Michael Katz
Delaware Republican Senate nominee?
$1.7K
SEP 16, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyCentrist Independent
GenderMale
LocationDelaware
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BackgroundPhysician (anesthesiologist)
EducationBates College (BS)
Notable personal detailsMichael S. Katz is an American physician and former Delaware state senator who served in the Delaware Senate (4th District) from 2009 to 2013. He later ran for U.S. Senate as the Independent Party of Delaware nominee in 2024 and became the Republican nominee for Delaware’s 2026 U.S. Senate race after winning the Delaware Republican Party convention. Katz has worked as an anesthesiologist with pediatric anesthesia training and has also been described as a business owner.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports using tax policy to incentivize business growth and job creation and emphasizes using tax dollars more efficiently. Proposed offering multi-year income-tax withholding breaks to firms that relocate jobs to Delaware and frames government role as facilitating a pro-growth economic environment.
Healthcare
Michael (Dr. Mike) Katz describes healthcare as broken and costly and emphasizes shifting toward population- and community-focused care, patient safety, and practical reforms based on his experience as a physician. He frames healthcare improvements in terms of system efficiency, access, and reducing downstream, reactionary care but does not endorse a clear policy blueprint (e.g., single-payer, Medicare for All, or explicit market-based reforms) in available campaign materials.
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Immigration & Border
Supports a humanitarian, expert-driven approach to border enforcement that balances safety with humane treatment; favors starting from a “clean slate” and bringing in experts to design how to safely and humanely enforce border laws rather than backing maximal enforcement-only measures.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate says women’s health is a medical issue and that government should not determine individuals’ healthcare, expressing that politics should be removed from women’s health. Past legislative activity includes involvement in an abortion-clinic accreditation bill while serving in the Delaware State Senate. These statements and actions indicate support for abortion access with a focus on medical/clinical regulation rather than imposing strict bans.
Climate & Energy
Supports using private-sector technology and innovation to address environmental challenges, endorses nuclear energy as a low-carbon energy source, and backs legislation to streamline permitting and develop advanced nuclear technology. Emphasizes research and innovation as cornerstones of environmental and energy policy rather than opposing clean-energy measures or advocating for expanded fossil-fuel production.
News
Michael Katz is in the news as a candidate in the middle of election-reform debates in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Recent reports focus on proposals to change primary elections, including moving Delaware’s primary date and opening primaries to unaffiliated or independent voters. The broader debate also includes a lawsuit and legislative efforts in Pennsylvania over closed primaries. Separately, Delaware is among the states under federal HHS investigation over alleged Weldon Amendment violations tied to abortion coverage rules.
HHS investigates states requiring insurance coverage for abortion
Debate needed for opening primaries
About a half-dozen Delaware bills aim to tweak primary elections. How?
Latest attempt to move Delaware's primary election heard, second hearing
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements