Robert L. Venables, Sr. (born January 21, 1933 in Bethel, Delaware) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic party. He served as a Delaware state senator from 1989 to 2015, representing district 21.
Venables graduated from Laurel High School.
Mr. Vennables voted in favor of several tax increases during the 147th General Assembly. Income Tax (HB50), Gross Receipts Tax (HB53), and Estate Tax (HB51)
1988 Challenging incumbent Senator William Slatcher, Venables was unopposed for the September 10, 1988 Democratic Primary and won the November 8, 1988 General election by 93 votes with 5,033 votes (50.5%) against Slatcher.
1992 Venables and Slatcher were both unopposed for their September 12, 1992 primaries, setting up a rematch; Venables won the November 3, 1992 General election with 7,595 votes (64%) against Slatcher.
1994 Venables was unopposed for both the Democratic Primary and the November 8, 1994 General election, winning with 5,299 votes.
1998 Venables was unopposed for both the September 12, 1998 Democratic Primary and the November 3, 1998 General election, winning with 6,142 votes.
2002 Venables was unopposed for both the September 10, 2002 Democratic Primary and the November 5, 2002 General election, winning with 7,756 votes.
2004 Venables was unopposed for the September 11, 2004 Democratic Primary and won the November 2, 2004 General election with 9,344 votes (59.6%) against Republican nominee Daniel Short.
2008 Venables was unopposed for both the September 9, 2008 Democratic Primary and the November 4, 2008 General election, winning with 12,603 votes.
2012 Venables was unopposed for the September 11, 2012 Democratic Primary and won the three-way November 6, 2012 General election with 8,955 votes (55.9%) against Republican nominee Bryant Richardson and Libertarian candidate John Potter.
2014 Venables was defeated by Republican Bryant Richardson in the November 3, 2014 general election. He had 4,514 votes to Richardson's 5,210 votes
