1988 United States Senate election in Florida

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.

1988 United States Senate election in Florida

← 1982 November 8, 1988 1994 →

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

Chiles would later run successfully for Governor of Florida in 1990 and 1994.

Democratic primary

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

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.

Candidates

• 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

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	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

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Buddy MacKay	369,266	52.00
	Democratic	Bill Gunter	340,918	48.00
Total votes			710,184	100

Republican primary

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.

Candidates

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

Speculated

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

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Connie Mack	405,296	61.78
	Republican	Robert Merkle	250,730	38.22
Total votes			656,026	100

General election

Candidates

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

Campaign

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

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

Endorsements

List of Buddy MacKay endorsements

Statewide officials

• Bill Gunter, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Fire Marshal of Florida (1976–1989)

Results

General election results

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-in		585	0.01%
Majority			34,518	0.85%	−22.61%
Turnout			4,068,209
	Republican gain from Democratic

See also

• 1988 United States Senate elections

Works cited

• 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.