- Paula Hawkins
Infobox Senator | name=Paula Fickes Hawkins
nationality=American
jr/sr=United States Senator
state=Florida
party=Republican
term_start=January 1 ,1981
term_end=January 3 ,1987
preceded=Richard Stone
succeeded=Bob Graham
date of birth= birth date and age|1927|01|24
place of birth=Salt Lake City, Utah
dead=alive
date of death=
place of death=
spouse= Gene Hawkins
religion=Mormon Paula Hawkins (born
January 24 ,1927 ) is an American politician fromFlorida . She is to date the only woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Florida.Hawkins began her electoral career by campaigning as a consumer advocate. She became the first woman elected to statewide office in Florida by winning a seat on the Public Services Commission in 1972. Hawkins was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1974, which was won by
Jack Eckerd . She was reelected in 1976. In 1978 she was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor on the ticket headed by Jack Eckerd. They lost to State Sen. Bob Graham and State Rep.Wayne Mixson . In 1980 she was elected to theUnited States Senate representingFlorida , becoming Florida's first woman elected to federal office.She was the first woman to bring her husband to Washington, D.C. with her. As a result of that the Senate wives club became known as the Senate spouses club. She took office two days early because of the resignation of
Richard B. Stone . In 1986, she lost her re-election bid to then Gov.Bob Graham .Hawkins is a member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the 'Mormon ' Church).She currently lives in
Winter Park, Florida .Electoral history
*"'1978 Race for Governor/Lt.Governor
**Bob Graham/Wayne Mixson (D)
**Jack Eckerd/Paula Hawkins (R)*1980 Race for U.S. Senate
**Paula Hawkins (R), 52%
**Bill Gunter (D), 48%*1986 Race for U.S. Senate
**Bob Graham (D), 55%
**Paula Hawkins (R) (inc.), 45%External links
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