Dick Longshore

Dick Longshore
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 72nd district
In office
December 1, 1986 - June 8, 1988
Preceded byRichard H. Robinson
Succeeded byCurt Pringle
Personal details
Born(1926-03-21)March 21, 1926
Arkansas City, Kansas, US
DiedJune 8, 1988(1988-06-08) (aged 62)
Sacramento, California, US
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLinda
Children4
Military service
Branch/service United States Navy
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
Vietnam War

Richard "Dick" E. Longshore (March 21, 1926, in Arkansas City, Kansas – June 8, 1988, in Sacramento, California) was an American politician from California and a member of the Republican Party.[1]

He first ran for the California State Assembly in 1982 against Democratic incumbent Richard H. Robinson, who had held the Orange County-based 72nd district since 1974. Although Longshore managed just 43.8% of the vote, he didn't give up. He ran against Robinson again in 1984 and this time, with Ronald Reagan at the top of the ticket, scored 49.8% of the vote.[2]

From 1984 to 1986 he served as a member of the State Veterans' Board.

By the time Longshore ran again in 1986, Robinson had decided to make what would turn out to be an unsuccessful run for Congress against then Rep. Bob Dornan (R-Santa Ana).[3]

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.[4]

In 1988, one day after winning the Republican primary for reelection, Longshore died from complications of pneumonia. This allowed the Orange County Republican Central Committee to name a replacement candidate, and they chose 29-year old Curt Pringle, an elected member of the committee. Pringle went on to narrowly win the seat against Democrat Christian Thierbach, a deputy district attorney from Riverside county.[5]

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