1988 United States Senate election in Florida

For related races, see 1988 United States Senate elections.

1988 United States Senate election in Florida

* * *

| <- 1982 | November 8, 1988 | 1994 ->

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Nominee  | Connie Mack III | Buddy MacKay |
Party  | Republican | Democratic
Popular vote  | 2,051,071 | 2,016,553
Percentage  | 50.42% | 49.57%

* * *

County results

Mack: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%

MacKay: 50–60% 60–70%

* * *

| U.S. senator before election

Lawton Chiles
Democratic

| Elected U.S. Senator

Connie Mack III
Republican

|

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Government

* v
* t
* e

The 1988 United States Senate election in Florida was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Connie Mack III won the open seat, becoming the first Republican to hold this seat since Reconstruction in 1875.[1]

## Democratic primary

[edit]

Incumbent U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles announced in December 1987, that he would not seek reelection.[2]

Former Governor Reubin Askew announced his candidacy and was regarded as a likely nominee, but withdrew stating that he was tired of campaigning and did not like fundraising.[3]

### Candidates

[edit]

* Bill Gunter, Florida State Treasurer
* Pat Frank, State Senator from Tampa
* Claude R. Kirk Jr., former Republican Governor
* Buddy MacKay, U.S. Representative from Ocala
* Dan Mica, U.S. Representative from Lake Worth

### Results

[edit]

Democratic primary results[4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

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|
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| Democratic | Bill Gunter  | 383,721  | 38.00%
| Democratic | Buddy MacKay  | 263,946  | 26.14%
| Democratic | Dan Mica  | 179,524  | 17.78%
| Democratic | Pat Frank  | 119,277  | 11.81%
| Democratic | Claude Kirk  | 51,387  | 5.09%
| Democratic | Fred Rader  | 11,820  | 1.17%
Total votes  | 1,009,675  | 100.00%
Democratic primary runoff results[5] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

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|
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| Democratic | Buddy MacKay  | 369,266  | 52.00
| Democratic | Bill Gunter  | 340,918  | 48.00
Total votes  | 710,184  | 100

## Republican primary

[edit]

In 1987, U.S. Representative Connie Mack III announced his campaign for the Republican nomination. Robert Merkle, a former U.S. Attorney, was Mack's only opposition in the Republican primary.[3]

### Candidates

[edit]

* Connie Mack III, U.S. Representative from Cape Coral
* Robert Merkle, former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida

#### Speculated

[edit]

* Jeb Bush, Secretary of Commerce of Florida (1987–1988)[6]
* Paula Hawkins, former U.S. Senator (1981–1987)[6]
* Bill McCollum, member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida's 5th congressional district[6]

### Results

[edit]

Republican primary results[4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

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| Republican | Connie Mack  | 405,296  | 61.78
| Republican | Robert Merkle  | 250,730  | 38.22
Total votes  | 656,026  | 100

## General election

[edit]

### Candidates

[edit]

* Connie Mack III, U.S. Representative (Republican)
* Buddy MacKay, U.S. Representative (Democratic)

### Campaign

[edit]

This senate election was heavily targeted by both parties. U.S. Representative Mack announced his candidacy back in October 1987.[7] President Ronald Reagan endorsed Mack in June 1988[8] to allow Mack to focus on the general election, as he easily won the September 6 Republican primary against U.S. Attorney Robert Merkle.[9] In May 1988, MacKay announced he would run for the open seat,[10] and defeated Insurance Commissioner Bill Gunter in a close October 4 runoff primary election.[11]

The general election became very nasty. MacKay tried to portray the Republican as "extremist."[12] Mack attacked his opponent in television ads by connecting him to unpopular Massachusetts Governor and presidential candidate Michael Dukakis.[13] Mack had help from vice presidential candidate Dan Quayle.[14] He also ran ten-second television advertisements that said "Hey Buddy, you're a liberal," a charge MacKay could never escape.[15] The election was so close there was a recount until MacKay conceded eight days after election day.[16]

## Endorsements

[edit]

List of Buddy MacKay endorsements

Statewide officials

* Bill Gunter, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida (1976–1989)[6]

## Results

[edit]

General election results[1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
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| Republican | Connie Mack III | 2,051,071  | 50.42%  | +12.15%
| Democratic | Buddy MacKay | 2,016,553  | 49.57%  | −12.15%
| Write-in | 585  | 0.01%  |
Majority  | 34,518  | 0.85%  | −22.61%
Turnout | 4,068,209  |  |
| Republican gain from Democratic

## See also

[edit]

* 1988 United States Senate elections

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 8, 1988" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 9.
2. ^ Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 168.
3. ^ a b Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 168-169.
4. ^ a b "Florida Department of State - Election Results". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
5. ^ "Florida Department of State - Election Results". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
6. ^ a b c d Moreland, Steed & Baker 1991, p. 169.
7. ^ Straight, Harry (October 20, 1987). "Mack opens Senate race, hits Chiles". Orlando Sentinel.
8. ^ "Reagan Endorses Mack in Miami President Rebukes Dukakis at Fund- Raiser". Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
9. ^ "Mack Easily Wins in Florida Primary". The New York Times. September 7, 1988.
10. ^ "Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal - Google News Archive Search".
11. ^ "Gunter, MacKay in Runoff". Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
12. ^ "The Albany Herald - Google News Archive Search".
13. ^ "Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search".
14. ^ "Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search".
15. ^ "Looking back with Buddy MacKay, Florida's last Democratic governor - Steve Bousquet", Sun Sentinel, April 2, 2021, retrieved December 18, 2022
16. ^ Holmes, Charles (November 17, 1988). "MacKay throws in towel". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2015.

## Works cited

[edit]

* Moreland, Laurence; Steed, Robert; Baker, Tod, eds. (1991). The 1988 Presidential Election in the South: Continuity Amidst Change in Southern Party Politics. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0275931455.

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