DOVER — The Delaware House of Representatives voted not to repeal the death penalty Thursday. By a 23-16 vote, the chamber defeated a bill that would have abolished capital punishment in Delaware.

Most Republicans voted against it.

Gov. Jack Markell is in support of repeal.

After eight months in the House Judiciary Committee, the bill was surprisingly released last week. It had passed the Senate in April.

The vote followed mobilization by repeal supporters, who have urged citizens to call lawmakers and held several news conferences this week.