Richard H. Robinson (born May 17, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American politician from California and a member of the Democratic Party.
A veteran of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War era, 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 NFL veteran Marlin McKeever.
He easily won reelection in 1976, 1978 and 1980 and would go on to serve as Majority Caucus Chair from 1982-84.
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.California Journal Vol. XIX, No.7 (July 1988) "Complete Primary Election Results". StateNet Publications, July 1988.
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.California Journal Vol. XIX, No.12 (December 1990) "Complete Election Returns". StateNet Publications, December 1990.
Meanwhile, Longshore won Robinson's now open assembly seat, defeating Democratic Santa Ana mayor Daniel E. Griset by more than 10 points.
Electoral history + Member, California State Assembly: 1986-1988YearOfficeDemocratVotesPctRepublicanVotesPct1974California State Assembly District 72Richard Robinson36,83056.7%Marlin McKeever23,08435.5%1976California State Assembly District 72Richard Robinson47,54957.8%Peter J. Vogel29,38035.7%1978California State Assembly District 72Richard Robinson38,84162.2%David L. Brandt23,62037.8%1980California State Assembly District 72Richard Robinson50,34865.5%Raoul Silva25,48634.5%1982California State Assembly District 72Richard Robinson35,41556.2%Dick Longshore27,62143.8%1984California State Assembly District 72Richard Robinson37,11250.2%Dick Longshore36,85649.8%1986United States House of Representatives District 38Richard Robinson50,62542.4%Bob Dornan66,03255.3%
References
External links Join California Richard H. Robinson