Sarah McBride

Delaware's Republican primary voters have named a challenger for U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride this November.

That will be Joseph Arminio, a self-described "truth teller" and a populist Republican, as both the Associated Press and CNN called the race for "Dr. Joe" just before 9 p.m., Sept. 15. That means the Wilmington native will clinch the next Republican nomination for Delaware's sole House seat, with about 48% of the vote by 9:30.

Arminio campaigned on priorities such as the economy, national defense, education reform, immigration, and upholding the Constitution, as he explained to Delaware Online/The News Journal in the run-up to the primary, while also touting his decades of policy experience in Washington.

Arminio hoped his pitch to voters would set him apart – from his "American Prosperity Plan" aimed at combating private and public debt, to "The Grand Bargain" he would propose in the Middle East, with staunch opposition to the current war in Iran and more.

Unofficial election results showed voters on his side, with more than 11,790 votes by 9:15 p.m.

Republican U.S. House primary election results

Arminio has described wanting to see the United States remain competitive internationally and on Main Street, with a mantra in "Debt Relief at Home; Disentanglement Abroad: Restore the Dream!"

Now, he must shift his sights to November.

McBride already has one historic win in her pocket from 2024 – as the first openly transgender member to serve in any chamber U.S. Congress – now fit with budding political capital after a freshman term. She'll look to run on a productive first year, from five bipartisan bills introduced and 439 cosponsored, as of January, to pushing against the Trump administration and more.

Delaware voters will make their final choice at the polls, on Nov. 3.