U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester made history by defeating Republican Eric Hansen in Delaware’s U.S. Senate race, becoming the first woman and first Black person to represent the state in the Senate. Rochester, a Democrat, was widely expected to win due to the party’s voter registration advantage in Delaware.
Rochester raised $8 million for her campaign, while Hansen’s campaign only brought in about $1 million, mostly from personal loans. She will fill the seat left vacant by Democratic Senator Tom Carper, who endorsed her as his successor.
Throughout her political career, including four terms as Delaware’s only House representative, Rochester has focused on issues such as healthcare access, particularly for women and minorities. She has sponsored multiple bills and resolutions, with one resolution honoring 19th-century anti-slavery activist Mary Ann Shadd Cary becoming law.
Rochester began her career as a case worker for Carper and held various appointed positions in state government before serving as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League. Her victory in the Senate race cements her position as a trailblazer in Delaware politics.
This win adds to the Democratic Party’s control in Congress and sets a significant milestone for diversity and representation in the Senate. Blunt Rochester’s legacy as a legislator dedicated to improving healthcare and advocating for marginalized communities continues to grow as she transitions to the Senate.
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