Inside Legislative Hall in Dover, members of the Delaware General Assembly are responsible for drafting, debating and voting on legislation that could become new laws or update old ones.
However, as with many processes in the First State, there’s more to it than that.
Let’s step inside the Statehouse and take a closer look.
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How many lawmakers does Delaware have?
The Delaware General Assembly contains 21 state senators and 41 state representatives – 62 lawmakers in total.
The Senate is made up of 15 Democrats and six Republicans, while the House possesses 27 Democrats and 14 Republicans.
State senators serve a four-year term, while state representatives serve a two-year term.
What does a Delaware legislator do?
One of the most recognizable responsibilities of the state legislative branch is to craft, discuss and vote on bills that either create new state laws or adjust ones already in place, such as through constitutional amendments.
The General Assembly is also responsible for drafting and establishing a statewide budget, as well as overriding a governor’s veto on certain bills.
How are Delaware legislators chosen?
To qualify for the state Senate, a person must be at least 27 years of age, a resident of Delaware at least three years before the election – with the last in that specific district – and must be “an inhabitant of the Senatorial District in which he or she shall be chosen,” according to the state constitution.
Similar rules apply to the state House – except you must be at least 24 years of age to qualify and you must be “an inhabitant of the Representative District” you would be representing.
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Both Senate and House lawmakers must “continuously reside” in their respective districts throughout their time in office. In the event of redistricting, a lawmaker whose home is no longer in that district may no longer represent it.
There are no term limits for state legislators in Delaware.
In the event a seat becomes unoccupied in either chamber – such as in the case of resignation – a special election takes place to fill that vacancy for the remainder of that term.
How often do Delaware legislators meet?
State lawmakers meet “on the second Tuesday of January of each calendar year” and typically on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until the end of June, often referred to as the regular session.
However, if there is still a need to address specific issues or topics outside of regularly scheduled proceedings, then a special session may be called.
In Delaware, a special session can be brought on by “the mutual call of the presiding officers” from both chambers, usually after the regular session has ended.
Where do Delaware legislators meet?
Lawmakers usually meet in their respective chambers inside Legislative Hall, located in Dover.
The Statehouse has served as the state’s capitol since 1933. In addition to the House and Senate chambers, the building also houses several committee rooms, the formal office of the governor and offices belonging to legislators.
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Who are the leaders in the Delaware Senate?
The Senate is led by a legislator chosen by a majority of their colleagues to “run the mechanics” of the chamber.
This person is known as the President Pro Tempore – or simply “pro tem.”
The pro tem often appoints members to committees and assigns legislation to those same committees.
The Senate majority and minority leaders and whips are selected by the chamber’s political parties to shepherd their respective caucuses and to “encourage membership attendance, count votes” and occasionally oversee personnel.
As of August 2025, leaders in the Senate include:
President Pro Tempore: Dave Sokola (D)
Senate Majority Leader: Bryan Townsend (D)
Senate Majority Whip: Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman (D)
Senate Minority Leader: Gerald Hocker (R)
Senate Minority Whip: Brian Pettyjohn (R)
What about the Delaware House?
On the opposite side of the Statehouse, leadership looks a bit different.
In the House, the Speaker serves as the chamber’s presiding officer, usually elected to the role by a majority vote.
Like the president pro tempore, the speaker is also responsible for managing the nuts and bolts of the chamber, including appointing members and committees and assigning legislation to those same committees.
The speaker must also “preserve order and decorum” in the House. This includes recognizing which member has the floor during hearings, setting the agenda and signing all bills and declarations passed by the chamber.
The state House also has majority and minority leaders and whips, who share similar responsibilities as their Senate counterparts.
As of August 2025, the House, leadership is as follows:
Speaker of the House: Melissa Minor-Brown (D)
House Majority Leader: Kerri Evelyn Harris (D)
House Majority Whip: Ed Osienski (D)
House Minority Leader: Tim Dukes (R)
House Minority Whip: Jeff Spiegelman (R)
What about the Delaware lieutenant governor?
The second most powerful person in the state after the governor, the lieutenant governor, oversees the state Senate – the first constitutional responsibility of the position.
As president of the Senate, the lieutenant governor also has the power to cast a vote in the event of a tie.
Sworn in as Lieutenant Governor in January 2025, Kyle Evans Gay has had some legislative experience under her belt, having previously served as a member of the state Senate..
The lieutenant governor is also held to the same provisions and standards as the head of state, and must be selected “at the same time, in the same manner [and] for the same term” as the governor.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware General Assembly ins and outs, what legislative branch does
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