Richard H. Robinson (California politician)

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Richard H. Robinson
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 72nd district
In office
December 2, 1974 - November 30, 1986
Preceded byJohn Quimby
Succeeded byDick Longshore
Personal details
Born (1943-05-17) May 17, 1943 (age 78)
Birmingham, Alabama, US
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Becky
Children3
Military service
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Battles/warsVietnam War

Richard H. Robinson (born May 17, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War era. He is also a California politician and a member of the Democratic Party.

Robinson was director of Operation Drug Prevention of Orange County when he ran for California State Assembly in 1974. He defeated 6-term incumbent John Quimby in the Democratic primary and then went on to easily beat his Republican opponent, University of Southern California football and National Football League veteran Marlin McKeever.[1]

He easily won reelection in 1976, 1978 and 1980 and would go on to serve as Majority Caucus Chair from 1982-84.[2]

Running in a redrawn district in 1982, Robinson won reelection with 56.2% of the vote over Republican Dick Longshore who managed 43.8%. Longshore ran against Robinson again in 1984 and this time, with Ronald Reagan at the top of the ticket, scored 49.8% of the vote.[3]

This prompted Robinson to abandon reelection in 1986 and instead run for congress against Rep. Bob Dornan (R-Santa Ana), who had ousted Democratic incumbent Jerry M. Patterson two years earlier. Dornan beat Robinson by almost 13 points after a bruising, million dollar campaign.[4]

In the race for Robinson's now open assembly seat Longshore defeated the Democratic candidate, then Santa Ana mayor by just over 10 points.[5]

Electoral history[]

Member, California State Assembly: 1986-1988
Year Office Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
1974 California State Assembly
District 72 		Richard Robinson 36,830 56.7% Marlin McKeever 23,084 35.5%
1976 California State Assembly
District 72 		Richard Robinson 47,549 57.8% Peter J. Vogel 29,380 35.7%
1978 California State Assembly
District 72 		Richard Robinson 38,841 62.2% David L. Brandt 23,620 37.8%
1980 California State Assembly
District 72 		Richard Robinson 50,348 65.5% Raoul Silva 25,486 34.5%
1982 California State Assembly
District 72 		Richard Robinson 35,415 56.2% Dick Longshore 27,621 43.8%
1984 California State Assembly
District 72 		Richard Robinson 37,112 50.2% Dick Longshore 36,856 49.8%
1986 U.S. House of Representatives District 38
 Richard Robinson 50,625 42.4% Bob Dornan 66,032 55.3%

References[]

  1. ^ Vassar, Alexander C. (2011). Legislators of California (PDF). Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  2. ^ Vassar, Alexander C. (2011). Legislators of California (PDF). Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  3. ^ California Journal Vol. XIX, No.7 (July 1988) "Complete Primary Election Results". StateNet Publications, July 1988.
  4. ^ California Journal Vol. XIX, No.12 (December 1990) "Complete Election Returns". StateNet Publications, December 1990.
  5. ^ http://www.joincalifornia.com/election/1986-11-04

External links[]

Political offices
Preceded by
John Quimby 		California State Assembly, 72nd District
December 2, 1974 - November 30, 1986 		Succeeded by
Dick Longshore
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