4 minPolitics
Arminio Wins Delaware GOP Primary, Will Face Rep. McBride in November
Political scientist Joseph Arminio defeated the Delaware Republican Party's endorsed candidate and its 2024 nominee to win Tuesday's primary for the state's lone U.S. House seat. He will face Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, in the Nov. 3 general election.
Political scientist Joseph «Dr. Joe» Arminio won Delaware's Republican primary for the state's lone U.S. House seat on Tuesday, defeating both the party's endorsed candidate and its 2024 nominee to secure a November match-up against Democratic Rep. Sarah McBride.
Arminio, a Wilmington native, beat Rev. Earl Cooper, who had the Delaware Republican Party's backing, and John Whalen, the party's nominee in 2024, according to unofficial results. He advances to the Nov. 3 general election, where he will try to unseat McBride, who is seeking a second term.
McBride made history in 2024 as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress, winning Delaware's at-large House seat by roughly 16 percentage points over Whalen. Republicans have not won the seat since 2008, when former Rep. Mike Castle retired and left office after deciding not to seek reelection, instead running for the U.S. Senate. Democrat John Carney succeeded Castle, and the party has held the seat since.
Arminio holds a doctorate in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he focused on national defense policy and international relations. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Johns Hopkins University and has taught at American University and Lincoln University.
Tuesday's race was not his first congressional campaign, though it was his first in Delaware. He previously sought the Republican nomination in Maryland's 1st Congressional District in 2008, receiving about 1.6% of the vote in a four-way primary won by Andy Harris.
Arminio campaigned heavily on economic issues, arguing that excessive public and private debt has squeezed American families. He identified inflation and the cost of groceries, gasoline, and housing as among the biggest economic challenges facing Delaware.
«The Republican country for that matter is in dire peril,» Arminio said in an interview. «The economy's in very bad shape. We're suffering from crushing private and public debt. So your typical family is having a hard time making ends meet. The young cannot afford to buy a home. They're having difficulty in their relationships, getting married. It's very, very serious.»
His victory comes as Republicans nationally look to expand their House majority in the midterm elections. Delaware's at-large seat is not among the party's most obvious pickup opportunities, given the state's Democratic lean, but Arminio's outsider campaign tapped into voter frustration over the cost of living.
McBride, meanwhile, has built a national profile since her 2024 win. She has focused on health care, education, and economic opportunity in Congress. Her campaign is expected to emphasize her record and the state's Democratic tradition as she seeks a second term.
The primary result also represents a rebuke of the state party's leadership, which had endorsed Cooper. Whalen, the 2024 nominee, finished behind Arminio as well, leaving the party to rally around a candidate who ran without its formal support.
Delaware's lone House seat covers the entire state, making it one of the smallest congressional districts by area but one that includes Wilmington, Dover, and the state's coastal communities. Turnout in off-year primaries is typically low, and Arminio's win suggests his message resonated with the Republicans who cast ballots.
With the general election set, both candidates now face a sprint to November. McBride enters as the heavy favorite in a state that has not sent a Republican to the House in more than 15 years, while Arminio will need to consolidate his party and appeal to independents and moderate Democrats if he is to pull off an upset.
