Meet The Candidates: Delaware U.S. Senatorial Race
Salisbury, Md. – One of Delaware’s U-S senatorial seats is up for grabs. Incumbent Democrat Chris Coons has represented The First State since 2010 and is seeking his third term against Republican challenger Dr. Mike Katz.
In the Senate, Coons serves on the Senate Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Small Business and Entrepreneurship committees and is the vice chair of the Ethics Committee.
He said his priorities are lowering costs and increasing wages, expanding access to health care and delivering justice for Delawareans.
“I’m focused on opportunity, security and justice for the people of Delaware,” Coons said. “That will address some of the historic injustices that have gotten in the way of people getting ahead. But to be clear, I’m interested in working across the aisle and delivering for Delaware.”
Dr. Katz is an anesthesiologist and pediatric critical-care specialist as well as a business man and former state senator. Dr. Katz served in the state legislature as a Democrat and ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024 as an Independent before running as a Republican this year.
He said his priorities also include tackling affordability and strengthening the health care system and increasing unity in politics.
“There’s a lot of division, divisiveness and dysfunction and really, to bring leadership to the United States Senate and to bring people together so that we can find our commonalities,” Dr. Katz said. “We all are grounded on the foundational principles of our Constitution, and really, we should all be there to serve.”
On the war in Iran, both candidates voiced support for the ending the war but differed on how to achieve it. Coons has called on President Donald Trump to immediately withdraw troops.
“It has not gone well. He thought it would be a quick, inexpensive war with few consequences,” Coons said. “That’s why he didn’t come to the Congress or the American people to make his case for the war, or to seek authorization for this war.”
However, Dr. Katz said though it’s driven up energy costs, its necessary to prevent Iran from strengthening its nuclear arsenal.
“Really, we need to work with our military, work with our strategists, and have a plan and figure out how to finish up the conflict in Iran and bring our troops home,” he said.
Both candidates said they wanted to restore civility and dignity in politics and working with those across the aisle to benefit voters.
On what he wanted unaffiliated voters or those on the other side of the aisle to understand about him and his platform, Coons cited his legislative bipartisanship.
“I work hard to find a way to solve problems. Just in the last week that we were in session in September, I passed 5 different bipartisan bills with five different Republican senators,” he said. “I enjoy legislating, I like solving problems, and I welcome input from my constituents in Delaware to help me understand what their problems are, and how I can tackle them and solve them.”
Dr. Katz said his experience as a medical practitioner and state legislator showed his dedication to his “people above party” approach.
“I’m committed to serve. I’ve got the skill sets that are unique. I’m not a career politician,” he said. “I’ve got, you know, decades of experience, not only in healthcare, the business side of healthcare, but in business, and decades of working in policy.”
Delaware voters can make their voices heard at the polls through Nov. 1 during Early Voting and on Election Day on Nov. 3.
