Closest U.S. Senate elections in Delaware
The closest U.S. Senate election in Delaware history was in 1922, a margin of 0.43 points. Thomas F. Bayard Jr. beat Coleman Du Pont, 37,304 to 36,979. Next closest are 1972 (1.4 points) and 1960 (1.4 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Delaware has held, special elections included, see the Delaware U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Delaware history?
The Delaware Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1922, 0.43 points. Thomas F. Bayard Jr. beat Coleman Du Pont, 37,304 to 36,979. The next closest were 1972 (1.4 points) and 1960 (1.4 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Delaware’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Delaware Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Delaware election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1922 | Thomas F. Bayard Jr. D def. Coleman Du Pont R | 37,304 – 36,979 | 0.43 points |
| 2 | 1972 | Joe Biden D def. J. Caleb Boggs R | 116,006 – 112,844 | 1.4 points |
| 3 | 1960 | J. Caleb Boggs R def. J. Allen Frear D | 98,874 – 96,090 | 1.4 points |
| 4 | 1948 | J. Allen Frear D def. C. Douglas. Buck R | 71,888 – 68,246 | 2.6 points |
| 5 | 1940 | James M. Tunnell D def. John G. Townsend Jr. R | 68,294 – 63,799 | 3.3 points |
| 6 | 1918 | L. Heisler Ball R def. Willard Saulsbury D | 21,519 – 20,113 | 3.3 points |
| 7 | 1964 | John J. Williams R def. Elbert N. Carvel D | 103,782 – 96,850 | 3.5 points |
| 8 | 1916 | Josiah O. Wolcott D def. Henry A. Du Pont R | 25,434 – 22,925 | 4.9 points |
| 9 | 1958 | John J. Williams R def. Elbert N. Carvel D | 82,280 – 72,152 | 6.6 points |
| 10 | 1934 | John G. Townsend Jr. R def. Wilbur L. Adams D | 52,829 – 45,771 | 7.1 points |
| 11 | 1952 | John J. Williams R def. Alexis I. Bayard D | 93,020 – 77,685 | 9.0 points |
| 12 | 1930 | Daniel O. Hastings R def. Thomas F. Bayard Jr. D | 47,909 – 39,881 | 9.1 points |
| 13 | 1942 | C. Douglas. Buck R def. E. Ennalls Berl D | 46,210 – 38,322 | 9.3 points |
| 14 | 1946 | John J. Williams R def. James M. Tunnell D | 62,603 – 50,910 | 10.3 points |
| 15 | 1982 | William V Roth Jr. R def. David N. Levinson D | 105,357 – 84,413 | 11.0 points |
| 16 | 1936 | James H. Hughes D def. Daniel O. Hastings R | 67,136 – 52,469 | 11.6 points |
| 17 | 2000 | Thomas R. Carper D def. William V Roth Jr. R | 181,566 – 142,891 | 11.8 points |
| 18 | 1976 | William V Roth Jr. R def. Thomas C. Maloney D | 125,454 – 98,042 | 12.2 points |
| 19 | 1994 | William V Roth Jr. R def. Charles M. Oberly D | 111,074 – 84,540 | 13.3 points |
| 20 | 2014 | Christopher A. Coons D def. Kevin Wade R | 130,655 – 98,823 | 13.6 points |
| 21 | 1954 | J. Allen Frear D def. Herbert B. Washburton R | 82,511 – 62,389 | 13.9 points |
| 22 | 1978 | Joe Biden D def. James H. Baxter Jr. R | 93,930 – 66,479 | 16.9 points |
| 23 | 2024 | Lisa Blunt Rochester D def. Eric Hansen R | 283,298 – 197,753 | 17.1 points |
| 24 | 2002 | Joe Biden D def. Raymond J. Clatworthy R | 135,253 – 94,793 | 17.4 points |
| 25 | 1966 | J. Caleb Boggs R def. James M. Tunnell D | 97,268 – 67,263 | 18.2 points |