Delaware would hold state and local party primaries in April

Delaware would hold party primaries on the fourth Tuesday in April. This covers all political parties' primaries for state, county, and city or town offices. The April date would apply to primaries after December 31, 2026.

Candidates would declare their candidacy by noon on February’s fourth Tuesday and could withdraw by 4:30 p.m. the following Friday. These deadlines cover all candidates. If that Friday is a legal holiday, the withdrawal deadline moves to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. These deadlines would apply to primaries after December 31, 2026.

Registered voters generally could not change parties during the 59 days before a primary. The pause covers registered voters who want to change parties. The exception covers would-be candidates in a general election year. Election officials would hold requests made during the pause and process them when it ends. To use the exception, the state and county party chairs must swear that the person agreed to run and that they want the person as their candidate. The person must swear that they are switching to run for that party and submit a form withdrawing any other candidacies. The pause would cover the 59 days before each primary and apply to primaries after December 31, 2026.