The Delaware State House of Representatives is the lower house of the Delaware General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is composed of 41 Representatives from an equal number of constituencies, each of whom is elected to a two-year term. Its members are not subject to term limits, and their terms start the day after the election. The House meets at the Delaware Legislative Hall in Dover.
Name From 1776 to 1792, the chamber was known as the House of Assembly, a common name for lower houses of colonial legislatures and states under the Confederation. The name was changed by Delaware's 1792 Constitution, reflecting the new federal House of Representatives. This change on the part of Delaware initiated a movement that has resulted in a majority of the lower houses of U.S. state legislatures sharing the name of the federal House of Representatives.
Leadership The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the full House through the passage of a House Resolution. The Speaker is the chief leadership position of the body. The other House leaders are elected by their respective party caucuses. The Majority Leader determines which bills are brought to the floor for debate from an Agenda prepared by the Speaker of the House and manages debates and floor votes.
Terry Spence (R) was the longest serving speaker in the history of the Delaware General Assembly. Valerie Longhurst was the first woman to serve as speaker and current speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, is the first Black woman in the role.
Office Representative Party District Speaker of the House Melissa Minor-Brown Democratic 17 Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris Democratic 32 Majority Whip Edward Osienski Democratic 24 Minority Leader Timothy Dukes Republican 40 Minority Whip Jeffrey Spiegelman Republican 11
Qualifications Members of the House of Representatives must be citizens of the United States, have lived in Delaware for three years, been a resident of their constituent district for at least one year preceding their election, and must be at least 24 years old by the time of their election.
In 2015, the House was found to have the lowest educational level of United States state legislatures.
Current composition 27 14 Democratic Republican
AffiliationPartyTotalVacantDemocraticRepublicanEnd of previous sessionDelaware legislators' terms begin the second Wednesday in November (i.e. the day after Election Day), even though they are not sworn in until January. Constitution of Delaware, Article II, Section 326 15 41 0Begin2714 41 0June 24, 202526 40 1August 5, 202527 41 0Latest voting share
Current members DistrictNamePartyStartResidenceCounty1Democratic2018WilmingtonNew Castle2Democratic2010WilmingtonNew Castle3Democratic2024WilmingtonNew Castle4Republican2022Long NeckSussex5Democratic2018New CastleNew Castle6Democratic2010WilmingtonNew Castle7Democratic2020ClaymontNew Castle8Democratic2020MiddletownNew Castle9Republican2014TownsendNew Castle10Democratic2024WilmingtonNew Castle11Republican2012ClaytonKent, New Castle12Democratic2018WilmingtonNew Castle13Democratic2022WilmingtonNew Castle14Democratic2024Rehoboth BeachSussex15Democratic2024BearNew Castle16Democratic2018WilmingtonNew Castle17Democratic2018New CastleNew Castle18Democratic2022BearNew Castle19Democratic2012WilmingtonNew Castle20Democratic2025MiltonSussex21Democratic2024NewarkNew Castle22Republican2018NewarkNew Castle23Democratic2024NewarkNew Castle24Democratic2010NewarkNew Castle25Democratic2022NewarkNew Castle26Democratic2020NewarkNew Castle27Democratic2020NewarkNew Castle28Democratic2007SmyrnaKent29Democratic2018CamdenKent30Republican2018CamdenKent31Democratic2014DoverKent32Democratic2022DoverKent33Republican2016MilfordKent34Republican2014MagnoliaKent35Republican2018BridgevilleSussex36Republican2018MilfordSussex37Republican2024GeorgetownSussex38Republican2012SelbyvilleSussex39Republican2006SeafordSussex40Republican2012LaurelSussex41Republican2014MillsboroSussex
Past composition of the House of Representatives
See also Delaware Senate
References
External links Delaware House of Representatives