Share on Facebook
United States Senate election in Florida, 1988
Florida
1982 ←
 November 8, 1988
 → 1994
  Conniemackiii.jpg 49 Mackay.jpg
Nominee Connie Mack III Buddy MacKay
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 2,051,071 2,016,553
Percentage 50.4% 49.6%
U.S. Senator before election

Lawton Chiles
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Connie Mack III
Republican
Elections in Florida
Seal of Florida.svg

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.[1]

Contents

Democratic primary [edit]

Candidates [edit]

Results [edit]

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
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%
Totals 1,009,675 100%
Democratic primary runoff results[3]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Democratic Buddy MacKay 369,266 52.00%
Democratic Bill Gunter 340,918 48.00%
Totals 710,184 100%

Republican primary [edit]

Candidates [edit]

  • Connie Mack III, U.S. Congressman
  • Robert Merkle, former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida

Results [edit]

Republican primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Republican Connie Mack 405,296 61.78%
Republican Robert Merkle 250,730 38.22%
Totals 656,026 100%

General election [edit]

Candidates [edit]

Campaign [edit]

This senate election was heavily targeted by both parties. U.S. Representative Mack announced his candidacy back in October 1987.[5] President Ronald Reagan endorsed Mack in June 1988[6] to allow Mack to focus on the general election, as he easily won the September 7th Republican primary against U.S. Attorney Robert Merkle.[7] In May 1988, MacKay announced he would run for the open seat,[8] and defeated Insurance Commissioner Bill Gunter in a close October 5 runoff primary election.[9]

The general election became very nasty. MacKay tried to portray the Republican as "extremist."[10] Mack attacked his opponent in television ads by connecting him to unpopular Massachusetts Governor and presidential candidate Michael Dukakis.[11] Mack had help from Vice Presidential candidate Dan Quayle.[12] The election was so close there was a recount until MacKay conceded eight days after election day.[13]

Results [edit]

General election results[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Connie Mack III 2,051,071 50.42% +12.15%
Democratic Buddy MacKay 2,016,553 49.57% -12.15%
Write-ins 585 0.01%
Majority 34,518 0.85% -22.61%
Turnout 4,068,209

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1988election.pdf
  2. ^ https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=9/6/1988&DATAMODE=
  3. ^ https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=10/4/1988&DATAMODE=
  4. ^ https://doe.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/Index.asp?ElectionDate=9/6/1988&DATAMODE=
  5. ^ http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3683AE885FC33&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
  6. ^ http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/88805454.html?dids=88805454:88805454&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+30%2C+1988&author=JOHN+KENNEDY%2C+Politics+Writer&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=REAGAN+ENDORSES+MACK+IN+MIAMI+PRESIDENT+REBUKES+DUKAKIS+AT+FUND-+RAISER&pqatl=google
  7. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/07/us/mack-easily-wins-in-florida-primary.html
  8. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wgsqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=INMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2170,6877521&dq=buddy+mackay&hl=en
  9. ^ http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73628471.html?dids=73628471:73628471&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+08%2C+1988&author=Maralee+Schwartz%3B+Paul+Taylor&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Gunter%2C+MacKay+in+Runoff&pqatl=google
  10. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YxFSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SzUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1912,782035&dq=connie+mack&hl=en
  11. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=heobAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MHoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6903,6329862&dq=buddy+mackay&hl=en
  12. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z8FPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0AYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2576,6586753&dq=connie+mack&hl=en
  13. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AggjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z80FAAAAIBAJ&pg=2166,1269360&dq=connie+mack&hl=en
  14. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1988election.pdf
President
U.S.
Senate
U.S.
House
State
governors
Wikipedia content is licensed under the GNU Free Document License or Creative Commons CC-BY-SA
Explore Books about United States Senate election in Florida, 1988
Loading...
Loading...
List of Best Seller Books (updated daily)
List of Best Seller Magazines
Top Videos
Pat Frank, Clerk of the Court part 2
Pat Frank, Clerk of the Court part 2
DATE: 2010/10/24
LENGTH: 10 min.
Times video: Sen. George LeMieux meets the press
Times video: Sen. George LeMieux meets the press
DATE: 2009/09/09
LENGTH: 1 min.
HURRICAN PUAL ITICS: RNC convention DELAYED, Ron Paul RALLY despite HURRICAN WARNING! OCCUPY TAMPA
HURRICAN PUAL ITICS: RNC convention DELAYED, Ron Paul RALLY despite HURRICAN WARNING! OCCUPY TAMPA
DATE: 2012/09/14
LENGTH: 2 min.
Ft. Lauderdale Lawyers Tripp Scott (South Florida) Jim Scott Bio
Ft. Lauderdale Lawyers Tripp Scott (South Florida) Jim Scott Bio
DATE: 2010/10/31
LENGTH: 2 min.
Pat Frank, Clerk of the Court
Pat Frank, Clerk of the Court
DATE: 2010/10/21
LENGTH: 9 min.
CNN Election 1988 Senate Races - Part III - The South
CNN Election 1988 Senate Races - Part III - The South
DATE: 2008/11/08
LENGTH: 4 min.
ROCKSTAR RON PAUL: Hurricane ISAAC has no effect on PAULIST LOYAL DISCIPLES [Third Time Lucky?]
ROCKSTAR RON PAUL: Hurricane ISAAC has no effect on PAULIST LOYAL DISCIPLES [Third Time Lucky?]
DATE: 2012/09/14
LENGTH: 2 min.
MISSOURI ELECTIONS - Ruckus
MISSOURI ELECTIONS - Ruckus
DATE: 2012/08/10
LENGTH: 6 min.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE - The News Hour with Jim Lehrer (PBS)
ELECTORAL COLLEGE - The News Hour with Jim Lehrer (PBS)
DATE: 2012/03/16
LENGTH: 4 min.
September 11, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy Presenting Congressional Gold Medal to Bob Hope
September 11, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy Presenting Congressional Gold Medal to Bob Hope
DATE: 2009/09/10
LENGTH: 1 min.
Mitch McConnell 1988 The Democrats Are Always Crying Because They Can
Mitch McConnell 1988 The Democrats Are Always Crying Because They Can't Make The Deficit An Issue
DATE: 2013/03/14
LENGTH: 0 min.
1996 US Election Coverage CNN Part 4
1996 US Election Coverage CNN Part 4
DATE: 2012/01/15
LENGTH: 14 min.
Ron Paul Liberty Iowa Primary Caucus Uncle Sam
Ron Paul Liberty Iowa Primary Caucus Uncle Sam
DATE: 2007/12/24
LENGTH: 0 min.
Two Wheel Thunder TV talks with the Million Mile Man Dave Zien.MOV
Two Wheel Thunder TV talks with the Million Mile Man Dave Zien.MOV
DATE: 2012/03/04
LENGTH: 3 min.
Ron Paul Tea Party Maryland v Boston College Football
Ron Paul Tea Party Maryland v Boston College Football
DATE: 2007/11/18
LENGTH: 3 min.
Ron Paul Liberty New Hampshire Primary Uncle Sam
Ron Paul Liberty New Hampshire Primary Uncle Sam
DATE: 2007/12/24
LENGTH: 0 min.
CIA Assassinations, Conspiracies and Cover-ups: How the Elite Control Politics
CIA Assassinations, Conspiracies and Cover-ups: How the Elite Control Politics
DATE: 2012/06/05
LENGTH: 11 min.
Election Night 2004
Election Night 2004
DATE: 2007/10/23
LENGTH: 6 min.
Ron Paul Podcast Nation Shows 3-15-2013
Ron Paul Podcast Nation Shows 3-15-2013
DATE: 2013/03/24
LENGTH: 11 min.
Republicans at the Venetian for elections watch party
Republicans at the Venetian for elections watch party
DATE: 2012/11/07
LENGTH: 1 min.
Ann Richards Election Night 2000
Ann Richards Election Night 2000
DATE: 2007/04/14
LENGTH: 2 min.
CNN Election 88 Music Montage
CNN Election 88 Music Montage
DATE: 2008/10/19
LENGTH: 1 min.
Justice Dept Orders Florida To Stop Voter Purge Targeting Latino, Democratic Voters. 2 of 2
Justice Dept Orders Florida To Stop Voter Purge Targeting Latino, Democratic Voters. 2 of 2
DATE: 2012/06/01
LENGTH: 3 min.
Ron Paul On War Propaganda
Ron Paul On War Propaganda
DATE: 2012/03/16
LENGTH: 3 min.
Latest Videos
ROCKSTAR RON PAUL: Hurricane ISAAC has no effect on PAULIST LOYAL DISCIPLES [Third Time Lucky?]
ROCKSTAR RON PAUL: Hurricane ISAAC has no effect on PAULIST LOYAL DISCIPLES [Third Time Lucky?]
DATE: 2012/09/14
LENGTH: 2 min.
HURRICAN PUAL ITICS: RNC convention DELAYED, Ron Paul RALLY despite HURRICAN WARNING! OCCUPY TAMPA
HURRICAN PUAL ITICS: RNC convention DELAYED, Ron Paul RALLY despite HURRICAN WARNING! OCCUPY TAMPA
DATE: 2012/09/14
LENGTH: 2 min.
ROCKSTAR RON PAUL: Hurricane ISAAC has no effect on PAULIST LOYAL DISCIPLES [Third Time Lucky?]
ROCKSTAR RON PAUL: Hurricane ISAAC has no effect on PAULIST LOYAL DISCIPLES [Third Time Lucky?]
DATE: 2012/08/28
LENGTH: 2 min.
HURRICAN PUAL-ITICS: RNC convention DELAYED, Ron Paul RALLY despite HURRICAN WARNING! [OCCUPY TAMPA]
HURRICAN PUAL-ITICS: RNC convention DELAYED, Ron Paul RALLY despite HURRICAN WARNING! [OCCUPY TAMPA]
DATE: 2012/08/28
LENGTH: 2 min.
MISSOURI ELECTIONS - Ruckus
MISSOURI ELECTIONS - Ruckus
DATE: 2012/08/10
LENGTH: 6 min.
Two Wheel Thunder TV talks with the Million Mile Man Dave Zien.MOV
Two Wheel Thunder TV talks with the Million Mile Man Dave Zien.MOV
DATE: 2012/03/04
LENGTH: 3 min.
1996 US Election Coverage CNN Part 4
1996 US Election Coverage CNN Part 4
DATE: 2012/01/15
LENGTH: 14 min.
Ft. Lauderdale Lawyers Tripp Scott (South Florida) Jim Scott Bio
Ft. Lauderdale Lawyers Tripp Scott (South Florida) Jim Scott Bio
DATE: 2010/10/31
LENGTH: 2 min.
Pat Frank, Clerk of the Court part 2
Pat Frank, Clerk of the Court part 2
DATE: 2010/10/24
LENGTH: 10 min.
JIM SCOTT Biography [Tripp Scott Attorneys - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida]
JIM SCOTT Biography [Tripp Scott Attorneys - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida]
DATE: 2010/10/22
LENGTH: 2 min.
Pat Frank, Clerk of the Court
Pat Frank, Clerk of the Court
DATE: 2010/10/21
LENGTH: 9 min.
September 11, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy Presenting Congressional Gold Medal to Bob Hope
September 11, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy Presenting Congressional Gold Medal to Bob Hope
DATE: 2009/09/10
LENGTH: 1 min.
Times video: Sen. George LeMieux meets the press
Times video: Sen. George LeMieux meets the press
DATE: 2009/09/09
LENGTH: 1 min.
CNN Election 1988 Senate Races - Part III - The South
CNN Election 1988 Senate Races - Part III - The South
DATE: 2008/11/08
LENGTH: 4 min.
Ron Paul Liberty Iowa Primary Caucus Uncle Sam
Ron Paul Liberty Iowa Primary Caucus Uncle Sam
DATE: 2007/12/24
LENGTH: 0 min.
Ron Paul Liberty New Hampshire Primary Uncle Sam
Ron Paul Liberty New Hampshire Primary Uncle Sam
DATE: 2007/12/24
LENGTH: 0 min.
Ron Paul Tea Party Maryland v Boston College Football
Ron Paul Tea Party Maryland v Boston College Football
DATE: 2007/11/18
LENGTH: 3 min.
Images Source: Flickr. Images licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA

Here you can share your comments or contribute with more information, content, resources or links about this topic.