Fmr. US Representative and Del. Governor Mike Castle dead at 86

DELAWARE – Former Representative Mike Castle has died. He served as Delaware’s US Representative from 1993 to 2011 as a member of the Republican Party.

Before his longstanding stint in Congress, Castle worked his way through Delaware’s Legislative Hall. He was first elected to the Delaware General Assembly in 1967 and served for a decade. In 1981, Castle became the Lieutenant Governor of the state, serving under Governor Pete du Pont. Delawareans would elect Castle as Governor in 1985, and he remained in office for two terms.

During Castle’s service in the U.S. House of Representatives, he served as co-chair of several Congressional caucuses, including the Diabetes Caucus, the Community College Caucus, the Biomedical Research Caucus, and the Passenger Rail Caucus. In 2004, he sponsored a bill to reauthorize 1994’s assault weapons ban. Castle also cosponsored the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

The lawmaker’s interest in U.S. currency was also a hallmark of his career. In 1995, he authored legislation to create the American Platinum Eagle bullion coin, and later paved the way for the creation of the 50 State and America the Beautiful quarters, Sacagawea dollar, presidential dollar coins, as well as other commemorative coins.

Castle died at a retirement home in Greenwood, Del., on August 14th, 2025. He was 86 years old.