Edward Zorinsky

Infobox Senator | name=Edward Zorinsky
nationality=American


jr/sr=United States Senator
state=Nebraska
party=Republican (c. 1946-1976)
Democratic (1976-1987)
term_start=December 28, 1976
term_end=March 6, 1987
preceded=Roman Hruska
succeeded=David Karnes
date of birth=birth date|1928|11|11|mf=y
place of birth= Omaha, Nebraska
dead=
date of death=death date and age |1987|03|06|1928|11|11
place of death=Omaha, Nebraska
spouse=
religion=Jewish

Edward Zorinsky (November 11, 1928 - March 6, 1987) was a Democratic member of the United States Senate (from 1976 until his death in 1987) from Nebraska.

Early life

A lifelong resident of Omaha, Zorinsky attended several universities, including the University of Minnesota, Creighton University, and the University of Nebraska. He was in the wholesale tobacco and candy business from 1950 to 1973 before being elected Mayor of Omaha in 1973.

Political career

Zorinsky had been a Republican for most of his life, but joined the Democratic Party in 1976 to pursue the open United States Senate seat being vacated by Roman Lee Hruska. Zorinsky felt he was snubbed by the Republicans, who nominated U.S. Representative John Y. McCollister, also from Omaha. In a mild surprise, he subsequently won the election by a 53% to 47% margin. He was the first Senator from Nebraska to caucus with the Democrats since George W. Norris left the Senate in 1943, as well as the first Democrat elected from the state since Edward R. Burke in 1935.

As a Senator, Zorinsky was a moderate to conservative Democrat, voting with Republicans on some significant issues. He was courted by the Republicans to rejoin their party in 1982. He hinted that he might indeed change parties in 1986, but ultimately never made the switch.

Zorinsky died after suffering a heart attack at the 1987 Omaha Press Club ball.

External links

* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=Z000013 ZORINSKY, Edward, (1928 - 1987)] , "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress"
* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/guidedisplay.pl?index=Z000013 Guide to Research Collections] , "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress"

See also