By — Randall Chase, Associated Press Randall Chase, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/blunt-rochester-to-become-the-first-woman-and-first-black-person-to-represent-delaware-in-us-senate Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Blunt Rochester to become the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in U.S. Senate Politics Nov 5, 2024 8:43 PM EDT DOVER, Del. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester defeated Republican Eric Hansen in Delaware’s U.S. Senate race on Tuesday. Blunt Rochester will become the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in the Senate. Only three other Black women have served in the Senate, two of them elected and one who was appointed. Rochester was considered a virtual shoo-in for the Senate against businessman Hansen, a political newcomer. Democrats hold a significant voter registration advantage over Republicans in solid-blue Delaware, which last sent a Republican to Washington in 2008. Rochester raised some $8 million for her Senate campaign, while Hansen’s campaign receipts totaled only about $1 million, including more than $800,000 in loans he made to his campaign. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Blunt Rochester will fill the seat left vacant by fellow Democrat Tom Carper, who handpicked her as his preferred successor when he announced his retirement last year. Blunt Rochester once interned for Carper when he was in the House and also served in his cabinet when he was governor. Blunt Rochester has served four terms at Delaware’s lone representative in the House. According to the Congressional Record, she has sponsored 90 bills and seven resolutions during her House tenure, many aimed at improving or expanding access to health care, especially for women and minorities. The only measure sponsored by Blunt Rochester to become law is a resolution naming a Wilmington post office in honor of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, a 19th-century anti-slavery activist and publisher. Rochester began her political career as a case worker for Carper and served in appointed positions as Delaware’s labor secretary, state personnel director and deputy secretary of Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services. She also has served as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League. Find more of our Vote 2024 coverage INTERACTIVE: 2024 Electoral College Map SERIES: A look at Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’ campaign pledges READ MORE: Don’t fall for these false claims as you await the 2024 election results WATCH: Pivotal races that will determine the balance of power in Congress READ MORE: When polls close on Election Day in these 7 battleground states WATCH: What early voting data signals about this year’s election LIVE BLOG: Election 2024 fact checks WATCH: How election workers are fighting back against bad actors trying to undermine the process We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Randall Chase, Associated Press Randall Chase, Associated Press
DOVER, Del. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester defeated Republican Eric Hansen in Delaware’s U.S. Senate race on Tuesday. Blunt Rochester will become the first woman and first Black person to represent Delaware in the Senate. Only three other Black women have served in the Senate, two of them elected and one who was appointed. Rochester was considered a virtual shoo-in for the Senate against businessman Hansen, a political newcomer. Democrats hold a significant voter registration advantage over Republicans in solid-blue Delaware, which last sent a Republican to Washington in 2008. Rochester raised some $8 million for her Senate campaign, while Hansen’s campaign receipts totaled only about $1 million, including more than $800,000 in loans he made to his campaign. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Blunt Rochester will fill the seat left vacant by fellow Democrat Tom Carper, who handpicked her as his preferred successor when he announced his retirement last year. Blunt Rochester once interned for Carper when he was in the House and also served in his cabinet when he was governor. Blunt Rochester has served four terms at Delaware’s lone representative in the House. According to the Congressional Record, she has sponsored 90 bills and seven resolutions during her House tenure, many aimed at improving or expanding access to health care, especially for women and minorities. The only measure sponsored by Blunt Rochester to become law is a resolution naming a Wilmington post office in honor of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, a 19th-century anti-slavery activist and publisher. Rochester began her political career as a case worker for Carper and served in appointed positions as Delaware’s labor secretary, state personnel director and deputy secretary of Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services. She also has served as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League. Find more of our Vote 2024 coverage INTERACTIVE: 2024 Electoral College Map SERIES: A look at Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’ campaign pledges READ MORE: Don’t fall for these false claims as you await the 2024 election results WATCH: Pivotal races that will determine the balance of power in Congress READ MORE: When polls close on Election Day in these 7 battleground states WATCH: What early voting data signals about this year’s election LIVE BLOG: Election 2024 fact checks WATCH: How election workers are fighting back against bad actors trying to undermine the process We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now