Earl Hutto
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2020) |
Earl Hutto | |
---|---|
8th district | |
In office November 7, 1972 – November 2, 1978 | |
Preceded by | Billy Joe Rish |
Succeeded by | Ron Johnson |
Personal details | |
Born | Earl Dewitt Hutto May 12, 1926 Midland City, Alabama, U.S. |
Died | December 14, 2020 Pensacola, Florida, U.S. | (aged 94)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Nancy Myers (m. 1967) |
Earl Dewitt Hutto (May 12, 1926 – December 14, 2020) was an American politician who served as U.S. Representative from Florida's 1st congressional district.
Early life
Born in
Political career
Hutto was elected as a
Hutto was one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress. This was not surprising given the nature of his district. It moved away from its "Solid South" roots somewhat sooner than the rest of Florida; its white voters had begun splitting their tickets as early as the 1950s. However, Hutto usually skated to reelection for most of his tenure, with Republicans usually fielding nominal challengers the few times they fielded candidates at all.
From 1978 to 1988, Hutto never dropped below 61 percent of the vote, easily winning reelection even in years when Republican presidential candidates carried the 1st in landslides. In 1984, for instance, he was completely unopposed for reelection even as Ronald Reagan carried the district with over 70 percent of the vote. In 1988, as George H. W. Bush carried the 1st by a similar margin to the one Reagan scored four years earlier, Hutto was reelected with 66 percent of the vote. Despite his popularity in the district, it was widely believed that he would be succeeded by a Republican once he retired, given its growing Republican trend at the national level.[citation needed]
He voted against the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act in 1986.[4]
In 1990, Republican challenger Terry Ketchel held Hutto to 52 percent of the vote in the district's first competitive contest in recent memory. Hutto defeated Ketchel in a rematch in 1992, but was once again held to only 52 percent of the vote. He opted not to run for reelection in 1994, and was succeeded by Republican Joe Scarborough. Proving just how Republican this district was, no Democrat has garnered more than 40% of the vote since Hutto left office.[citation needed]
Hutto joined the bipartisan ReFormers Caucus in 2017.[5]
Death
Hutto died in December 2020 at the age of 94.[6]
References
- ^ Panama City News-Herald from Panama City, Florida on July 23, 1967 · Page 13
- ^ Connerley, Julie B. "Legendary former Congressman Earl Hutto died Monday at age 94". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Alumnus Hutto remembered for his legacy of support for Troy University". Troy Today. 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ TO OVERRIDE THE PRESIDENT'S VETO OF HR 4868, A BILL TO PROHIBIT LOANS TO, OTHER INVESTMENTS IN, AND CERTAIN OTHER ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO, SOUTH AFRICA (MOTION PASSED; TWO-...
- ^ "Rep. Earl Hutto (D-FL) Joins the ReFormers Caucus". Issue One. 2017. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
- ^ "Former congressman and sportscaster Earl Hutto dies at 94". WMBB-TV. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
External links
- United States Congress. "Earl Hutto (id: H001018)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Appearances on C-SPAN