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Bryan Townsend (American politician)

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For the Irish politician, see Bryan Townsend (Irish politician).

Bryan Townsend
Majority Leader of the Delaware Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 4, 2020
Preceded byNicole Poore
Member of the Delaware Senate
from the 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2013
Preceded byAnthony DeLuca
Personal details
Born (1981-05-19) May 19, 1981 (age 44)
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Delaware (BA, BS)
University of Cambridge (MPhil)
Yale University (JD)

Bryan Jeffrey Schurgard Townsend (born May 19, 1981) is an American politician who represents District 11 in the Delaware Senate.[1] Townsend was elected Senate Majority Leader in 2020.[2] He serves as Chair of the Delaware Senate Labor Committee as well as Vice-Chair of the Senate Executive, Legislative Council, Judiciary, and Health and Social Services committees.[3]

Education

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Townsend holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Economics from the University of Delaware. He also studied at the University of Cambridge, earning a Master of Philosophy in Chinese Studies. In 2009, he graduated from Yale Law School.[4]

Political career

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As a political newcomer, Townsend defeated Anthony J. DeLuca—who was then President pro tempore of the Delaware Senate—in the 2012 Democratic primary by 57 percent to 42 percent.[5][6] Townsend went on to defeat Republican Evan Queitsch in the general election, winning 78 percent of the vote.[7][8]

Townsend was reelected in 2014. He defeated primary challenger David L. Tackett with 78 percent of the vote,[9][10] and was unopposed in the general election.[11]

In September 2015, in the wake of Representative John Carney's announcement that he would run for governor of the state, Townsend announced his candidacy for Delaware's at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.[12] On September 13, 2016, his candidacy ended when he placed second in a six-way Democratic primary, behind former state Secretary of Labor Lisa Blunt Rochester (25% to 44%).[13][14]

Legislation

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Townsend supports banning assault weapons and argued in favor of a 2018 bill that was not released from committee.[15] In 2023, Townsend introduced legislation establishing a right to representation for tenants in eviction proceedings. The bill was later signed into law.[16] In 2024, he co-sponsored a bill legalizing medical aid in dying in Delaware.[17][18]

Electoral history

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2012: Townsend defeated incumbent Anthony J. DeLuca in the Democratic Primary and won the November 6, 2012, General Election with 12,860 votes (78.4%) against Republican nominee Evan Queitsch.[19][20]

2014: Townsend defeated David L. Tackett in a primary challenge with 1,253 votes (78.1%). He was unopposed in the General Election on November 4, 2014.[21][22]

2016: Townsend was defeated by former Delaware Secretary of Labor Lisa Blunt Rochester in a six-way Democratic Primary for Delaware’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Townsend placed second in the September 13, 2016 Primary Election with 15,847 votes.[23]

2018: Townsend won the November 6, 2018, General Election with 10,421 votes (75.75%) against Republican nominee Daniel Kapitanic.[24]

2022: Townsend was unopposed in the November 8, 2022, General Election.[25]

2024: Townsend was unopposed in the November 5, 2024, General Election.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Official web site of First State Legislature". www.legis.delaware.gov. January 20, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ Edelen, Joseph (June 27, 2024). "Delaware Senate completes override of governor's veto to State Employee Benefits Committee changes". Bay to Bay News.
  3. ^ "Meet Your Senator: Bryan Townsend." Dover, Delaware: Delaware Senate Democrats. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  4. ^ "Meet Your Senator: Bryan Townsend." Dover, Delaware: Delaware Senate Democrats. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  5. ^ "Incumbents DeLuca and Booth fall in State Senate primary races, Bennett wins primary for husband's House seat | WDDE 91.1 FM | Delaware's NPR News station". Wdde.org. September 12, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ "Primary Election Results". Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  7. ^ "2012 Election Results". Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  8. ^ "Townsend elected to state Senate - The Review - The independent student newspaper of the University of Delaware since 1882". Udreview.com. November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  9. ^ "2014 Primary Election Results". Delaware Department of Elections. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  10. ^ Duvernay, Adam (June 20, 2016). "Bryan Townsend has claim to frontrunner status in congressional race". The News Journal.
  11. ^ "State of Delaware General Election Official Results". Dover, Delaware: Delaware Commissioner of Elections. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  12. ^ "State Sen. Bryan Townsend announces congressional bid". Delaware News Journal. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  13. ^ "2016 Primary Election Results". Delaware Department of Elections. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  14. ^ "Blunt Rochester wins Democratic primary for Congress". Delaware News Journal. September 13, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  15. ^ "Assault style weapons ban unable to get out of committee". Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  16. ^ "Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 1." Dover, Delaware: Delaware General Assembly. Retrieved September 22, 2025
  17. ^ Chase, Randall (September 20, 2024). "Delaware governor draws criticism from fellow Democrats for vetoing doctor-assisted suicide bill". The Seattle Times.
  18. ^ Petrowich, Sarah (June 21, 2024). "Delaware Senate votes against legalizing medical aid in dying, but it could have one more chance". Delaware First Media.
  19. ^ "State of Delaware Primary Election." Dover, Delaware: State of Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved September 22, 2025
  20. ^ "State of Delaware Department of Elections 2012 General Election." Dover, Delaware: Delaware.gov. Retrieved September 22, 2025
  21. ^ "2014 Primary Election Results by Office." Dover, Delaware: State of Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved September 22, 2025
  22. ^ "2014 General Election." Dover, Delaware: State of Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  23. ^ "2016 Primary Election. Dover, Delaware: State of Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved September 22, 2025
  24. ^ "2018 General Election." Dover, Delaware: State of Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved September 22, 2025
  25. ^ "2022 General Election Report." Dover, Delaware: State of Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved September 22, 2025
  26. ^ "2024 General Election Results Report." Dover, Delaware: State of Delaware Department of Elections. Retrieved September 22, 2025
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