Delaware State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022

Delaware Senate District 16

A district of about 55,000 people, 24% Black, 33% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+0.4 relative to the nation for president.

2024 election

Nov 5, 2024
  1. Eric Buckson (R) · won100.0%

Unopposed.

Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET

Where it sits among all 21 seats

Every Delaware State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.

R+0.416th most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican11th seat · the majority lineDistrict 16

Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Every election for this seat

19 races since 1968; the seat changed party 1 time. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.

YearWinnerRunner-upWon by
Lines first used in 2022
2024Eric Buckson (R)—Unopposed
2022Eric Buckson (R)—Unopposed
Lines first used in 2012
2018Colin R. J. Bonini (R)Louisa Phillips (D)10.2
2014Colin R. J. Bonini (R)Michael S. Tedesco (I)48.6
2012Colin R. J. Bonini (R)Michael S. Tedesco (I)59.8
Lines first used in 2002
2008Colin R. J. Bonini (R)Harold E. Stafford (D)12.8
2004Colin R. J. Bonini (R)James B. Testerman (D)38.6
2002Colin R. J. Bonini (R)Paul Davis (D)33.0
Lines first used in 1992
1998Colin R. J. Bonini (R)Terry L. Pepper (D)5.2
1994Colin R. J. Bonini (R)FlipW. Charles Paradee (D)10.1
1992William C. Torbert (D)—Unopposed
Lines first used in 1982
1988William C. Torbert (D)Brett Elliott (R)24.9
1984William C. Torbert (D)Leroy Klein (R)7.6
1982William C. Torbert (D)John H. Fillmore (R)35.2
Lines first used in 1972
1980Nancy Cook (D)Barbara J. Hart (I)92.1
1976Nancy Cook (D)George R. Quillen (R)23.6
1972Allen J. Cook (D)William Cathell (R)34.7
Lines first used in 1962
1970George A. Robbins (D)Glenn Richter (R)24.5
1968George A. Robbins (D)R. Leon Pleasanton (R)7.1

Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Districts that overlap District 16

The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 16's area in each.

U.S. House
DE-AL 100%
Delaware House of Representatives
HD-33 51%, HD-32 27%, HD-28 16%

Every race on these lines

Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.

2024
PresidentR+1.3
U.S. SenateD+1.7
GovernorR+3.1

Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year

Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET

Who lives here, compared

Grey bars show the spread of all 21 seats. Small marks are other seats in Delaware. The black marker is District 16.

Adults with a bachelor's degree33% 55th pct · 10th of 21 in DE

Higher than 55% of seats.

White adults without a degree41% 55th pct · 10th of 21 in DE

Higher than 55% of seats.

Hispanic residents9% 55th pct · 10th of 21 in DE

Higher than 55% of seats.

Black residents24% 60th pct · 9th of 21 in DE

Higher than 60% of seats.

Asian residents3% 60th pct · 9th of 21 in DE

Higher than 60% of seats.

People per square mile178 0th pct · 21st of 21 in DE

Least dense of 21 seats.

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET