This is a list of the sessions of the Delaware General Assembly showing majority parties and leadership for each body and each session. Also included are the corresponding Governors and Lieutenant Governors where applicable. Delaware was one of the 13 colonies of Great Britain that joined the American War of Independence. The General Assembly was formed at that time and has met since then under four state constitutions as indicated.
Under the Delaware Constitution of 1776 the General Assembly consisted of The Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. There were nine members of the Council, three from each county, and twenty-one members of the Assembly, seven from each county. All members were elected "at-large" from a multi-member district that included their entire county. Elections were held the first day of October, and terms began on the 20th day of October, lasting three years for the Council and one year for the House. Approximately one third of the Senate was elected every year. Sessions were generally held several times every year.
Delaware General Assembly 1776–1792 | |||||||||||
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Year | Assembly | President | Council Majority | Speaker | House Majority | Speaker | |||||
1776/77 | 1st | John McKinly Thomas McKean | no parties | George Read | no parties | John McKinly | |||||
1777/78 | 2nd | George Read Caesar Rodney | no parties | George Read | no parties | Samuel West | |||||
1778/79 | 3rd | Caesar Rodney | no parties | Thomas Collins | no parties | Samuel West | |||||
1779/80 | 4th | Caesar Rodney | no parties | John Clowes | no parties | Simon Kollock | |||||
1780/81 | 5th | Caesar Rodney | no parties | Thomas Collins | no parties | Benjamin Caton | |||||
1781/82 | 6th | Caesar Rodney John Dickinson | no parties | Thomas Collins | no parties | Simon Kollock | |||||
1782/83 | 7th | John Cook Nicholas Van Dyke | no parties | John Cook | no parties | Nicholas Van Dyke | |||||
1783/84 | 8th | Nicholas Van Dyke | no parties | Caesar Rodney | no parties | Robert Bryan | |||||
1784/85 | 9th | Nicholas Van Dyke | no parties | Thomas McDonough | no parties | Thomas Duff | |||||
1785/86 | 10th | Nicholas Van Dyke | no parties | Thomas McDonough | no parties | Thomas Duff | |||||
1786/87 | 11th | Thomas Collins | no parties | George Craighead | no parties | John Cook | |||||
1787/88 | 12th | Thomas Collins | no parties | Thomas McDonough | no parties | Thomas Rodney | |||||
1788/89 | 13th | Thomas Collins Jehu Davis Joshua Clayton | no parties | George Mitchell | no parties | Jehu Davis | |||||
1789/90 | 14th | Joshua Clayton | no parties | George Mitchell | no parties | Jehu Davis | |||||
1790/91 | 15th | Joshua Clayton | no parties | George Mitchell | no parties | Henry Latimer | |||||
1791/92 | 16th | Joshua Clayton | no parties | George Mitchell | no parties | Allan McLane |
Under the Delaware Constitution of 1792 the General Assembly consisted of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There were nine members of the Senate, three from each county, and twenty-one members of the House of Representatives, seven from each county. All members were elected "at-large" from a multi-member district that included their entire county. Elections were held the first Tuesday of October and terms began on the first Tuesday in January, lasting three years for the Senate and one year for the House. Approximately one third of the Senate was elected every year. Sessions were generally held once every year.
Under the Delaware Constitution of 1831 the General Assembly consisted of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There were nine members of the Senate, three from each county, and twenty-one members of the House of Representatives, seven from each county. All members were elected "at-large" from a multi-member district that included their entire county. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began on the first Tuesday in January, lasting four years for the Senate and two years for the House. Approximately half of the Senate was elected every two years. Sessions were generally held once every two years, in the odd numbered year.
Delaware General Assembly 1832–1898 | |||||||||||
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Year | Assembly | Governor | Senate Majority | Speaker | House Majority | Speaker | |||||
1833–1835 | 57th | Caleb Bennett | Whig | Joshua Burton | Whig | John Raymond | |||||
1835–1837 | 58th | Caleb Bennett Charles Polk, Jr. | Whig | Charles Polk, Jr. | Whig | William D. Waples | |||||
1837–1839 | 59th | Cornelius P. Comegys | Whig | Presley Spruance | Whig | William D. Waples | |||||
1839–1841 | 60th | Cornelius P. Comegys | Democratic | Thomas Jacobs | Democratic | John P. Brinckloe | |||||
1841–1843 | 61st | William B. Cooper | Whig | Charles Polk, Jr. | Whig | Robert Houston | |||||
1843–1845 | 62nd | William B. Cooper | Whig | Presley Spruance | Whig | William O. Redden | |||||
1845–1847 | 63rd | Thomas Stockton Joseph Maull William Temple | Whig | Joseph Maull | Whig | William Temple William O. Redden | |||||
1847–1849 | 64th | William Tharp | Whig | William W. Morris | Whig | Lewis Thompson | |||||
1849–1851 | 65th | William Tharp | Whig | William W. Morris | Whig | Daniel Cummins | |||||
1851–1853 | 66th | William H. H. Ross | Democratic | John M. Phillips | Democratic | Samuel Jefferson | |||||
1853–1855 | 67th | William H. H. Ross | Democratic | John M. Phillips | Democratic | John R. McFee | |||||
1855–1857 | 68th | Peter F. Causey | Know-nothing | Daniel Curry | Know-nothing | Samuel Biddle | |||||
1857–1859 | 69th | Peter F. Causey | Democratic | Abraham Boyce | Democratic | George W. Cummins | |||||
1859–1861 | 70th | William Burton | Democratic | Manlove Carlisle | Democratic | John W. F. Jackson | |||||
1861–1863 | 71st | William Burton | Democratic | John Green | Republican | John F. Williamson | |||||
1863–1865 | 72nd | William Cannon | Democratic | John R. Tatum | Democratic | John Sorden | |||||
1865–1867 | 73rd | William Cannon Gove Saulsbury | Democratic | Gove Saulsbury William Hitch | Democratic | Shephard P. Houston | |||||
1867–1869 | 74th | Gove Saulsbury | Democratic | James Ponder | Democratic | William A. Polk | |||||
1869–1871 | 75th | Gove Saulsbury | Democratic | James W. Minors | Democratic | John Hickman | |||||
1871–1873 | 76th | James Ponder | Democratic | Charles Gooding | Democratic | Sewell C. Biggs | |||||
1873–1875 | 77th | James Ponder | Democratic | Allen V. Leslie | Democratic | Joseph Burchenal | |||||
1875–1877 | 78th | John P. Cochran | Democratic | Charles C. Stockley | Democratic | Thomas Holcomb | |||||
1877–1879 | 79th | John P. Cochran | Democratic | John T. Moore | Democratic | Hugh Martin | |||||
1879–1881 | 80th | John W. Hall | Democratic | Charles J. Harrington | Democratic | Swithin Chandler | |||||
1881–1883 | 81st | John W. Hall | Democratic | Cateby F. Rust | Democratic | Reynear Williams | |||||
1883–1885 | 82nd | Charles C. Stockley | Democratic | Samuel B. Cooper | Democratic | George H. Bates | |||||
1885–1887 | 83rd | Charles C. Stockley | Democratic | Alexander B. Cooper | Democratic | William A. Comegys | |||||
1887–1889 | 84th | Benjamin T. Biggs | Democratic | John E. Collins | Democratic | William R. McCabe | |||||
1889–1891 | 85th | Benjamin T. Biggs | Democratic | Beniah L. Lewis | Republican | John H. Hoffecker | |||||
1891–1893 | 86th | Robert J. Reynolds | Democratic | John P. Donohoe | Democratic | William L. Sirman | |||||
1893–1895 | 87th | Robert J. Reynolds | Democratic | Charles B. Houston | Democratic | J. Harvey Whiteman | |||||
1895–1897 | 88th | Joshua H. Marvil William T. Watson | Democratic | William T. Watson | Republican | Henry H. McMullen | |||||
1897–1899 | 89th | Ebe W. Tunnell | Democratic | Hezekiah Harrington | Democratic | Emory B. Riggin | |||||
Under the original Delaware Constitution of 1897 the General Assembly consisted of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms begin on the second Tuesday in January, lasting four years for the Senate and two years for the House. Approximately half of the Senate was elected every two years. Sessions were generally held once every year, lasting no longer than June 30.
Prior to 1965, there were seventeen members of the Senate, seven from New Castle County and five each from Kent and Sussex County. There were thirty-five members of the House of Representatives, fifteen from New Castle County and ten each from Kent and Sussex County. All members were elected from single member districts.
Delaware General Assembly 1899–1964 | |||||||||||
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Year | Assembly | Governor | Lt. Governor | Senate Majority | President pro tempore | House Majority | Speaker | ||||
1899–1900 | 90th | Ebe W. Tunnell | none | Democratic | Charles M. Salmon | Republican | Theodore F. Clark | ||||
1901–1902 | 91st | John Hunn | Philip L. Cannon | Republican | Henry C. Ellison | Republican | James V. McCommons | ||||
1903–1904 | 92nd | John Hunn | Philip L. Cannon | Republican | Henry C. Ellison | Republican | Henry S. Anthony | ||||
1905–1906 | 93rd | Preston Lea | Isaac T. Parker | Republican | Alvin B. Conner | Republican | William D. Denney | ||||
1907–1908 | 94th | Preston Lea | Isaac T. Parker | Republican | George W. Sparks | Republican | Richard Hodgson | ||||
1909–1910 | 95th | Simeon S. Pennewill | John M. Mendinhall | Republican | George W. Sparks | Democratic | Thomas O. Cooper | ||||
1911–1912 | 96th | Simeon S. Pennewill | John M. Mendinhall | Democratic | Thomas M. Monaghan | Republican | Denward W. Campbell | ||||
1913–1914 | 97th | Charles R. Miller (politician) | Colen Ferguson | Republican | George W. Marshall | Republican | Chauncey P. Holcomb | ||||
1915–1916 | 98th | Charles R. Miller | Colen Ferguson | Republican | John M. Walker | Republican | Charles H. Grantland | ||||
1917–1918 | 99th | John G. Townsend, Jr. | Lewis T. Eliason | Republican | John A. Barnard | Democratic | Hervey P. Hall | ||||
1919–1920 | 100th | John G. Townsend, Jr. | Lewis T. Eliason | Republican | Isaac D. Short | Republican | Alexander P. Corbit | ||||
1921–1922 | 101st | William D. Denney | J. Danforth Bush | Republican | Wallace S. Handy | Democratic | Walter J. Paskey, Sr. | ||||
1923–1924 | 102nd | William D. Denney | J. Danforth Bush | Democratic | Charles D. Murphy | Democratic | Samuel N. Culver | ||||
1925–1926 | 103rd | Robert P. Robinson | James H. Anderson | Democratic | William C. Truitt | Republican | Henry C. Downward | ||||
1927–1928 | 104th | Robert P. Robinson | James H. Anderson | Democratic | William F. Allen | Republican | William Wintrup | ||||
1929–1930 | 105th | C. Douglass Buck | James H. Hazel | Republican | William A. Simonton | Republican | Charles W. Messick | ||||
1931–1932 | 106th | C. Douglass Buck | James H. Hazel | Republican | William A. Simonton | Republican | Bud Coy | ||||
1933–1934 | 107th | C. Douglass Buck | Roy F. Corley | Republican | William A. Simonton | Democratic | Julian T. Robinson | ||||
1935–1936 | 108th | C. Douglass Buck | Roy F. Corley | Republican | Levi G. Maloney | Republican | Harry V. Lyons | ||||
1937–1938 | 109th | Richard C. McMullen | Edward W. Cooch | Republican | William A. Simonton | Democratic | John R. Fader | ||||
1939–1940 | 110th | Richard C. McMullen | Edward W. Cooch | Republican | David W. Steele | Republican | Frank R. Zebley | ||||
1941–1942 | 111th | Walter W. Bacon | Isaac J. MacCollum | Republican | Harold W. T. Purnell | Republican | George W. Rhodes | ||||
1943–1944 | 112th | Walter W. Bacon | Isaac J. MacCollum | Republican | Clayton A. Bunting | Republican | Benjamin F. Johnson | ||||
1945–1946 | 113th | Walter W. Bacon | Elbert N. Carvel | Republican | Harry H. Mulholland | Republican | Chester V. Townsend, Jr. | ||||
1947–1948 | 114th | Walter W. Bacon | Elbert N. Carvel | Republican | George W. Rhodes | Republican | William T. Chipman | ||||
1949–1950 | 115th | Elbert N. Carvel | Alexis I. du Pont Bayard | Democratic | Vera G. Davis | Republican | Harvey H. Lawson | ||||
1951–1952 | 116th | Elbert N. Carvel | Alexis I. du Pont Bayard | Democratic | Roy A. Cannon | Republican | Harvey H. Lawson | ||||
1953–1954 | 117th | J. Caleb Boggs | John W. Rollins | Republican | Thomas L. Johnson | Republican | Frank A. Jones | ||||
1955–1956 | 118th | J. Caleb Boggs | John W. Rollins | Democratic | Charles G. Moore | Democratic | James R. Quigley | ||||
1957–1958 | 119th | J. Caleb Boggs | David P. Buckson | Democratic | Lemuel Hickman | Democratic | Harry E. Mayhew | ||||
1959–1960 | 120th | J. Caleb Boggs | David P. Buckson | Democratic | Allen J. Cook | Democratic | Sherman W. Tribbitt | ||||
1961–1962 | 121st | Elbert N. Carvel | Eugene Lammot | Democratic | John B. Reilly | Democratic | Sherman W. Tribbitt | ||||
1963–1964 | 122nd | Elbert N. Carvel | Eugene Lammot | Democratic | Curtis W. Steen | Democratic | Sherman W. Tribbitt |
Under the amended Delaware Constitution of 1897 the General Assembly consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms begin on the second Tuesday in January, lasting four years for the Senate and two years for the House. Approximately half of the Senate is elected every two years. Sessions are generally held once every year, lasting no longer than June 30.
Since 1965 the membership of the Senate has increased to twenty-one members and the House to forty-one members. All members are elected from single member districts, with roughly equal population, reapportioned at each census. While district boundaries no longer necessarily follow county boundaries, in the Senate there are presently fourteen districts mostly in New Castle County, three mostly in Kent County, and four mostly in Sussex County. In the House there are presently twenty-six districts mostly in New Castle County, seven mostly in Kent County, and eight mostly in Sussex County.
The Delaware General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the Delaware Senate with 21 senators and the Delaware House of Representatives with 41 representatives. It meets at Legislative Hall in Dover, Delaware, convening on the second Tuesday of January of odd-numbered years, with a second session of the same Assembly convening likewise in even-numbered years. Normally the sessions are required to adjourn by the last day of June of the same calendar year. However the Governor can call a special session of the legislature at any time.
The 90th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 3, 1899, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Ebe W. Tunnell.
The 91st Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 1, 1901, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor John Hunn and Philip Cannon as Lieutenant Governor.
The 92nd Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 6, 1903, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Governor John Hunn and Philip Cannon as Lieutenant Governor.
The 93rd Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 3, 1905, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor Preston Lea and Isaac Parker as Lieutenant Governor.
The 95th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 5, 1909, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor Simeon S. Pennewill and John Mendinhall as Lieutenant Governor.
The 96th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 3, 1911, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Governor Simeon S. Pennewill and John Mendinhall as Lieutenant Governor.
The 101st Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 4, 1921, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor William D. Denney and J. Danforth Bush as Lieutenant Governor.
The 102nd Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 2, 1923, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Governor William D. Denney and J. Danforth Bush as Lieutenant Governor.
The 104th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 4, 1927, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Governor Robert P. Robinson and James H. Anderson as Lieutenant Governor.
The 106th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 6, 1931, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Governor C. Douglass Buck and James H. Hazel as Lieutenant Governor.
The 107th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 3, 1933, which was two weeks before the beginning of the fifth administrative year of Governor C. Douglass Buck and the first administrative year of Roy F. Corley as Lieutenant Governor.
The 108th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 8, 1935, which was two weeks before the beginning of the seventh administrative year of Governor C. Douglass Buck and third administrative year of Roy F. Corley as Lieutenant Governor.
The 109th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 5, 1937, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor Richard C. McMullen and Edward W. Cooch as Lieutenant Governor.
The 111th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 7, 1941, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor Walter W. Bacon and Isaac J. MacCollum as Lieutenant Governor.
The 114th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 7, 1949, which was two weeks before the beginning of the seventh administrative year of Governor Walter W. Bacon and the third administrative year of Elbert N. Carvel as Lieutenant Governor.
The 115th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 7, 1949, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor Elbert N. Carvel and Alexis I. du Pont Bayard as Lieutenant Governor.
The 116th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 2, 1951, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Governor Elbert N. Carvel and Alexis I. du Pont Bayard as Lieutenant Governor.
The 118th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 4, 1955, which was two weeks before the beginning of the third administrative year of Governor J. Caleb Boggs and John W. Rollins as Lieutenant Governor.
The 121st Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative state, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 3, 1961, which was two weeks before the beginning of the fifth administrative year of Governor Elbert N. Carvel and at the first administrative year of Eugene Lammont as Lieutenant Governor.