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 Judiciary, Senate Health & Social Services, Senate Executive, and Legislative Council committees. He is also a member of the Senate Housing & Land Use 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
- Legislative Council, Vice-Chair
- Judiciary, Vice-Chair
- Health & Social Services, Vice-Chair
- Rules & Ethics, Member
- Housing & Land Use, 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 10
Senate Townsend worked with many dedicated advocates to pass Senate Bill 10, the “Richard ‘Mouse’ Smith Compassionate Release Act.” In honor of the late Mouse Smith — an exceptional Delaware civil rights activist who passed earlier this year — Senate […]
Senate Bill 5
While chairing the Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee, Sen. Gay passed legislation that made voter registration a faster and easier process for thousands of Delawareans. Senate Bill 5 allowed all applications for a driver’s license in Delaware to also […]
Senate Bill 12
Health insurance delays can place an unfair burden on patients and providers alike, creating unnecessary stress and complications for everyone. To create and maintain a more patient-centered approach, Senator Townsend introduced pre-authorization reform legislation. Receiving unanimous bipartisan support in both […]
