U.S. Senate, Delaware · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Delaware U.S. Senate race?
Chris Coons has the strongest record in the Delaware U.S. Senate race. Chris Coons scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Katz at 61, as of October 6, 2026. Chris Coons's highest marks are relevant experience and coalition building. Michael Katz's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. William McVay (0 of 15 criteria), John Shulli (7 of 15 criteria) and Travis Stevens (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Chris Coons
64 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 69
Republican
Michael Katz
On the ballot as Michael "Dr. Mike" Katz
61 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
Write-in
William McVay
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
John Shulli
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Travis Stevens
On the ballot as Travis Jack Stevens
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 58
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Chris Coons
- On the record2026-09
Rejected WDEL's offer of a broadcast debate with Republican nominee Mike Katz after the September 2026 primary; he appeared with Katz at the Sept. 17 JCC candidate forum.
Source: WDEL, Sept. 28, 2026
- On the record2021-01-06
Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electoral votes.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate vote on Arizona objection, GovTrack, Senate vote on Pennsylvania objection
- Credit2026-02-06
His bill S. 3424, on bankruptcy trustee pay and temporary bankruptcy judgeships, was signed into law on Feb. 6, 2026, with two Republican and one Democratic cosponsor.
Source: GovTrack, S. 3424 (119th)
- Credit2025-04-26
Took constituent questions at an in-person town hall in Wilmington on April 26, 2025, with the rest of the delegation, the governor and the attorney general, after a February 2025 virtual town hall.
Sources: WDEL, April 27, 2025, Delaware Public Media, Feb. 24, 2025
- Credit2024
The Lugar Center Bipartisan Index ranked him 16th in the Senate for 2023, with a score of 0.94683.
Michael Katz
- On the record2026-09-28
Called on both state party chairs to organize a televised Senate debate after his campaign said the University of Delaware would not hold its 2026 debates; Coons had rejected WDEL's debate offer.
Sources: Delaware LIVE, Sept. 28, 2026, WDEL, Sept. 28, 2026
- On the record2008 to 2026
Elected to the Delaware Senate as a Democrat in 2008, ran for U.S. Senate in 2024 on the Independent Party of Delaware line, and won the 2026 Republican Senate primary.
Sources: Fox News, Sept. 2026, Delaware Public Media, Sept. 16, 2026
- Credit2026-09-17
After Republican House nominee Joe Arminio was removed from the Sept. 17, 2026 JCC forum for misgendering Rep. Sarah McBride, Katz called publicly for Arminio to withdraw.
Sources: NBC10 Philadelphia, Sept. 18, 2026, 6abc Action News via Yahoo News
- Credit2009 to 2012
The Center for Effective Lawmaking rates both of his Delaware Senate terms Meets Expectations, with 14 bills enacted across 2009 to 2012.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
William McVay
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
John Shulli
- On the record2026-09-15
Lost the Sept. 15, 2026 Republican Senate primary to Katz and then qualified as a declared write-in candidate on Sept. 21, 2026.
Sources: Delaware Department of Elections, declared write-in list, Fox News, Sept. 2026
Travis Stevens
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Chris Coons. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through Aug. 26, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine. No official ethics finding found. Periodic transaction report timeliness could not be checked (Senate eFD blocked).
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00475392
Michael Katz. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through Aug. 26, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine and no official ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00935163
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through Aug. 26, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00933663
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Chris Coons. WHYY reports his party's left wing has faulted his consensus-building with Republicans and his cautioning Democrats against positions such as Medicare for All; he faced three Democratic primary challengers in 2026.
Source: WHYY, Aug. 22, 2026
Michael Katz. After Republican House nominee Joe Arminio was removed from the Sept. 17, 2026 forum for misgendering Rep. Sarah McBride, Katz, the Republican Senate nominee, publicly called on Arminio to withdraw.
Sources: NBC10 Philadelphia, Sept. 18, 2026, 6abc Action News via Yahoo News
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. No public record found.
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Chris Coons. Appeared at the September 2026 Jewish Community Center candidate forum and at an in-person Wilmington town hall in April 2025. Rejected WDEL's offer of a broadcast debate with Katz.
Sources: WDEL, Sept. 28, 2026, WDEL, April 27, 2025
Michael Katz. Took part in the September 2026 JCC candidate forum and has publicly called for a televised debate with Coons, saying he will debate anytime in Delaware.
Sources: WDEL, Sept. 28, 2026, Delaware LIVE, Sept. 28, 2026
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. No public record found.
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Chris Coons. U.S. senator since November 2010 and earlier New Castle County executive, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Chris Coons
Michael Katz. Physician and former state senator (2009 to 2013) with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Katz
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. No public record found.
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Chris Coons. Took the Senate oath in 2010. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate vote on Arizona objection, Jan. 6, 2021, GovTrack, Senate vote on Pennsylvania objection, Jan. 7, 2021
Michael Katz. Served a term in the Delaware Senate from 2009 to 2013. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael Katz
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. Has served in the U.S. Army Reserve since 1997 and holds the rank of colonel. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Shulli, Fox News, Sept. 2026
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Chris Coons. U.S. senator since 2010 (special election, then full terms from 2014 and 2020). New Castle County Council president for four years and county executive for six years before that.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Chris Coons, WHYY, Aug. 22, 2026
Michael Katz. One term in the Delaware Senate (District 4, 2009 to 2013), where he chaired the Administrative Services/Elections committee in 2011 to 2012; pediatric anesthesiologist and business owner.
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. Army Reserve officer since 1997 and an instructor at the U.S. Army War College. A command post was not confirmed from an independent source.
Source: FOX 29, 2026 primary guide
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Chris Coons. Ranking member of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee and vice chair of the Senate Ethics Committee. His campaign site states priorities (opportunity, security, justice) in general terms.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Campaign site
Michael Katz. Publishes a platform with general positions and some named measures, including support for the ADVANCE Act on nuclear permitting and a proposed advanced-care VA facility in Delaware.
Sources: Campaign platform, FOX 29, 2026 primary guide
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. Published positions in general terms, centered on artificial intelligence, energy and education.
Source: FOX 29, 2026 primary guide
Travis Stevens. Publishes platform positions in general terms on health care, housing, AI rules and war powers.
Source: Campaign site
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Chris Coons. Channels documented: 2025 virtual and in-person town halls, the 2026 JCC forum, answers to WHYY's 2026 primary voter guide and campaign issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Delaware Public Media, Feb. 24, 2025, WHYY, Aug. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Chris Coons
Michael Katz. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, publishes a detailed platform page and took part in the September 2026 JCC forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Katz, Campaign platform, WDEL, Sept. 28, 2026
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes issue positions on his campaign site.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Shulli
Travis Stevens. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, publishes a platform and sends a daily public letter.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Travis Stevens, Campaign site
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Chris Coons. Grew up in Hockessin and lives in Wilmington. About 10.9 percent of itemized individual contributions by state, 2021 to Aug. 26, 2026, came from Delaware (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: WHYY, Aug. 22, 2026, FEC candidate page
Michael Katz. Moved to Delaware in 1996 to join A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. About 71.7 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through Aug. 26, 2026 came from Delaware (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Campaign biography, FEC candidate page
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. Delaware native and Dickinson High School graduate. All itemized individual contributions by state through Aug. 26, 2026 came from Delaware (FEC by-state totals). Current residence not confirmed.
Sources: FOX 29, 2026 primary guide, Ballotpedia, John Shulli
Travis Stevens. Born in Maryland; relocated to Delaware before the COVID-19 pandemic, per his campaign site.
Source: Campaign site
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Chris Coons. Campaign reports filed with the FEC with no administrative fine. Led New Castle County government as county executive for six years; the size of that workforce was not confirmed from an opened source.
Sources: FEC administrative fines search, committee C00475392, WHYY, Aug. 22, 2026
Michael Katz. Campaign reports filed with the FEC with no administrative fine; owns a business.
Sources: FEC administrative fines search, committee C00935163, Fox News, Sept. 2026
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. Campaign reports filed with the FEC with no administrative fine.
Source: FEC administrative fines search, committee C00933663
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Chris Coons. Center for Effective Lawmaking rates him Meets Expectations in the 118th Congress (LES 2.0 of 1.15 against a 1.52 benchmark), with one substantive bill enacted. GovTrack counts 25 enacted bills as primary sponsor.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking Senate dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, Center for Effective Lawmaking, data download page, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Michael Katz. Center for Effective Lawmaking state data rate him Meets Expectations in both Delaware Senate terms, with 8 bills enacted in 2009 to 2010 and 6 in 2011 to 2012.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. No public record found.
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Chris Coons. Missed 173 of 5,558 roll call votes (3.1 percent) from November 2010 to September 2026, per GovTrack.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Michael Katz. No public record found.
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. No public record found.
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Chris Coons. Senate office lists Delaware offices in Wilmington and Dover in addition to Washington. No published casework totals found.
Source: Senate office contact page (Internet Archive copy, Sept. 26, 2026)
Michael Katz. No public record found.
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. No public record found.
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Chris Coons. Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index for 2023 (118th Congress, first session): score 0.94683, ranked 16th in the Senate, in the top quarter.
Michael Katz. No public record found.
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. No public record found.
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Chris Coons. No public record found.
Michael Katz. No public record found.
William McVay. No public record found.
John Shulli. No public record found.
Travis Stevens. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Delaware U.S. Senate race?
Chris Coons has the strongest record in the Delaware U.S. Senate race. Chris Coons scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Katz at 61, as of October 6, 2026. Chris Coons's highest marks are relevant experience and coalition building. Michael Katz's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. William McVay (0 of 15 criteria), John Shulli (7 of 15 criteria) and Travis Stevens (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Delaware U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Chris Coons (Democratic, incumbent), Michael "Dr. Mike" Katz (Republican), William McVay (Write-in), John Shulli (Write-in), Travis Jack Stevens (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Chris Coons a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Chris Coons scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 69 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Michael Katz a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Michael Katz scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is William McVay a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
William McVay has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is John Shulli a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
John Shulli has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Travis Stevens a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Travis Stevens has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Delaware race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Delaware 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.