| Delaware's 21st State Senate district | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| | |||
| Senator |
| ||
| Registration | 42.1% Republican 34.8% Democratic 23.1% No party preference | ||
| Demographics | 70% White 18% Black 9% Hispanic 1% Asian 2% Other | ||
| Population (2018) | 42,674 [1] | ||
| Registered voters | 29,696 [2] | ||
Delaware's 21st Senate district is one of 21 districts in the Delaware Senate. It has been represented by Republican Bryant Richardson since his 2014 defeat of Democrat Robert Venables Sr. [3] It is the most Republican-leaning district in the Senate.
District 21 is based in the southwestern corner of Sussex County, including the communities of Seaford, Laurel, Delmar, Bethel, Gumboro, and Reliance. [4] [5]
Like all districts in the state, the 21st Senate district is located entirely within Delaware's at-large congressional district. It overlaps with the 35th, 39th, 40th, and 41st districts of the Delaware House of Representatives. [6] It borders the state of Maryland. [1]
Delaware Senators are elected to staggered four-year terms. Under normal circumstances, the 21st district holds elections in midterm years, except immediately after redistricting, when all seats are up for election regardless of usual cycle.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bryant Richardson (incumbent) | 17,105 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 17,105 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bryant Richardson (incumbent) | 8,816 | 65.0 | |
| Democratic | Bob Wheatley | 4,741 | 35.0 | |
| Total votes | 13,557 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bryant Richardson | 5,210 | 53.0 | |
| Democratic | Robert Venables Sr. (incumbent) | 4,514 | 45.9 | |
| Libertarian | John Potter | 113 | 1.1 | |
| Total votes | 9,837 | 100 | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Robert Venables Sr. (incumbent) | 8,955 | 55.9 | |
| Republican | Bryant Richardson | 6,889 | 43.0 | |
| Libertarian | John Potter | 187 | 1.2 | |
| Total votes | 16,031 | 100 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Year | Office | Results [8] [9] |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | President | Trump 65 – 33.6% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 66.3 – 29.6% |
| 2014 | Senate | Wade 61.5 – 37.0% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 60.2 – 38.6% |
| Senate | Carper 52.6 – 42.2% | |
| Governor | Markell 54.3 – 43.6% |