Jack Markell won election in 2008 to take over the seat held by Ruth Ann Minner, who was barred by law from seeking a third term. Markell took 68 percent of the vote to GOP challenger Bill Lee's 32 percent. Markell defeated Lt. Gov. John Carney in the Democratic primary, taking 51 percent of the vote to Carney's 49 percent.

Markell was first elected state treasurer in 1998, taking 58 percent of the vote against Republican incumbent Janet Rzewnicki. He earned 66 percent of the vote against Republican Ron Poliquin in 2002, and more than 70 percent of the vote against Republican Esthelda Parker Selby in 2006.

(Last updated by Randall Chase on March 23, 2009.)

Tom Carper was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, winning 56 percent of the vote against incumbent Republican William V. Roth Jr. In his 2006 re-election bid, Carper took 70 percent of the vote over Republican Jan Ting.

In his races for state treasurer, Carper beat T. Theodore Jones in 1976 with 56 percent of the vote, Rita Justice in 1978 with 59 percent of the vote, and Lynn Jankus in 1980 with 59 percent of the vote.

Carper was elected to the U.S. House in 1982, defeating incumbent Republican Rep. Thomas B. Evans Jr. with 53 percent of the vote. With Evans linked to a sex scandal involving lobbyist Paula Parkinson and Carper accused of abusing his first wife and stepchildren, the New York Post dubbed the race "The Nation's Dirtiest Campaign."

Carper was re-elected in 1984, defeating Elise R.W. du Pont, wife of former Gov. Pierre du Pont IV, with 58 percent of the vote. He took 66 percent of the vote against attorney Thomas Neuberger in 1986, 68 percent against construction executive James Krapf in 1988, and 66 percent against banker Ralph Williams in 1990.

He was elected governor of Delaware in 1992, defeating Republican B. Gary Scott with 66 percent of the vote. Carper easily won re-election in 1996, trouncing Republican Janet Rzewnicki with 69 percent of the vote.

(Last updated by Randall Chase on March 23, 2009.)

Ted Kaufman was appointed to the U.S. Senate by former Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner after Joseph Biden was elected vice president in 2008.

Kaufman has never campaigned for public office and has said he has no intention of seeking re-election to the Senate in 2010.

He served as a Democratic National Committeeman from Delaware from 1997 to 2001 and was a delegate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention. He also served as co-chair of Biden's vice presidential transition team and was senior adviser to Biden during the Obama-Biden presidential campaign.

(Last updated by Randall Chase on March 23, 2009.)