U.S. Senate · Delaware

Statewide, Delaware.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 24 claims re-checked against their sources

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

On the ballot · 3 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEChris Coons
D
Michael Katz
R
Travis Stevens
Unaffiliated
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsOpposes[6][7][8]votes——
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing——Supports[3]
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[7][8]votesOpposes[3]—
Expand public health coverageSupports[7][8]votes—Supports[3]
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[7][8]votes——
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[9][10]votes——

The candidates, in full

Chris Coons

DINCUMBENTU.S. Senator (since 2010)

Chris Coons is the Democratic incumbent seeking re-election. He previously served as executive of New Castle County and president of the New Castle County Council, and has served in the U.S. Senate since 2010.[1][2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passage · H.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · 2026-01-30 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • Didn't voteNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. This vote sent the House-Senate compromise version to the President, who signed it into law the next day.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · 2025-11-10 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. Eight members of the Democratic caucus joined nearly all Republicans to pass it.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · S.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · 2025-11-06 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 90 would have directed the President to end military hostilities within or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized, after U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the region. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, blocking a vote on final passage.
  • YesResolution to end the global tariff emergency · S.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · 2025-10-30 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 88 terminates the national emergency the President used to impose broad tariffs on imports from most countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Unlike an earlier April 2025 attempt, this resolution passed the Senate, though it still required House and presidential action to take effect.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · H.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · 2025-07-01 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and increases border security and defense spending. It reduces projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adds new work requirements; Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · S.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · 2025-06-27 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 59 would have directed the President to end U.S. military hostilities against Iran that Congress had not authorized, following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier that month. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, preventing a vote on final passage.
  • NoGENIUS Act — Senate passage · S. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · 2025-06-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation to clear Congress.
  • YesResolution to end the global tariff emergency · S.J. Res. 49 · Joint Resolution Defeated 49–49 · 2025-04-30 roll call ↗S.J.Res. 49 would have terminated the national emergency the President declared in April 2025 to impose broad tariffs on imports from most U.S. trading partners. The resolution failed on a tied 49-49 vote.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 — Senate passage · H.R. 1968 · Bill Passed 54–46 · 2025-03-14 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • NoConfirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary · PN Kennedy · Nomination Confirmed 52–48 · 2025-02-13 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, overseeing federal health, food-safety, and drug-regulatory agencies. Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against the nomination.
  • NoConfirmation of Pamela Bondi as Attorney General · PN Bondi · Nomination Confirmed 54–46 · 2025-02-04 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Pamela Bondi, Florida's former attorney general, to serve as U.S. Attorney General, leading the Justice Department. The vote fell largely along party lines.
  • NoConfirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense · PN Hegseth · Nomination Confirmed 50–50 · 2025-01-24 roll call ↗The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer, to serve as Secretary of Defense. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after three Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against the nomination.
  • NoLaken Riley Act — Senate passage · S. 5 · Bill Passed 64–35 · 2025-01-20 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServes as Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics and is a member of the Judiciary Committee, Foreign Relations Committee, Appropriations Committee (Ranking Member, Defense Subcommittee), and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee in the 119th Congress.[2]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-20). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[6][7][8]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30). Voted yes on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30).[9][10]

  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.[7][8]

  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[7][8]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[7][8]

Background

  • Born in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1963; earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and political science from Amherst College (1985), an M.A.R. from Yale Divinity School, and a J.D. from Yale Law School (both 1992).[2]
  • Worked as a nonprofit executive and attorney before serving as president of the New Castle County Council (2001-2005) and executive of New Castle County (2005-2010).[2]

Campaign money

Raised $4.2M · spent $1.6M · $4.8M cash on hand (through 2026-08-26) FEC filing ↗

Michael Katz

RFormer Delaware State Senator

Michael Katz is the Republican nominee. He is a pediatric critical care anesthesiologist, small-business owner, and former Delaware state senator running on term limits, fiscal accountability, and a "people over party" message.[1][3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServed as a member of the Delaware State Senate before running for U.S. Senate.[3]
  • bill2012-06-06 · Sponsored and passed SB 241 (146th General Assembly), establishing the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway Advisory Board to oversee preservation of the byway corridor.[4]
  • bill2011-05-04 · Sponsored Senate Resolution No. 14, expressing the Senate's intent to stream live audio of its sessions.[5]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporations

    Frames his campaign around fiscal responsibility and rooting out government waste rather than raising taxes, and says he supports congressional term limits and reducing special-interest influence.[3]

In their words — priorities

  • Bringing real-world medical and business problem-solving experience to the Senate.[3]
  • A "Delaware first, people over party" approach, working across party lines as he says he did in the state senate.[3]
  • Government accountability and reform, including congressional term limits, fiscal responsibility, and reducing the influence of special interests.[3]

Background

  • Grew up in a working-class family and was the first man in his family to attend college.[3]
  • Recruited from Boston Children's Hospital to A.I. duPont Hospital for Children roughly 30 years ago; has practiced as a pediatric critical care anesthesiologist in Delaware for over 20 years.[3]
  • Served as a member of the Delaware State Senate.[3]

Campaign money

Raised $159K · spent $61K · $98K cash on hand (through 2026-08-26) FEC filing ↗

Travis Stevens

Unaffiliated

Write-in candidate

Travis Stevens is an unaffiliated write-in candidate who publishes a daily public letter to Delaware voters at travisjackstevens.com covering healthcare, foreign policy, housing, and democratic reform.[1][3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand public health coverage

    Supports universal healthcare access and opposes pharmaceutical industry pricing practices.[3]

  • SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing

    Supports expanded housing supply and affordability measures statewide.[3]

In their words — priorities

  • Universal healthcare access and lower prescription drug prices.[3]
  • Expanded housing supply and affordability measures statewide.[3]
  • Campaign finance reform and ranked-choice voting; says he accepts no Super PAC money.[3]

Background

  • Publishes a series of daily public letters to Delaware voters at travisjackstevens.com covering healthcare, foreign policy, housing, and democratic reform.[3]

Research notes & limits

Chris Coons's key floor votes and FEC finance totals are filled in separately by script. Michael Katz and Travis Stevens's positions are drawn entirely from their 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses; no independent campaign websites with additional issue detail were located within the research time budget for Stevens beyond his personal site's stated focus areas.

Sources · 10

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States Senate election in Delaware, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Chris Coons · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  3. 3.Michael Katz and Travis Stevens - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Senate Bill No. 241, 146th General Assembly (Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway) · Delaware General Assembly · 2012-06-06 Official record
  5. 5.Senate Resolution No. 14, 146th General Assembly (live-stream audio of Senate sessions) · Delaware General Assembly · 2011-05-04 Official record
  6. 6.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-01-20 Official record
  7. 7.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-07-01 Official record
  8. 8.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-04-30 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-10-30 Official record