Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware easily won his primary Tuesday, turning back a small field of challengers that included a candidate whose name openly signals opposition to President Donald Trump.
Coons secured the Democratic nomination for a third Senate term, a race he is widely expected to win in November. Among those he defeated was E. No-Trump Hansen, who adopted the distinctive name while campaigning against what he described as an expansion of presidential power.
Hansen, a former business executive previously known as Eric Hansen, centered his campaign on limiting the authority of the presidency.
He proposed legislation aimed at curbing what he called President Donald Trump’s “worst impulses,” with the goal of restoring “real checks and balances” and combating corruption and self-dealing.
“The name E. (Eric) No-Trump Hansen isn’t a gimmick — it’s his complete commitment to positive change,” his campaign website stated.
Hansen told local news outlet WHYY that he changed his name to make his opposition to Trump unmistakable.
“Trump has said he’ll go after his critics by any means available,” Hansen said.
“He will go after me, but I’m willing to bear that risk anyway — because the alternative is letting things get worse for Delawareans.”
A statement of candidacy filed with the Federal Election Commission showed that Hansen officially began using his new name in his campaign filings in July.
Hansen previously ran as a Republican in 2024 and won the party’s nomination.
He later lost the general election to Sen. Lisa Blunt-Rochester, D-Del.
Coons’ primary victory over Hansen, Jeff Appelhans and Mary Louve sets up a November contest against either Mike Katz or John Shulli.
The senior Democrat on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee also benefits from a strong political record in Delaware.
Coons first entered Congress after replacing then-Sen. Joe Biden, who was chosen by former President Barack Obama as his running mate.
He won his first full Senate term in 2014 and has retained the seat ever since.
The First State hasn’t sent a Republican to the upper chamber since 1966, when former Sen. J. Caleb Boggs lost re-election.
Boggs was ousted by a 29-year-old Biden, cementing Delaware as a deep-blue stronghold for decades to come.
