Republican State Committee of Delaware

The Republican State Committee of Delaware is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Delaware. It has five regional offices in Kent County, Western New Castle County, Central New Castle County, Northern New Castle County, and Sussex County. The party has historically had weak electoral power in the state.

The Republican State Committee of Delaware got its start in the mid-19th century, when the American Party (a group dedicated to prohibition of alcohol), People's Party, and former Whigs reformed under the Union Party. This party was dedicated to preserve the Union in the time of Abraham Lincoln's election. While Delaware did not secede from the Union, Delaware Democrats and other supporters often opposed Lincoln's policies. The Republican Party struggled to gain control in the state from 1865 to 1898, with the Democratic Party maintaining control of both the federal and state level of government. However, changes in industry and the arrival of immigrants in key locations would soon spell the rise of the Republican Party in Delaware.

With industry and business slowly overtaking agriculture in the state, the Republican Party in Delaware began to develop the support it needed to overthrow the long incumbent Democratic Party. However, the rise of the party was not complete without some controversial actions. As it was common in the era, the late 1800s was rife with voter corruption and illegal election techniques. One candidate, John Addicks, was infamous for attempting to buy a U.S. Senate seat by exploiting the rising party. Republicans in the state divided on the issue with Regular Republicans opposing Addicks while Union Republicans supported him. Although Addicks didn't win election in 1899 or 1901, his corrupt tactics led to a vacation of the U.S. Senate seat for over ten years. However, Addick's corruption proved to be only a small speed bump. With industry as a growing part of the Delaware economy, the Republican Party began to grow in popularity. With men such as Henry du Pont and T. Colemon du Pont (Both members of the famous industrial du Pont family) leading the way, the Republican Party quickly gained power in the state and various government positions.

By 1915, Republicans controlled the Delaware Senate by a margin of 12 to 5 and the House by 23 to 10. Governors of the state remained Republican candidates from 1897 up until 1936. With the exception of ratifying the 19th Amendment on a state level (once the U.S. Constitution accepted it, then Delaware did as well), the Republican majority in both the federal and state level dominated legislation until the mid-1930s.

Since World War II, the Republican Party of Delaware has had its time of prominence and powerlessness. Two Republicans, John J. Williams and J. Caleb Boggs, compromised two-thirds of the "Big Three" in Delaware politics. Williams would end up serving in the U.S. Senate from 1946 to 1971 while Boggs won seven statewide elections consisting of governor, U.S. House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate from 1947 to 1973.

From 1949 to 2008, the Republican Party has held the governorship for 29 years compared to the 30 years held by Democrats. Despite dominating the gubernatorial position from 1977 to 1993, all gubernatorial elections have been won by Democrats since 1993.

Both of Delaware's U.S. Senate seats have been held by Democrats since 2001. William Roth was the last Republican to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate. First elected in 1970, Roth lost his bid for a sixth term in 2000 to Tom Carper.

Delaware's lone congressional district has been held by Democrats since 2011. The last Republican to represent Delaware in the House of Representatives was Mike Castle. First elected in 1992, Castle opted not to run for re-election in 2010, instead unsuccessfully running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. Glen Urquhart ran as the Republican nominee for the House seat in the 2010 election and was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger John Carney.