Takeaways from Delaware's September 15th Primary

By Evan R. Park

Following the September 15 primary election, we now have our first meaningful look at what the makeup of the Delaware General Assembly could look like in 2027. While the November 3 general election will determine the final composition of the House and Senate, Tuesday’s results have already produced a number of significant changes and opened the door for a new group of legislators to take on meaningful roles in Legislative Hall.

House Retirements and Turnover
One of the most notable changes in the House of Representatives will be the retirement of longtime Rep. Debra Heffernan in the 6th District. After 16 years of service, Heffernan is leaving Legislative Hall, where she chaired the Joint Capital Improvement (Bond) Committee, responsible for developing Delaware’s annual Bond Bill and reviewing capital budget requests from state agencies. She also chaired the Natural Resources & Energy Committee, an area that drew significant attention this session and is likely to remain a major focus when lawmakers return.

Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden will also not return to the House after narrowly losing the Democratic primary to Michelle Booker. Bolden has represented the 2nd District since 2010 and held several leadership positions, including chair of the House Elections & Government Affairs and Gaming & Parimutuels committees and vice-chair of Appropriations. Her departure will leave another significant opening as the House prepares for the 154th General Assembly.

In House District 28, longtime Rep. Bill Carson was defeated by Tyeisha “Tye” Grier. Carson had served in the House since 2007 and chaired the House Agriculture Committee, and his work on behalf of Delaware’s veterans and his involvement in agricultural and economic policy made him a familiar figure on several important issues.

The primary also ended Rep. Franklin Cooke’s bid for a fifth term, with Pamela Salaam winning the Democratic nomination in the 16th District. Cooke, first elected in 2018, chaired Delaware’s Law Enforcement Accountability Task Force, giving him a significant role in discussions surrounding public safety and law enforcement policy.

Rep. Josué Ortega was also defeated in the Democratic primary in House District 3 by Branden Fletcher-Dominguez, adding to the turnover expected in the House next year.

Senate Changes
The Senate will also see an important change. Sen. Ray Seigfried, who won the Senate District 5 seat in a 2025 special election, was defeated by Shay Frisby in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Seigfried previously served in the House and chaired the Senate Corrections & Public Safety Committee. Frisby will face Republican Brent Burdge and Independent Party candidate Carolyn Frank in November.

Looking Ahead
Taken together, these results point to meaningful turnover in Legislative Hall, with roughly a quarter of the House made up of new faces in 2027. Another dynamic to watch is the growing presence of the Delaware Working Families Party, a progressive political organization whose endorsed candidates won eight of the 13 races in which it made endorsements, including five against incumbent state legislators. 

The balance of power will also be important to watch: Democrats currently hold 27 of the House’s 41 seats, putting them one seat short of a two-thirds majority, while they already hold 15 of the Senate’s 21 seats. With several experienced legislators departing and a new group preparing to assume committee assignments and meaningful roles, the November election and subsequent legislative organizational process will help determine how the 154th General Assembly takes shape for 2027.

You can view the unofficial results from the Delaware Department of Elections by clicking here. 

---