26th district (1966–1967) 28th district (1967–1970)
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from Polk County, Group 1
In office November 4, 1958 – November 8, 1966
Preceded by
Roy Surles
Succeeded by
John R. Clark
Personal details
Born
Lawton Mainor Chiles Jr.
(1930-04-03)April 3, 1930 Lakeland, Florida, U.S.
Died
December 12, 1998(1998-12-12) (aged 68) Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
Resting place
"Jubilee," Chiles family estate Tallahassee, Florida
Political party
Democratic
Spouse
Rhea May Grafton
(m. 1951)
Children
4
Relatives
Kay Hagan (niece)
Alma mater
University of Florida (BA, JD)
Military service
Allegiance
United States
Branch/service
United States Army
Years of service
1952–1954
Rank
First lieutenant
Battles/wars
Korean War
Lawton Mainor Chiles Jr. (April 3, 1930 – December 12, 1998) was an American politician and military officer. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States senator from Florida from 1971 to 1989 and as the 41st governor of Florida from 1991 until his death in 1998.
A Korean War veteran, Chiles later returned to Florida for law school and eventually opened his own private practice in 1955. Three years later, Chiles entered politics with a successful bid for the Florida House of Representatives in 1958.
By 1966, Chiles left the Florida House to run for the Florida Senate. Despite 12 years in the Florida Legislature, Chiles was relatively unknown when he decided to bid for United States Senate in 1970. He embarked on a 1,003-mile walk from Pensacola to Key West for his campaign, earning him the nickname "Walkin' Lawton". It was successful and Chiles defeated his opponent William C. Cramer by a 53.9%–46.1% margin. Chiles was re-elected with relative ease in 1976 and 1982. He retired from the United States Senate in 1989.
Not long after his retirement, supporters convinced him to run for governor of Florida in 1990 against the unpopular incumbent Bob Martinez, and Chiles defeated Martinez by a 13-point margin (56.5% to 43.5%). During his first term as Governor, Chiles reformed health care and oversaw recovery efforts from Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Chiles faced a tough re-election bid in 1994 against Jeb Bush, a businessman and son of former President George H. W. Bush. Chiles prevailed over Bush by fewer than 64,000 votes. During his second term, Chiles reformed education in Florida. On December 12, 1998, he suffered a heart arrhythmia and died at the Florida Governor's Mansion, leaving Lieutenant Governor Buddy MacKay to serve the remaining 24 days of Chiles' unexpired term. Jeb Bush succeeded MacKay. As of to date, Chiles's reelection in 1994 is the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of Florida, with MacKay being the most recent Democratic governor.
the nickname "Walkin' Lawton". It was successful and Chiles defeated his opponent William C. Cramer by a 53.9%–46.1% margin. Chiles was re-elected with...
LawtonChiles High School is a public high school located on US 319 in unincorporated Leon County, Florida, United States, north of Tallahassee. It is...
Florida from December 12, 1998, to January 5, 1999, upon the death of LawtonChiles. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 14th...
Democratic governor LawtonChiles won re-election over Republican Jeb Bush, who later won Florida’s governorship in 1998 when Chiles was term-limited. This...
Florida from 1991 to 1998 during the tenure of her husband, Governor LawtonChiles. In 2009, she was designated a Distinguished Floridian by the Florida...
opponent, when former U.S. Senator LawtonChiles announced his campaign on April 12. The popular 60-year-old Chiles, who retired in 1989 after serious...
Democratic primary, former Governor C. Farris Bryant and State Senator LawtonChiles advanced to a run-off, having received more votes than Speaker of the...
November 2, 1982. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator LawtonChiles won re-election to a third term. LawtonChiles, incumbent U.S. Senator David H. Bludworth, Palm...
Governor for the State of Florida. Two-term Democratic incumbent Governor LawtonChiles was term-limited and could not run for re-election. John Ellis "Jeb"...
Levin College of Law's students, faculty, and guests are served by LawtonChiles Legal Information Center. The Florida Museum of Natural History, established...
penalty. LawtonChiles won't." The ad caused a storm of controversy. Florida prosecutors and former Supreme Court justices toured the state with Chiles saying...
(Independent) LawtonChiles, incumbent U.S. Senator (Democratic) John Grady, Mayor of Belle Glade (Republican) Ed Ice (Independent) Chiles won in a landslide...
was also married to Rhea Gay Chiles, daughter of late U.S. Senator and Florida Governor LawtonChiles and Rhea Grafton Chiles. Interspersed with performing...
was renovated and renamed as the LawtonChiles Legal Information Center in honor of the late LawtonChiles. Chiles was an alumnus of the University of...
LawtonChiles Preparatory School (LCPS) is a non-traditional private school in Longwood, Florida. LCPS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in...
attacking Martinez. He lost his reelection campaign to U.S. Senator LawtonChiles in 1990. After his time as governor, Martinez was appointed Director...
Florida was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator LawtonChiles decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Connie...
conditions persisting and alarm over the fires growing, on June 7, Governor LawtonChiles declared a state of emergency. By mid-June, fires burning near I-95...
in 1986 won with 75% of the vote. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator LawtonChiles decided to retire. After three terms in the U.S. House, Mack decided...
primary rival was former U.S. senator LawtonChiles. During the campaign, the younger Nelson tried to highlight Chiles' age and use of Prozac to treat his...
United States Senator (Class 3) from Florida 1987–2005 Served alongside: LawtonChiles, Connie Mack, Bill Nelson Succeeded by Mel Martinez Preceded by Richard...
Democratic primary, former Governor C. Farris Bryant and State senator LawtonChiles advanced to a run-off, having received more votes than Speaker of the...
Global Information
United States
United States Army