Mike Katz Wins Delaware Republican Senate Primary, Set to Challenge Chris Coons

<p>Former Democratic state lawmaker Mike Katz won Delaware's Republican Senate primary on September 15, 2026, positioning him for a general election against Democratic nominee Chris Coons on November 3, 2026. This marks a significant challenge for the Republican Party, which has not secured a Senate seat in Delaware for over 30 years.</p><p>Katz defeated retired Army colonel John Shulli in the primary and will now face Coons, who has served three terms in the Senate. Katz, a pediatric anesthesiologist and business owner, previously held a seat in the Delaware state Senate as a Democrat from 2008 until his re-election loss in 2012.</p><p>Throughout his political career, Katz has shifted party affiliations. He ran for U.S. Senate in 2024 as an Independent, finishing third with approximately 4% of the vote, behind Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester and Republican Eric Hansen. He later registered as a Republican for the 2026 Senate race, according to Federal Election Commission records.</p><p>Katz was the endorsed candidate of the Delaware Republican Party in the recent primary. His campaign has emphasized issues such as lowering the cost of living, reforming health care, protecting jobs in Delaware, and reducing federal spending, as outlined on his campaign website.</p><p>Katz described his party switch as a reflection of his long-held beliefs, stating to FOX 29 that re-registering as a Republican was not a change in principle. He aims to build a coalition of Republicans, Independents, and Democratic voters to defeat Coons in the upcoming election.</p><p>Katz's candidacy represents an effort to end a long-standing losing streak for the Republican Party in Delaware Senate races, with the last victory occurring in 1994 when Republican Senator William Roth was re-elected.</p>