Delaware’s eighteenth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative David Bentz.

Delaware state legislators represent an average of 21,901 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 19,112 residents.

About the office

Members of the Delaware House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Delaware legislators assume office the day after their election.

Qualifications

Article II, Section 3 of the Delaware Constitution states: "No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of twenty-four years, and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the State three years next preceding the day of his election, and the last year of that term an inhabitant of the Representative District in which he shall be chosen, unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States or of this State."

Salaries

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, the House Speaker must call for a special election. The election must be called for no later than 30 days after the vacancy happened. The Governor may make the declaration if the House is not in session. The date of the election must be set no later than 10 days after a declaration was made.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Delaware House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for September 15, 2020. The filing deadline is July 14, 2020.

2018

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.

2016

Elections for the Delaware House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was July 12, 2016.

Incumbent David Bentz ran unopposed in the Delaware House of Representatives District 18 general election.

Delaware House of Representatives, District 18 General Election, 2016

Incumbent David Bentz ran unopposed in the Delaware House of Representatives District 18 Democratic primary.

2015

A special election for the position of Delaware House of Representatives District 18 was called for September 12. Candidates were nominated by parties rather than chosen in primaries.

The seat was vacant following Michael Barbieri's (D) resignation on August 3, 2015.

David Bentz (D) defeated Eileen O'Shaughnessy-Coleman (R) in the special election.

Delaware House of Representatives, District 18, Special Election, 2015

2014

Elections for the Delaware House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 8, 2014. Incumbent Michael Barbieri defeated Christopher A. Piecuch in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

Delaware House of Representatives, District 18 Democratic Primary, 2014

2012

Elections for the office of Delaware House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on February 11, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 6, 2012. Incumbent Michael Barbieri ran unopposed in the February 7 primary election before winning the general election without opposition.

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Delaware House of Representatives District 18 raised a total of $476,914. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $34,065 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Delaware House of Representatives District 18