List of mayors of Wilmington, Delaware


The mayor of Wilmington is the chief executive of the government of Wilmington, Delaware, as stipulated by the charter. The current mayor of Wilmington is John Carney.

City of Wilmington

RankImageMayorStartEndPartyNote
1Richard Bayard18321834WhigWilmington incorporated in 1832.
2Nicholas Williamson18341843Whig
3David C. Wilson18431845Whig
4Alexander Porter18451848Whig
5William Huffington18481850Democratic
6Joshua Driver18501851
7Columbus Evans18511852WhigEditor of the Delaware Republican.
8William Hemphill Jones18521853First mayor elected by popular vote.
9John Alderdice18531854Publisher of The Journal.
10Heyward, James F.18541855
11William Wiggins18551856
12William Huffington18561857DemocraticNon-continuous terms.
13George Sparks18571858
14Thomas Young18581860
15Vincent Glipin18601863
16John Turner18631865
17Joshua Maris18651867
18Joshua Valentine18671872
19Joshua Simms18721875Democratic
20William G. Whiteley18751878Democratic
21John Allmond18781882
22John Wales18821885Son of Senator John Wales.
23Calvin Rhoads18851891DemocraticChoir director
Sandsbury Wiley18911893RepublicanTerm changed to two years, Saturday election in June.
E. G. Shortridge18931894Republican
Charles Jefferies1895?Democratic
John Fahey1899?Democratic
George Fisher19031903
Charles Bird1903?Democratic
Horace Wilson19051907Republican
Harrison Howell19111915Republican
John Lawson1919?
LeRoy Harvey19211923?Founded Wilmington Music School.
William Taylor?1925RepublicanLost at Sea
George Forrest19231931First intern at Delaware Hospital.
Frank Sparks19311933Republican
William Speer19331935Democratic
Walter Bacon19351940RepublicanResigned when elected governor.
Albert James19411944RepublicanFilled term of Gov. Bacon.
Thomas Herlihy19451946RepublicanResigned when appointed Chief Judge of Municipal Court.
Joseph Wilson19471949Republican
James Hearn19491953Republican
August Walz19541955Republican
47Eugene Lammot19571960DemocraticResigned when elected Lt. Gov. Election Tues. in Nov.
48John Babiarz19611969Democratic1968 Occupation
49Harry Haskell19691973Republican
50Thomas Maloney19731977Democratic
51William McLaughlin19771984Democratic
52Daniel Frawley19851993DemocraticStadium named after.
53James Sills19932001DemocraticFirst African American Mayor
54James Baker20012013DemocraticFirst 3-Term Mayor with 4-year terms
55Dennis Williams20132017DemocraticServed in the Delaware House of Representatives
56Mike Purzycki20172025DemocraticSpearheaded successful Riverfront redevelopment
57John Carney2025IncumbentDemocraticFirst Mayor to previously serve as State Governor