Party creation As the first state to ratify the
United States Constitution, Delaware was at the forefront of the creation in U.S. political parties. The origins of the Delaware Democratic Party can be traced back to the original anti-federalist party. While key difference divide this part from the Democratic Party today, key issues involving government involvement and ideologies such as Jeffersonian and Jacksonian can be linked to modern day ideals of the Delaware Democratic party. Despite being one of the first states with true parties, the spiritual predecessor of the Democratic party struggled to support its agenda in the state. It wasn't until the splitting of parties into federalists and Jacksonians that the Democratic party got its first true start. With only one bad loss in 1855 to the American Party, the Democratic Party dominated politics up until the end of Reconstruction in the United States. Progressive incumbent County Executive of
New Castle County Matt Meyer also defeated his significantly funded centrist challenger by 13 points. Following the progressive gains in the 2020 elections, bills advanced by the progressive faction to raise the Delaware minimum wage to
$15 an hour, and the
legalization of recreational marijuana were passed through the state legislature. Governor John Carney signed the $15/hour minimum wage bill, but
vetoed the legalization of recreational marijuana, for which he was heavily criticized by fellow Democrats. Progressive County Executive Matt Meyer wrote an open letter to the Delaware legislature encouraging them to override Carney's veto. During Carney's governorship, the progressive movement has managed to pressure more typically centrist Democrats to more liberal policy positions, mainly in reaction to Carney's comparatively conservative stances. Delaware Lieutenant Governor
Bethany Hall-Long came out in support of legalizing recreational marijuana following Carney's veto announcement. Carney ultimately
allowed marijuana to be legalized in Delaware in 2023, when a second round of legalization bills came to his desk, and he neither signed nor vetoed it. Further criticism of Carney's stances by the progressive wing of the party have been for his support for
capital punishment in certain cases. Attorney General
Kathy Jennings stated that if the death penalty was reinstated in Delaware, she would refuse to enforce it. 72 percent of Delaware Democratic voters oppose capital punishment. In June 2024, both the Delaware House and Senate passed a bill pushed by progressives to abolish the death penalty in statute. In September 2024, Carney signed the bill, seemingly backtracking his previous stance. In the 2022 elections, progressive former U.S. Senate candidate Kerri Evelyn Harris won a seat to the Delaware House of Representatives. In April 2024, the
Delaware House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize
physician-assisted suicide for those with terminal illnesses, a priority of the progressive faction of Delaware Democrats. In June 2024, the
Delaware Senate passed the bill. In September 2024, John Carney vetoed the bill, drawing criticism from Democratic legislators and Democratic nominee for Governor Matt Meyer. In 2025, the bill was re-introduced by progressive Eric Morrison, passed in both chambers, and signed by now-Governor Meyer. In the 2024 state Democratic primaries, progressive Democrats once again made significant victories. Among them were incumbent Delaware Speaker of the House
Valerie Longhurst being defeated by her progressive challenger
Kamela Smith, and incumbent County Executive Matt Meyer defeating incumbent Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long for the
governor's nomination. ==Current elected officials==