Florida's 16th congressional district
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| Florida's 16th congressional district
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| Cook Partisan Voting Index | R + 2 |
Florida's 16th Congressional District is a U.S. congressional district in Florida. The seat is currently vacant, but has been won in the 2006 midterm elections by Democrat Tim Mahoney. The seat became vacant after the sudden resignation of Republican Mark Foley on September 29, 2006, after it became public that he had sent inappropriate emails to teenage former Congressional pages.[1] (See Mark Foley scandal.)
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[edit] Geography
The district stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic coast. It includes parts of Charlotte, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties. When the Florida legislature redistricted in 2002 after the 2000 census, a federal court described the boundaries of the 16th and the interlocking 23rd district as an example of gerrymandering and a "raw exercise of majority legislative power."[2]
[edit] Demographics and political leanings
The district has historically leaned Republican,[3] with 55% of the district's vote going to George W. Bush in 2004.
[edit] 2006 election
The parties' nominees were Tim Mahoney (Democratic) and Mark Foley (Republican); an independent candidate, Emmie Ross, also qualified. Foley resigned and dropped out of the race on September 29, 2006, which was too late under Florida law to take his name off the ballot. Therefore, Foley's name remained on the ballot, but votes cast for him went to his replacement, state representative Joe Negron who would have been elected if Foley won the November 7, 2006 election.[4] Since Mahoney won the election, the question did not arise.[5]
[edit] Representatives
The district was created in 1983, after the 1980 Census increased Florida's apportionment from 15 to 19 seats.
| Representative | Party | Years | District home | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence J. Smith | Democratic | January 3, 1983–January 3, 1993 | ||
| Tom Lewis | Republican | January 3, 1993–January 3, 1995 | ||
| Mark Foley | Republican | January 3, 1995–September 29, 2006 | Lake Worth | Resigned |
| Tim Mahoney | Democratic | January 3, 2007– |
[edit] References
- ^ Foley Resigns From Congress Over E-Mails, Guardian Unlimited; FL-16: Foley Resigning, Daily Kos; Florida Republican Foley Resigns From U.S. House Seat, Bloomberg.com
- ^ Martinez v. Bush, 234 F.Supp.2d 1275, S.D.Fla., December 3, 2002 senate.mn
- ^ 2006 Competitive House Race Chart, The Cook Political Report
- ^ GOP Regroups After Foley's Departure, CBS News
- ^ U.S. House District 16: Mahoney fends off Negron
[edit] External links
| Florida's congressional districts |
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| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 See also: Florida's past & present Representatives, Senators, and Delegations United States congressional districts - Congressional apportionment - Redistricting - Gerrymandering - Maps |
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