Bryan Townsend
Majority Leader
District 11
Sen. Bryan Townsend represents the 11th Senatorial District, which covers the Southern Newark area, including portions of Bear and Glasgow.
Bryan and his wife Lilianna, a fellow attorney and a first-generation Vietnamese American, are the proud parents of two young, spirited sons Logan and Landon.
Bryan is the son of a retired Newark police officer and a retired public school teacher. He graduated from Glasgow High School in 1999 before attending the University of Delaware (economics/philosophy/biology), the University of Cambridge (Chinese studies), and Yale Law School.
After law school, Bryan returned to Delaware to clerk for Chancellor William Chandler III of the Delaware Court of Chancery. He then became an attorney focused on Delaware corporate litigation, and has represented Delaware businesses of all sizes, as well as children in foster care, victims of domestic violence, and a veteran with service-related disabilities.
Bryan also has volunteered with the Christiana Volunteer Fire Co., Special Olympics Delaware, the Food Bank of Delaware, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Delaware.
He was first elected to the Delaware Senate in 2012. The Senate Democratic Caucus elected him Majority Whip in 2018. He has served as Majority Leader since 2020.
Bryan currently serves as chair of the Senate Labor Committee and vice chair of the Senate Executive, Housing & Land Use, and Legislative Council committees. He is also a member of the Senate Judiciary and Rules & Ethics committees.
Family
Spouse: Lilianna; Children: Logan and Landon
Education
Glasgow High School, Class of 1999; Bachelor’s degree, Economics, University of Delaware, 2003; Bachelor’s degree, Philosophy/Biology, University of Delaware, 2004; Master’s degree, Economics, University of Delaware, 2003; Master of Philosophy degree, Chinese Studies, University of Cambridge, 2006; Juris Doctorate, Yale Law School, 2009
Occupation
Attorney
Legislative Service:
Senate, 2012 to present; Senate Majority Whip, 2018 to 2020; Senate Majority Leader, 2020 to present
Committees:
- Labor, Chair
- Executive, Vice-Chair
- Housing & Land Use, Vice-Chair
- Legislative Council, Vice-Chair
- Judiciary, Member
- Rules & Ethics, Member
Legislative Highlights
Senate Bill 1 (S)
Hundreds of Delaware families have been able to avoid eviction and remain in their homes thanks to legislation passed by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend. Passed with bipartisan support, Senate Bill 1 (S) gave thousands of Delaware renters free legal […]
Senate Bill 120 (S)
Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend passed legislation that is curtailing the rising cost of healthcare for most Delawareans and refocusing the First State’s healthcare system on preventative primary care and beneficial outcomes. Senate Bill 120 (S) implemented a series of […]
Senate Bill 302
A longtime champion of common-sense gun safety, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend successfully opened the door for victims of gun violence and their families to sue gunmakers and gun dealers in state court when their conduct knowingly or recklessly endangers […]
Senate Bill 11 (S)
Seeking a just and balanced approach to the Delaware justice system, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend has enacted laws that prevent people from being unjustly held behind bars due to their inability to pay bail, as well as laws that […]
