Sen. Stephanie Hansen represents the 10th Senate District, which includes portions of Newark, Glasgow, Bear, Middletown and other communities along the western side of Southern New Castle County.

She grew up downstate and graduated from Seaford Senior High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in earth science from the University of New Orleans. Hansen began her professional career as an environmental scientist, and later a hydrologist, at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

Hansen entered public service as the founder and first president of the Frenchtown Woods Civic Association and then the multi-community Bear Glasgow Council of Civic Organizations. She served as president of New Castle County Council from 1996 to 2001, and, while on council, graduated cum laude from Widener University School of Law. She went on to practice environmental law for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2020 to concentrate on her job as a State Senator since being elected in 2017. 

She quickly distinguished herself as a prolific legislator best known for her work on a host of environmental, energy, and conservation issues, as well as the opioid epidemic. She also formed the 10th Senate District Multicultural Committee to help foster understanding among different cultural communities, the HOA Leaders Forum to provide a forum for information exchange and expertise to homeowner associations, and the Energy Stakeholders Group to draft legislation and guide Delaware’s energy policy.

Sen. Hansen currently serves as chair of the Senate Environment & Energy Committee and vice chair of the Transportation Committee. She also serves as a member of the Health & Social Services, Elections & Government Affairs, Rules & Ethics, Executive, and Sunset committees.

She and her husband David live in Middletown. She has five children and stepchildren and five grandchildren.