--- title: "McBride vs. Arminio: 2026 Delaware’s at-large district race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-de-al" updated: "2026-09-16" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Delaware’s at-large district race: Sarah McBride (D) vs. Joseph Arminio (R) Rating: Safe D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: September 16, 2026 Incumbent Democrat Sarah McBride faces Republican Joseph Arminio in the general election for Delaware's At-Large Congressional District on November 3, 2026. McBride advanced automatically after the Democratic primary was canceled, while Arminio won the Republican primary on September 15, 2026. The matchup centers on contrasting visions for national economic policy, foreign military entanglements, healthcare expansion, voting legislation, and constitutional rights. ## Candidates - **Sarah McBride** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.sarahmcbride.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) - **Joseph Arminio** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://drjoeforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) ## Issues ### Economy and National Debt Salience: high McBride favors raising the federal minimum wage to $15 and funding social infrastructure, whereas Arminio advocates for the 'American Prosperity Plan' centered on a Modern Debt Jubilee and emitting Greenbacks. **Sarah McBride:** Supports wage increases and social investments McBride advocates for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour indexed to inflation and funding investments in childcare, paid leave, housing, and elder care. In Congress, she voted against the 2025 reconciliation bill (H.R.1) and Republican budget resolutions. - Increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and index it to inflation. - Enact federal investments in paid family and medical leave, universal childcare, and housing. - Voted Nay on H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and fiscal year 2025 budget resolution H.Con.Res.14. > “Delawareans across our state are struggling under rising costs and insufficient wages.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) > “That is why Congress must increase the federal minimum wage to $15 and set it to rise with inflation.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** Proposes Debt Jubilee and Greenbacks emission Arminio champions his 'American Prosperity Plan' to resolve high private debt and national public debt. His platform calls for a one-off Modern Debt Jubilee for private debt and emitting non-borrowed, non-taxed 'Greenbacks' to cut federal public debt in half while reducing dependence on the petrodollar. - Implement the American Prosperity Plan to restore 1950s-level economic growth. - Institute a one-off Modern Debt Jubilee to eliminate crushing private debt. - Emit non-borrowed, non-taxed 'Greenbacks' to cut U.S. national debt roughly in half. > “I call the detailed reform that I champion the American Prosperity Plan.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) > “institute a one-off, non-inflationary Modern Debt Jubilee!” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Campaign site](https://drjoeforcongress.com/) ### Foreign Policy and Defense Salience: medium Arminio pushes to end foreign entanglements through 'The Grand Bargain' and opposed the Iran War, while McBride works within standard legislative channels on the Foreign Affairs Committee, backing global health aid. **Sarah McBride:** Serves on Foreign Affairs Committee McBride serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in the 119th Congress. Her platform emphasizes ending international restrictions on reproductive healthcare funding, such as the global gag rule, and maintaining international development commitments. - Serves as a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. - Advocates ending the global gag rule and protecting international reproductive healthcare funding. > “In Congress, I will be a staunch advocate for coverage, including through Medicaid, for the full range of reproductive health care patients need and to end draconian policies like the global gag rule that limit funds internationally in reproductive health care.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** Opposes foreign entanglements and endless wars Arminio opposes foreign military entanglements and petrodollar dependency, proposing 'The Grand Bargain' to end foreign wars. He publicly opposed attacking Iran, supports steering Israel toward a Two-State Solution, and questions McBride's failure to support the Khanna-Massie Amendment to the 2027 NDAA. - Proposes 'The Grand Bargain' diplomatic framework to end foreign entanglements in Ukraine and the Middle East. - Supports steering Israel toward a Two-State Solution and opposing military escalation with Iran. - Criticizes integration of U.S. and foreign armed forces, referencing the Khanna-Massie NDAA amendment. > “I am for steering Israel toward the Two-State Solution. I have publicly opposed the Iran War, even prior to February 28, 2026.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) > “To stop "endless wars" and to bring about a lasting peace among nations, it makes sense to me that America pursue what I call The Grand Bargain.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: medium Arminio backs ending sanctuary cities and penalizing officials who block alien removals, while McBride voted against Republican enforcement measures like the Laken Riley Act. **Sarah McBride:** Opposes restrictive GOP enforcement mandates McBride opposes Republican immigration enforcement legislation, voting Nay on mandatory detention and deportation measures. In the 119th Congress, she voted against the Laken Riley Act and DUI deportation legislation, prioritizing criminal justice reform and legal protections. - Voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act (S.5) regarding mandatory DHS detention for certain theft arrests. - Voted Nay on H.R.875 regarding deportation and admissibility bars for DUI offenses. **Joseph Arminio:** Supports ending sanctuary cities and strict enforcement Arminio supports ending sanctuary cities and imposing penalties on public officials who obstruct the removal of criminal aliens, agreeing with Donald Trump's proposals. He argues that growing the economy through his American Prosperity Plan will generate the revenue necessary to fund enforcement. - End sanctuary city policies protecting non-citizen offenders. - Enact strict legal penalties for public officials blocking alien removals. - Fund enforcement agencies through revenue generated by economic growth under the American Prosperity Plan. > “…end deadly sanctuary cities that protect the criminals and enact serious penalties for public officials who block the removal of criminal aliens.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) > “A strong economy is not just good for workers and families. It is the financial foundation that makes serious, humane, and effective immigration enforcement possible.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) ### Reproductive Rights Salience: medium McBride champions federal protections for abortion access and Medicaid coverage, whereas Arminio maintains a traditional pro-life stance protecting the unborn. **Sarah McBride:** Supports federal abortion rights and access McBride treats reproductive freedom as a key priority, having co-sponsored legislation in the Delaware Senate to establish the state as a safe haven for abortion access. In Congress, she supports protecting patient-physician privacy, extending Medicaid coverage for reproductive services, and removing international funding restrictions. - Protect nationwide abortion access and patient-physician privacy against federal bans. - Expand Medicaid coverage to encompass full post-pregnancy and reproductive healthcare. - Repeal the global gag rule restricting international reproductive care funding. > “As MAGA extremists continue to criminalize abortion, I will fight to protect the private relationship between a patient and their physician.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) > “In my time in the State Senate, I proudly worked to make Delaware a safe haven for reproductive care.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** Pro-life candidate Arminio identifies protection of 'the unborn' as a core traditional conservative principle that candidates and voters must maintain alongside broader technical and economic policy pivots. - Maintains protection of the unborn as a core issue on the conservative platform. > “For years now, I have been admonishing every student and adult I come across to "pivot" — that is, to continue to tackle the usual issues, such as the right to bear arms, the unborn, and lower taxes” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) ### Voting Rights and Election Integrity Salience: medium McBride advocates for expanding mail-in and early voting via the Freedom to Vote Act, whereas Arminio wants mandatory photo ID, paper ballots, and in-person Election Day voting. **Sarah McBride:** Supports Freedom to Vote Act and voting access McBride advocates expanding voting access through vote-by-mail, early voting, and same-day registration. In Congress, she co-sponsors the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and Freedom to Vote Act, and voted against the SAVE Act requirement for documentary proof of citizenship. - Co-sponsor and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. - Protect vote-by-mail, early voting, and same-day voter registration. - Voted Nay on the SAVE Act (H.R.22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. > “Democracy is strongest when every citizen can make their voice heard. We can make our democracy more healthy and inclusive by removing barriers to voting” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) > “When elected, I will co-sponsor and fight to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** Supports in-person paper ballot voting and photo ID Arminio advocates strict election integrity measures beyond the SAVE Act. He supports requiring physical photo ID, restricting mail-in voting strictly to extenuating circumstances like illness or overseas deployment, and using verifiable paper ballots rather than electronic voting machines. - Require in-person voting on Election Day except for illness or military deployment. - Mandate physical photo ID documentation to vote. - Require physical paper ballots with verifiable hand counting, rejecting electronic voting. > “Speaking of election integrity, the Save America Act is fine, as far as it goes. But it hardly goes far enough.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) > “Votes should be cast in person on election day, except in extenuating circumstances, such as the voter is ill or deployed overseas.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) ### Education Reform Salience: medium Arminio proposes federal mandates for formal debate and banking history curriculum, while McBride focuses on early childhood education and reforming school funding for disadvantaged students. **Sarah McBride:** Supports school funding equity and early education McBride focuses on reforming public school funding to address student poverty, language barriers, and special education needs. She supports wrap-around services in schools and establishing affordable early childhood education for all families. - Reform state and federal education funding formulas to support low-income and special needs students. - Expand wrap-around support services in public schools. - Guarantee universal access to affordable early childhood education. > “From supporting wrap-around services to reforming our funding that accounts for students living with poverty, language barriers, and disabilities, I am committed to leveling the playing field for our kids.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) > “now it's time to guarantee that every family can access affordable early childhood education.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** Mandates formal debate and economic history Arminio proposes federal legislation to mandate formal debate in grades 9 through 12 to build critical thinking skills. He also advocates teaching unfiltered monetary and banking history using primary sources across Left, Right, and Third-Way perspectives. - Introduce legislation mandating formal debate programs for grades 9 to 12. - Require school research to draw from primary sources across Left, Right, and Third-Way perspectives. - Mandate teaching unfiltered history of money and banking from ancient times to present. > “Toward the advancement of critical thinking, I will propose legislation to mandate formal debate for grades 9 to 12.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) > “Also, I stand for teaching unfiltered economic history — the most important component of which is the history of money and banking from ancient times down to today.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) ### Gun Safety and Second Amendment Salience: medium McBride favors federal assault weapon bans and expanded background checks, while Arminio opposes gun restrictions and pledges strict adherence to the Second Amendment. **Sarah McBride:** Supports banning assault weapons and strict gun laws McBride advocates for strong federal gun safety measures. Building on her work in the Delaware Senate banning assault weapons, she supports federal assault weapon bans, universal background checks, and red flag safeguards to prevent dangerous individuals from acquiring guns. - Enact a federal ban on assault weapons. - Strengthen federal background check requirements for firearm purchases. - Implement red flag safeguards to keep weapons away from dangerous individuals. > “I am proud to have helped ban assault weapons in Delaware and pass the most significant gun safety package in the state’s history.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) > “When elected to Congress, I will vote to strengthen background checks, ban assault weapons, and institute safeguards to prevent dangerous individuals from getting guns.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** Supports Second Amendment and constitutional limits Arminio pledges to uphold Second Amendment rights without compromise, treating the U.S. Constitution as the supreme law. He commits to evaluating every bill's constitutionality prior to considering its popularity. - Uphold Second Amendment rights against new federal gun restrictions. - Strictly evaluate bill constitutionality before voting in Congress. > “It goes without saying that, among many things, I will uphold the Second Amendment and promote election integrity.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) > “I will read every bill. I will ask whether it is constitutional before I ask whether it is popular.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) ### Environment and Climate Change Salience: medium McBride promotes federal investments aimed at reaching net-zero emissions with union jobs, whereas Arminio approaches environmental policy as a complex topic for citizen study groups. **Sarah McBride:** Supports net-zero emissions investments and green jobs McBride frames climate change as an immediate threat to Delaware and supports building upon the Inflation Reduction Act. She advocates for federal renewable energy investments, making green tech accessible, reaching net-zero emissions, and creating union green jobs. - Increase federal investments in renewable energy and green infrastructure. - Pursue national policies to achieve net-zero emissions as soon as possible. - Ensure green energy transition projects employ local, unionized workers. > “Climate change poses an urgent threat to both our planet and our home, Delaware, the nation’s lowest-lying state.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) > “In the House, I’ll fight to increase investment in renewable energy, make green technologies affordable and accessible for consumers and businesses, and ensure that the sustainable industries of the future employ a local and unionized workforce.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** Calls environment high-information study topic Arminio categorizes the environment, along with AI and data centers, as a complex 'high-information' issue requiring investigation and citizen study groups rather than top-down federal mandates. - Include environmental policy among complex technical topics analyzed by citizen study groups. > “continue to tackle the usual issues, such as the right to bear arms, the unborn, and lower taxes — but also to spend some time investigating and speaking out on "complex" or, if you will, "high-information" issues, such as monetary policy, foreign policy, the environment, health and Ai, including data centers.” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) ### Healthcare and Paid Leave Salience: high **Sarah McBride:** Supports expanding Medicare and universal coverage McBride views healthcare as a fundamental human right and supports advancing toward universal coverage. She advocates expanding Medicare to cover vision, hearing, and dental care, establishing a public option, lowering the Medicare eligibility age, and guaranteeing paid family and medical leave. - Expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing while lowering the eligibility age. - Establish a public option to advance toward universal healthcare coverage. - Pass federal legislation guaranteeing paid family leave, paid medical leave, and paid sick time. > “Health care is a human right. In the wealthiest nation on earth, any person left without health coverage is a moral failing.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) > “In Congress, I will support any positive policy that advances our country toward the ultimate goal of universal coverage.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** No documented position in our sources ### Labor and Organized Unions Salience: medium **Sarah McBride:** Supports PRO Act and union labor mandates McBride emphasizes empowering organized labor as vital to restoring the middle class. She pledges to sponsor and vote for the PRO Act, fully fund labor enforcement agencies, and codify mandates requiring federal project contracts to use unionized workforces. - Sponsor and pass the Richard L. Trumka PRO Act. - Codify executive mandates requiring unionized workforces on federal projects. - Increase funding for federal agencies enforcing worker protections. > “In Congress, I will sponsor and support the PRO Act.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) > “I will also fight to codify President Biden's executive order that federal projects are contracted with unionized workforces.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** No documented position in our sources ### Fintech and Crypto Regulation Salience: low **Sarah McBride:** Supports fintech regulatory updates and data privacy McBride advocates modernizing 1933-era federal financial laws to incorporate fintech, blockchain, and cryptocurrency innovations while protecting consumer data privacy. In Congress, she voted Nay on S.1582 (GENIUS Act) regarding payment stablecoin frameworks. - Update federal securities and banking laws to accommodate fintech and blockchain innovation. - Pass robust federal data privacy legislation to protect consumer personal data. - Voted Nay on the GENIUS Act (S.1582) regarding payment stablecoin regulation. > “By embracing fintech, blockchain technology, and crypto innovation, we have the opportunity to cultivate a more inclusive economy” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) > “Passing robust data privacy legislation will restore consumer agency over personal data and help build trust and confidence in emerging financial services.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** No documented position in our sources ### Criminal Justice Reform Salience: low **Sarah McBride:** Supports legalizing marijuana and criminal justice reform McBride supports reforming the criminal justice system to end mass incarceration, legalizing marijuana federally with record expungements, expanding police body camera use, and prioritizing reentry to prevent recidivism. - Legalize marijuana at the federal level and expunge prior convictions. - End mass incarceration by focusing on reentry programs and reducing recidivism. - Expand body camera adoption and police transparency. > “I’ll vote to end mass incarceration, legalize marijuana and expunge convictions, and help to reimagine a system that prioritizes reentry and prevents recidivism.” > — Sarah McBride, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sarah_McBride) **Joseph Arminio:** No documented position in our sources ### Congressional Governance and Citizen Engagement Salience: low **Sarah McBride:** No documented position in our sources **Joseph Arminio:** Proposes citizen study groups and reading all bills Arminio pledges to structure his U.S. House office around dozens of citizen study groups comprising Delawareans from across the political spectrum. He commits to reading every bill personally and assessing its constitutional authority before popularity. - Establish dozens of multi-partisan citizen study groups to inform Delaware's congressional office. - Read every bill completely and prioritize constitutional validity over popularity. > “In order to enhance a general-public pivot, I pledge, if elected, to enter Congress with hundreds of concerned citizens in formal support. Together, we will utilize dozens of citizen study groups” > — Joseph Arminio, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Joseph_Arminio) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 22._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/de-al-house-election-winner) — DE-AL House Election Winner: Democrats 98.3%, Republicans 1.6% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-DEAL-26) — DE-AL House winner?: Sarah McBride 99.5%, Joseph Arminio 2.1% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXDEALR-26) — DE-AL Republican nominee?: Joseph Arminio 99.0%, John J. Whalen III 1.0%, Gavin Solomon 0.1% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-de-al)