Republican Michael N. Castle, a fixture in Delaware politics for a half-century who served as governor and in Congress, died Thursday at age 86.

Delaware politicians say Mike Castle, one of the First State's best-known political figures, has died at age 86. Castle was elected governor in 1985 and served two terms. After that, he served in Congress from 1993 to 2011. The Republican ran for Senate in 2010, but lost the primary to Christine O'Donnell.

Former Delaware governor and congressman Mike Castle has died at 86. The Delaware Republican Party announced he died Thursday in Greenville.