1989 Florida's 18th congressional district special election

None February 2026 April 2018 1989 Florida's 18th congressional district special election Florida by-election no 1988 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 18 1988 August 29, 1989 1990 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida#District 18 1990 Florida's 18th congressional district x160px Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Republican Party (United States) 49,638 53.14% x160px Gerald Richman Democratic Party (United States) 43,759 46.85% U.S. Representative Claude Pepper Democratic Party (United States) Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Republican Party (United States) A special election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 18th congressional district was held on August 29, 1989. Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen defeated Democrat Gerald Richman in the runoff vote, 53.14% to 46.85%. Ros-Lehtinen replaced Claude Pepper, who died in office from stomach cancer. Changing demographics in Florida's 18th congressional district had seen the largely white district change into a 40% Cuban American district. The election campaign focused on this trend as the campaign was dominated by discussions of race after Republican National Chairman Lee Atwater declared that the district should become the "Cuban American seat". Democrat Gerald Richman ran a campaign with the slogan "This is an American seat" in response to Atwater's comments, and both Ros-Lehtinen and Richman appealed to their respective racial bases in the general. Ros-Lehtinen won a competitive campaign to flip the seat, and became the first Cuban American to serve in Congress. Background United States Congressman Claude Pepper died in office from stomach cancer on May 30, 1989, after serving in the House for over a quarter century, opening up a special election to fill his seat.https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0908.html Claude Pepper, Fiery Fighter For Elderly Rights, Dies at 88 Thomas, Reginald May 31, 1989 The New York Times March 9, 2018https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/02/us/florida-primary-won-by-a-cuban-american.html Florida Primary Won By a Cuban-American Associated Press August 2, 1989 The New York Times March 9, 2018 Pepper had previously served as a U.S. Senator from Florida as well and was seen as a lion of the U.S. Congress. Pepper's reputation and length of service had insulated him from the racial splits that existed in his district, and The New York Times noted that he had been able to bridge the gap inside of the district. The district had moved from a largely white district into a 40% Cuban American district.https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/29/us/ethnic-split-fuels-miami-campaign.html Ethnic Split Fuels Miami Campaign Schmalz, Jeffrey August 29, 1989 The New York Times March 9, 2018 Florida Governor Bob Martinez announced the special election schedule the day after Pepper's burial.Associated Press June 7, 1989 Cuban-American expected to replace Pepper https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20127307/the_palm_beach_post/ PDF The Palm Beach Post March 9, 2018 Newspapers.com Republican primary Candidates Declared Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, State Senator Carlos Perez, businessman and Republican Party activist John Stembridge, former Mayor of North MiamiBell Maya July 9, 1989 Who can fill Claude Pepper's seat? https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20127215/the_orlando_sentinel/ PDF The Orlando Sentinel March 9, 2018 Newspapers.com David M. Fleischer, insurance broker and former plumber Summary Early coverage on the Republican primary named State Senator Ileana Ros-Lehtinen as the favorite to win the Republican nomination. Jeb Bush managed Ros-Lehtinen's campaign.Adams David Simon Stephanie June 25, 2012 Jeb Bush: Party elder statesman or 2016 candidate? https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-bush-jeb/jeb-bush-party-elder-statesman-or-2016-candidate-idUSL2E8HMDT820120625 Reuters March 9, 2018 After Pepper's death, Republican National Committee chairman Lee Atwater declared that the seat should become a "Cuban American seat" and immediately caused controversy with the comment. Challengers other than Ros-Lehtinen included: Carlos Perez, a business owner who had been highlighted in Ronald Reagan's State of the Union address; David Fleischer, an insurance broker who decided to run after Atwater's comments; and John Stembridge, a furniture store owner who claimed that Pepper "was like an adopted father to me and I felt like he was personally grooming me to take his place". Ileana Ros-Lehtinen won the primary with more than 80% of the vote, winning every precinct and avoiding a runoff. "We're quite humbled and really flabbergasted," Ros-Lehtinen said at her surprise of winning the primary by such a wide margin. Republican primary results Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Republican Party (United States) 16,873 82.80 Carlos Perez Republican Party (United States) 2,251 11.05 David Fleischer Republican Party (United States) 691 3.39 John Stembridge Republican Party (United States) 563 2.76 20,578 100 Democratic primary Declared Rosario Kennedy, Miami City Commissioner Gerald Richman, Former President of the Florida Bar Jo Ann Pepper, Niece of Claude Pepper and federal probation officer Jeff Allen, Law school graduate Bernard Anscher, Retired industrialist and philanthropist Marvin Dunn, Psychologist and unsuccessful candidate for Mayor of Miami Sonny Wright Withdrew Jack Gordon, State Senator Raul Masvidal, banker and unsuccessful mayoral candidate Summary The Democratic primary was much more chaotic than the Republican one.https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/16/us/lawyer-easily-wins-nomination-to-replace-pepper-in-the-house.html Lawyer Easily Wins Nomination to Replace Pepper in the House Associated Press August 16, 1989 The New York Times March 9, 2018 After Lee Atwater announced that the district should become a "Cuban American seat", early Democratic favorite Jack Gordon dropped out after two days, stating that he refused to run a campaign that would have to be about "stopping the Cubans". Rosario Kennedy, a Miami City Commissioner, was handicapped as the initial favorite. In a first-round upset, Gerald Richman, the former President of the Florida Bar, beat Kennedy by 146 votes.Associated Press August 16, 1989 House Race Seems Divisive https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20122408/philadelphia_daily_news/ PDF Philadelphia Daily News March 9, 2018 Newspapers.com Both advanced to the runoff. The runoff campaign was dominated by controversial discussions of race. Richman repeatedly said, "This is an American seat" in reaction to Atwater's comments. Jo Ann Pepper, Marvin Dunn, and Sonny Wright, who split the African American neighborhoods in the district, all endorsed Kennedy. The Miami Herald endorsed Kennedy and called Richman's campaign "naked, deliberate, bigotry". Richman easily won the runoff over Kennedy, dominating in white and Jewish neighborhoods. The results split starkly among racial lines and after Richman's win, Kennedy refused to endorse him. Democratic primary resultsYanez, Luisa August 3, 1989 Quayle Brings Support https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20122337/south_florida_sun_sentinel/ PDF South Florida Sun-Sentinel May 9, 2018 Newspapers.com Gerald Richman Democratic Party (United States) 5,794 27.98 Rosario Kennedy Democratic Party (United States) 5,635 27.21 Jo Ann Pepper Democratic Party (United States) 5,071 24.49 Marvin Dunn Democratic Party (United States) 1,713 8.27 Sonny Wright Democratic Party (United States) 1,516 7.32 Bernard "Bernie" Anscher Democratic Party (United States) 703 3.39 John Paul Rosser Democratic Party (United States) 280 1.35 21,868 100 Democratic runoff resultsAssociated Press August 16, 1989 Cuban-born Demo Loses her bid for Pepper's seat https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20122443/arizona_daily_star/ PDF The Arizona Daily Star May 9, 2018 Newspapers.com Gerald Richman Democratic Party (United States) 14,411 60.97 Rosario Kennedy Democratic Party (United States) 9,226 39.03 23,640 100 General election thumb|right|Ileana Ros-Lehtinen speaks in 1989 after her successful election. The racial themes from both primaries continued throughout the general election.Luisa Yanez https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20127166/south_florida_sun_sentinel/ Ros-Letinen takes seat August 30, 1989 South Florida Sun Sentinel PDF March 10, 2018 Newspapers.com Richman's campaign came under continued fire for his "This is an American seat" slogan, while Ros-Lehtinen's campaign was criticized for a Spanish language brochure which emphasized Richman's Jewish religion. Richman spent more than $300,000 of his own money on his campaign. Ros-Lehtinen called Richman and his campaign bigoted and refused to appear at any debates or events with him.Luisa Yanez https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20122474/south_florida_sun_sentinel/ Election debates canceled August 18, 1989 South Florida Sun Sentinel PDF March 10, 2018 Newspapers.com A poll by The Miami Herald found that 28 out of every 29 Cuban American voters supported Ros-Lehtinen while 24 of every 25 Jewish voters supported Richman, regardless of normal political ideology and leanings. National Republicans came to support Ros-Lehtinen, including President George H. W. Bush who hosted a fundraiser for her campaign and appeared jointly with her. Ros-Lehtinen won the seat with a six-point margin, 53 to 47 percent. Voter turnout matched strongly with ethnic lines. According to exit polling, approximately 60 percent of the district's Hispanic voters turned out, while only 40 percent of the Anglos and 34 percent of the African Americans did so. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen became the first Latina and the first Cuban American to serve in Congress after this victory. After the election, the Anti-Defamation League called for a "healing process" for the communities of the district and described the election as a "dark moment".Knight Ridder Newspapers https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20189222/reconciliation_needed_roslehtinen/ Ros-Letinen takes seat August 31, 1989 Arizona Daily Star PDF May 18, 2018 Newspapers.com Both campaigns were censured by the Fair Campaigns Practices Committee, a watchdog group, for the racially tinged campaigns they ran. Special election results Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Republican Party (United States) 49,638 53.14% +53.14% Gerald Richman Democratic Party (United States) 43,759 46.85% -53.14% 93,397 100.0% 5,874 6.29% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 93,397 100 53.14% References Florida 1989 18 1989 18 Florida 18 United States House of Representatives 18 Category:United States House of Representatives special elections in Florida