1992 Delaware gubernatorial election
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The 1992 Delaware gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Castle, barred by term limits from seeking another term as Governor of Delaware, instead sought election to the United States House of Representatives. Congressman and Democratic nominee Tom Carper defeated Republican nominee B. Gary Scott in a landslide, winning his first term in office and becoming Delaware's first Democratic governor since 1977.
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November 3, 1992
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  Carper: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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This was the first time since 1964 that New Castle County voted Democratic for governor. As of 2026, this is the last time the Governor's office in Delaware changed partisan control.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Tom Carper, U.S. representative, former Delaware state treasurer
- Daniel D. Rappa
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tom Carper | 36,600 | 89.19 | |
| Democratic | Daniel D. Rappa | 4,434 | 10.81 | |
| Total votes | 41,034 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- B. Gary Scott, insurance company executive
- Wilfred Plomis
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | B. Gary Scott | 23,994 | 81.78 | |
| Republican | Wilfred Plomis | 5,346 | 18.22 | |
| Total votes | 29,340 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tom Carper | 179,365 | 64.74% | +35.48% | |
| Republican | B. Gary Scott | 90,725 | 32.75% | −37.98% | |
| A Delaware Party | Floyd E. McDowell | 3,779 | 1.36% | ||
| Libertarian | Richard A. Cohen | 3,165 | 1.14% | ||
| Majority | 88,640 | 32.00% | −9.47% | ||
| Turnout | 277,034 | ||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | ||||
By county
| County | Tom Carper Democratic |
Gary Scott Republican |
All Others Independent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | |
| Kent | 24,734 | 63.2% | 13,406 | 34.2% | 1,418 | 2.6% |
| New Castle | 124,601 | 66.2% | 58,609 | 31.1% | 5,047 | 2.7% |
| Sussex | 30,030 | 60.5% | 18,710 | 37.7% | 903 | 1.8% |
| Totals | 179,365 | 64.7% | 90,725 | 32.7% | 6,968 | 2.5% |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- All 3
