List of Delaware General Assembly sessions

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.

Constitution of 1776

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
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

Constitution of 1792

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.


Delaware General Assembly 1793-1832
Year Assembly Governor Senate Majority Speaker House Majority Speaker
1793 17th Joshua Clayton Federalist Daniel Rogers Federalist George Wilson
Stephen Lewis
1794 18th Joshua Clayton Federalist Daniel Rogers Federalist Stephen Lewis
1795 19th Joshua Clayton Federalist Daniel Rogers Federalist Peter Lowber
1796 20th Gunning Bedford, Sr. Federalist Daniel Rogers Federalist Stephen Lewis
1797 21st Gunning Bedford, Sr.
Daniel Rogers		 Federalist Daniel Rogers Federalist Stephen Lewis
1798 22nd Daniel Rogers Federalist Isaac Davis Federalist Stephen Lewis
1799 23rd Richard Bassett Federalist Isaac Davis Federalist Stephen Lewis
1800 24th Richard Bassett Federalist James Sykes Federalist Stephen Lewis
1801 25th Richard Bassett
James Sykes		 Federalist James Sykes Federalist Stephen Lewis
1802 26th David Hall Federalist Daniel Rogers Federalist Stephen Lewis
1803 27th David Hall Federalist James Sykes Federalist Stephen Lewis
1804 28th David Hall Federalist James Sykes Federalist Jesse Green
1805 29th Nathaniel Mitchell Federalist James Sykes Federalist Thomas Laws
1806 30th Nathaniel Mitchell Federalist James Sykes Federalist Jesse Green
1807 31st Nathaniel Mitchell Federalist James Sykes Federalist William Warner
1808 32nd George Truitt Federalist James Sykes Federalist Stephen Lewis
1809 33rd George Truitt Federalist James Sykes Federalist Stephen Lewis
1810 34th George Truitt Federalist James Sykes Federalist Stephen Lewis
1811 35th Joseph Haslet Federalist James Sykes Federalist Cornelius P. Comegys
1812 36th Joseph Haslet Federalist James Sykes Federalist Cornelius P. Comegys
1813 37th Joseph Haslet Federalist Andrew Barratt Federalist Cornelius P. Comegys
1814 38th Daniel Rodney Federalist Andrew Barratt Federalist Cornelius P. Comegys
1815 39th Daniel Rodney Federalist Jesse Green Federalist Cornelius P. Comegys
1816 40th Daniel Rodney Federalist Jesse Green Federalist Nathan Vickers
1817 41st John Clark Federalist Henry Molleston Federalist Nathan Vickers
1818 42nd John Clark Federalist Henry Molleston Federalist Nathan Vickers
1819 43rd John Clark Federalist Henry Molleston Federalist Nathan Vickers
1820 44th Jacob Stout Federalist Jacob Stout Federalist Nathan Vickers
1821 45th John Collins Federalist Caleb Rodney Federalist John Cummins
1822 46th John Collins
Caleb Rodney		 Federalist Caleb Rodney Federalist Alrichs Ryland
1823 47th Joseph Haslet
Charles Thomas		 Democratic-Republican Charles Thomas Democratic-Republican George Clark, Jr.
1824 48th Samuel Paynter Federalist Jesse Green Federalist Joshua Burton
1825 49th Samuel Paynter Federalist Jesse Green Federalist Joshua Burton
1826 50th Samuel Paynter Federalist Charles Polk, Jr. Federalist Arnold S. Naudain
1827 51st Charles Polk, Jr. Federalist Henry Whiteley Federalist Archibald Hamilton
1828 52nd Charles Polk, Jr. Federalist Presley Spruance Federalist William W. Morris
1829 53rd Charles Polk, Jr. Federalist Presley Spruance Federalist William W. Morris
John Raymond
1830 54th David Hazzard National Republican Presley Spruance National Republican Joshua Burton
1831 55th David Hazzard National Republican Presley Spruance National Republican Joshua Burton
1832 56th David Hazzard National Republican James P. Lofland National Republican Thomas Davis

Constitution of 1831

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
Year Assembly Governor Senate Majority Speaker House Majority Speaker
1833–1834 57th Caleb Bennett Whig Joshua Burton Whig John Raymond
1835–1836 58th Caleb Bennett
Charles Polk, Jr.		 Whig Charles Polk, Jr. Whig William D. Waples
1837–1838 59th Cornelius P. Comegys Whig Presley Spruance Whig William D. Waples
1839–1840 60th Cornelius P. Comegys Democratic Thomas Jacobs Democratic John P. Brinckloe
1841–1842 61st William B. Cooper Whig Charles Polk, Jr. Whig Robert Houston
1843–1844 62nd William B. Cooper Whig Presley Spruance Whig William O. Redden
1845–1846 63rd Thomas Stockton
Joseph Maull
William Temple		 Whig Joseph Maull Whig William Temple
William O. Redden
1847–1848 64th William Tharp Whig William W. Morris Whig Lewis Thompson
1849–1850 65th William Tharp Whig William W. Morris Whig Daniel Cummins
1851–1852 66th William H. H. Ross Democratic John M. Phillips Democratic Samuel Jefferson
1853–1854 67th William H. H. Ross Democratic John M. Phillips Democratic John R. McFee
1855–1856 68th Peter F. Causey Know-nothing Daniel Curry Know-nothing Samuel Biddle
1857–1858 69th Peter F. Causey Democratic Abraham Boyce Democratic George W. Cummins
1859–1860 70th William Burton Democratic Manlove Carlisle Democratic John W. F. Jackson
1861–1862 71st William Burton Democratic John Green Republican John F. Williamson
1863–1864 72nd William Cannon Democratic John R. Tatum Democratic John Sorden
1865–1866 73rd William Cannon
Gove Saulsbury		 Democratic Gove Saulsbury
William Hitch		 Democratic Shephard P. Houston
1867–1868 74th Gove Saulsbury Democratic James Ponder Democratic William A. Polk
1869–1870 75th Gove Saulsbury Democratic James W. Minors Democratic John Hickman
1871–1872 76th James Ponder Democratic Charles Gooding Democratic Sewell C. Biggs
1873–1874 77th James Ponder Democratic Allen V. Leslie Democratic Joseph Burchenal
1875–1876 78th John P. Cochran Democratic Charles C. Stockley Democratic Thomas Holcomb
1877–1878 79th John P. Cochran Democratic John T. Moore Democratic Hugh Martin
1879–1880 80th John W. Hall Democratic Charles J. Harrington Democratic Swithin Chandler
1881–1882 81st John W. Hall Democratic Cateby F. Rust Democratic Reynear Williams
1883–1884 82nd Charles C. Stockley Democratic Samuel B. Cooper Democratic George H. Bates
1885–1886 83rd Charles C. Stockley Democratic Alexander B. Cooper Democratic William A. Comegys
1887–1888 84th Benjamin T. Biggs Democratic John E. Collins Democratic William R. McCabe
1889–1890 85th Benjamin T. Biggs Democratic Beniah L. Lewis Republican John H. Hoffecker
1891–1892 86th Robert J. Reynolds Democratic John P. Donohoe Democratic William L. Sirman
1893–1894 87th Robert J. Reynolds Democratic Charles B. Houston Democratic J. Harvey Whiteman
1895–1896 88th Joshua H. Marvil
William T. Watson		 Democratic William T. Watson Republican Henry H. McMullen
1897–1898 89th Ebe W. Tunnell Democratic Hezekiah Harrington Democratic Emory B. Riggin

Constitution of 1897

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
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 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

Amended Constitution of 1897

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.


Delaware General Assembly 1965-2008
Year Assembly Governor Lt. Governor Senate Majority President
pro tempore		 House Majority Speaker
1965–1966 123rd Charles L. Terry, Jr. Sherman W. Tribbitt Democratic Curtis W. Steen Democratic Harold T. Bockman
1967–1968 124th Charles L. Terry, Jr. Sherman W. Tribbitt Democratic Calvin R. McCullough Republican George C. Hering, III
1969–1970 125th Russell W. Peterson Eugene Bookhammer Republican Reynolds du Pont Republican George C. Hering, III
1971–1972 126th Russell W. Peterson Eugene Bookhammer Republican Reynolds du Pont Republican William L. Frederick
1973–1974 127th Sherman W. Tribbitt Eugene Bookhammer Democratic J. Donald Isaacs Republican John F. Kirk, Jr.
1975–1976 128th Sherman W. Tribbitt Eugene Bookhammer Democratic J. Donald Isaacs Democratic Casimir S. Jonkiert
1977–1978 129th Pierre S. du Pont, IV James D. McGinnis Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Democratic Kenneth W. Boulden
John P. Ferguson
1979–1980 130th Pierre S. du Pont, IV James D. McGinnis Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican Robert W. Riddagh
1981–1982 131st Pierre S. du Pont, IV Michael N. Castle Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican Charles L. Hebner
1983–1984 132nd Pierre S. du Pont, IV Michael N. Castle Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Democratic Orlando J. George, Jr.
1985–1986 133rd Michael N. Castle Shien Biau Woo Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican Charles L. Hebner
1987–1988 134th Michael N. Castle Shien Biau Woo Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican B. Bradford Barnes
Terry R. Spence
1989–1990 135th Michael N. Castle Dale E. Wolf Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican Terry R. Spence
1991–1992 136th Michael N. Castle Dale E. Wolf Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican Terry R. Spence
1993–1994 137th Tom Carper Ruth Ann Minner Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican Terry R. Spence
1995–1996 138th Tom Carper Ruth Ann Minner Democratic Richard S. Cordrey Republican Terry R. Spence
1997–1998 139th Thomas R. Carper Ruth Ann Minner Democratic Thomas B. Sharp Republican Terry R. Spence
1999–2000 140th Thomas R. Carper Ruth Ann Minner Democratic Thomas B. Sharp Republican Terry R. Spence
2001–2002 141st Ruth Ann Minner John Carney Democratic Thomas B. Sharp Republican Terry R. Spence
2003–2004 142nd Ruth Ann Minner John Carney Democratic Thurman Adams, Jr. Republican Terry R. Spence
2005–2006 143rd Ruth Ann Minner John Carney Democratic Thurman Adams, Jr. Republican Terry R. Spence
2007–2008 144th Ruth Ann Minner John Carney Democratic Thurman Adams, Jr. Republican Terry R. Spence
2009–2010 145th Jack Markell Matthew P. Denn Democratic Anthony J. DeLuca Democratic Robert F. Gilligan
2011–2012 146th Jack Markell Matthew P. Denn Democratic Anthony J. DeLuca Democratic Robert F. Gilligan
2013–2014 147th Jack Markell Matthew P. Denn Democratic Patricia M. Blevins Democratic Peter C. Schwartzkopf
2015-2016 148th Jack Markell Vacant Democratic Patricia M. Blevins Democratic Peter C. Schwartzkopf

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