Richard H. Robinson (California politician)

Richard H. Robinson (born May 17, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American Marine veteran of the Vietnam War. 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, USC football and NFL 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 Daniel E. Griset 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