More Republican retirements hit Delaware statehouse

Recent announcements by state Reps. Kevin Hensley (R-Odessa) and Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck) that they will not seek reelection this fall could add a new wrinkle to House GOP efforts to block Democrats from gaining a supermajority in the General Assembly’s lower chamber.

Republicans must now defend five of their 12 currently-held seats in the House. Losing just one would give Democrats a key two-thirds supermajority – allowing them to amend the state Constitution without any bipartisan support.

And Hensley’s seat, House District 9, could present a unique challenge. The southern New Castle County district that covers Odessa, Townsend and Port Penn boasts nearly twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans.

As of May 1, the district was home to nearly 24,000 registered voters – 10,164 Democrats; 5,854 Republicans; and 7,799 voters unaffiliated with either party.



https://spotlightdelaware.org/2026/05/18/more-republican-retirements-hit-delaware-statehouse/