gray (D) | 49th (1885–1887) | |||
50th (1887–1889) | ||||
51st (1889–1891) | Anthony Higgins (R) | |||
52nd (1891–1893) | ||||
53rd (1893–1895) | ||||
54th (1895–1897) | vacant | |||
55th (1897–1899) | Richard R. Kenney (D) | |||
vacant | 56th (1899–1901) | |||
57th (1901–1903) | vacant | |||
L. Heisler Ball (R) | 58th (1903–1905) | J. Frank Allee (R) | ||
vacant | 59th (1905–1907) | |||
Henry A. du Pont (R) | ||||
60th (1907–1909) | Harry A. Richardson (R) | |||
61st (1909–1911) | ||||
62nd (1911–1913) | ||||
63rd (1913–1915) | Willard Saulsbury Jr. (D) | |||
64th (1915–1917) | ||||
Josiah O. Wolcott (D) | 65th (1917–1919) | |||
66th (1919–1921) | L. Heisler Ball (R) | |||
T. Coleman du Pont (R) | 67th (1921–1923) | |||
Thomas F. Bayard Jr. (D) | 68th (1923–1925) | |||
69th (1925–1927) | T. Coleman du Pont (R) | |||
70th (1927–1929) | ||||
John G. Townsend Jr. (R) | 71st (1929–1931) | Daniel O. Hastings (R) | ||
72nd (1931–1933) | ||||
73rd (1933–1935) | ||||
74th (1935–1937) | ||||
75th (1937–1939) | James H. Hughes (D) | |||
76th (1939–1941) | ||||
James M. Tunnell (D) | 77th (1941–1943) | |||
78th (1943–1945) | C. Douglass Buck (R) | |||
79th (1945–1947) | ||||
John J. Williams (R) | 80th (1947–1949) | |||
81st (1949–1951) | J. Allen Frear Jr. (D) | |||
82nd (1951–1953) | ||||
83rd (1953–1955) | ||||
84th (1955–1957) | ||||
85th (1957–1959) | ||||
86th (1959–1961) | ||||
87th (1961–1963) | J. Caleb Boggs (R) | |||
88th (1963–1965) | ||||
89th (1965–1967) | ||||
90th (1967–1969) | ||||
91st (1969–1971) | ||||
William Roth (R) | 92nd (1971–1973) | |||
93rd (1973–1975) | Joe Biden (D)[d] | |||
94th (1975–1977) | ||||
95th (1977–1979) | ||||
96th (1979–1981) | ||||
97th (1981–1983) | ||||
98th (1983–1985) | ||||
99th (1985–1987) | ||||
100th (1987–1989) | ||||
101st (1989–1991) | ||||
102nd (1991–1993) | ||||
103rd (1993–1995) | ||||
104th (1995–1997) | ||||
105th (1997–1999) | ||||
106th (1999–2001) | ||||
Tom Carper (D) | 107th (2001–2003) | |||
108th (2003–2005) | ||||
109th (2005–2007) | ||||
110th (2007–2009) | ||||
111th (2009–2011) | ||||
Ted Kaufman (D) | ||||
Chris Coons (D) | ||||
112th (2011–2013) | ||||
113th (2013–2015) | ||||
114th (2015–2017) | ||||
115th (2017–2019) | ||||
116th (2019–2021) | ||||
117th (2021–2023) | ||||
118th (2023–2025) |
In Delaware all representatives have been elected statewide at-large, rather than by district. Delaware has always had one seat apportioned to it, except for the 13th through 17th Congresses (1813–1823), when it was apportioned two seats per 1810 census.
Congress | At-large | |
---|---|---|
1st (1789–1791) | John Vining (PA) | |
2nd (1791–1793) | ||
3rd (1793–1795) | John Patten (AA)[e] | |
Henry Latimer (F)[f] | ||
4th (1795–1797) | John Patten (DR) | |
5th (1797–1799) | James A. Bayard (F) | |
6th (1799–1801) | ||
7th (1801–1803) | ||
8th (1803–1805) | Caesar Rodney (DR) | |
9th (1805–1807) | James M. Broom (F)[g] | |
10th (1807–1809) | Nicholas Van Dyke (F)[h] | |
11th (1809–1811) | ||
12th (1811–1813) | Henry M. Ridgely (F) | |
13th (1813–1815) | At-large seat 2 | |
Thomas Cooper (F) | ||
14th (1815–1817) | Thomas Clayton (F) | |
15th (1817–1819) | Louis McLane (F) | Willard Hall (DR)[i] |
16th (1819–1821) | ||
17th (1821–1823) | Caesar A. Rodney (DR)[j] | |
Daniel Rodney (F)[k] | ||
18th (1823–1825) | ||
19th (1825–1827) | Louis McLane (J) | |
20th (1827–1829) | Kensey Johns Jr. (NR)[l] | |
21st (1829–1831) | ||
22nd (1831–1833) | John J. Milligan (NR) | |
23rd (1833–1835) | ||
24th (1835–1837) | ||
25th (1837–1839) | John J. Milligan (W) | |
26th (1839–1841) | Thomas Robinson Jr. (D) | |
27th (1841–1843) | George B. Rodney (W) | |
28th (1843–1845) | ||
29th (1845–1847) | John W. Houston (W) | |
30th (1847–1849) | ||
31st (1849–1851) | ||
32nd (1851–1853) | George R. Riddle (D) | |
33rd (1853–1855) | ||
34th (1855–1857) | Elisha D. Cullen (KN) | |
35th (1857–1859) | William G. Whiteley (D) | |
36th (1859–1861) | ||
37th (1861–1863) | George P. Fisher (U) | |
38th (1863–1865) | William Temple (D)[m] | |
Nathaniel B. Smithers (U)[n] | ||
39th (1865–1867) | John A. Nicholson (D) | |
40th (1867–1869) | ||
41st (1869–1871) | Benjamin T. Biggs (D) | |
42nd (1871–1873) | ||
43rd (1873–1875) | James R. Lofland (R) | |
44th (1875–1877) | James Williams (D) | |
45th (1877–1879) | ||
46th (1879–1881) | Edward L. Martin (D) | |
47th (1881–1883) | ||
48th (1883–1885) | Charles B. Lore (D) | |
49th (1885–1887) | ||
50th (1887–1889) | John B. Penington (D) | |
51st (1889–1891) | ||
52nd (1891–1893) | John W. Causey (D) | |
53rd (1893–1895) | ||
54th (1895–1897) | Jonathan S. Willis (R) | |
55th (1897–1899) | L. Irving Handy (D) | |
56th (1899–1901) | John H. Hoffecker (R)[o] | |
Walter O. Hoffecker (R)[p] | ||
57th (1901–1903) | L. Heisler Ball (R)[q] | |
58th (1903–1905) | Henry A. Houston (D) | |
59th (1905–1907) | Hiram R. Burton (R) | |
60th (1907–1909) | ||
61st (1909–1911) | William H. Heald (R) | |
62nd (1911–1913) | ||
63rd (1913–1915) | Franklin Brockson (D) | |
64th (1915–1917) | Thomas W. Miller (R) | |
65th (1917–1919) | Albert F. Polk (D) | |
66th (1919–1921) | Caleb R. Layton (R) | |
67th (1921–1923) | ||
68th (1923–1925) | William H. Boyce (D) | |
69th (1925–1927) | Robert G. Houston (R) | |
70th (1927–1929) | ||
71st (1929–1931) | ||
72nd (1931–1933) | ||
73rd (1933–1935) | Wilbur L. Adams (D) | |
74th (1935–1937) | J. George Stewart (R) | |
75th (1937–1939) | William F. Allen (D) | |
76th (1939–1941) | George S. Williams (R) | |
77th (1941–1943) | Philip A. Traynor (D) | |
78th (1943–1945) | Earle D. Willey (R) | |
79th (1945–1947) | Philip A. Traynor (D) | |
80th (1947–1949) | J. Caleb Boggs (R) | |
81st (1949–1951) | ||
82nd (1951–1953) | ||
83rd (1953–1955) | Herbert Warburton (R) | |
84th (1955–1957) | Harris McDowell (D) | |
85th (1957–1959) | Hal Haskell (R) | |
86th (1959–1961) | Harris McDowell (D) | |
87th (1961–1963) | ||
88th (1963–1965) | ||
89th (1965–1967) | ||
90th (1967–1969) | William Roth (R)[r] | |
91st (1969–1971) | ||
92nd (1971–1973) | Pete du Pont (R) | |
93rd (1973–1975) | ||
94th (1975–1977) | ||
95th (1977–1979) | Thomas Evans (R) | |
96th (1979–1981) | ||
97th (1981–1983) | ||
98th (1983–1985) | Tom Carper (D) | |
99th (1985–1987) | ||
100th (1987–1989) | ||
101st (1989–1991) | ||
102nd (1991–1993) | ||
103rd (1993–1995) | Mike Castle (R) | |
104th (1995–1997) | ||
105th (1997–1999) | ||
106th (1999–2001) | ||
107th (2001–2003) | ||
108th (2003–2005) | ||
109th (2005–2007) | ||
110th (2007–2009) | ||
111th (2009–2011) | ||
112th (2011–2013) | John Carney (D) | |
113th (2013–2015) | ||
114th (2015–2017) | ||
115th (2017–2019) | Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) | |
116th (2019–2021) | ||
117th (2021–2023) | ||
118th (2023–2025) |
Anti-Administration (AA) |
Democratic (D) |
Democratic-Republican (DR) |
Federalist (F) Pro-Administration (PA) |
Jacksonian (J) |
Know Nothing (KN) |
National Republican (NR) |
Republican (R) |
Union (U) |
Whig (W) |