Sherman W. Tribbitt Democratic Pete du Pont Republican The 1976 Delaware gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1976.

Pitting incumbent Democratic Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt Against U.S. Representative Pete du Pont.

Largely due to the state's unresolved financial problems, du Pont defeated Governor Tribbitt by a landslide margin of 57% to 42%.

This is the last time that an incumbent governor of Delaware lost re-election.

From 1972 to 1992 Delaware used a system of “challenge” primaries, in which a candidate for statewide office who received at least 35 percent of the convention vote could challenge the endorsed candidate in a primary.