'True Southern gentleman': Florida’s last Dem governor remembered as 'true statesman'

Former Florida Gov. Buddy MacKay, whose brief stint in office lasted just 23 days after the sudden passing of Gov. Lawton Chiles, died on New Year’s Eve. He was 91.

MacKay’s family confirmed the death of the longtime public servant to The Associated Press on Thursday. MacKay, whose political career spanned decades and included roles as a state legislator, congressman and diplomat, took a nap at his Florida home on Tuesday and didn't wake up, the publication said.

Tributes honoring MacKay – who lost the 1998 gubernatorial election to Jeb Bush by almost 10 percentage points and holds the distinction of being Florida’s last Democratic governor – streamed in Thursday from both sides of the aisle.

“We mourn the passing of Buddy MacKay, who served as the 42nd Governor of Florida,” Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis posted on his X account. “A U.S. Air Force veteran and lifelong public servant, MacKay was dedicated to our country and our state. May he rest in peace.”

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL) called MacKay “a true statesman and a dedicated public servant who always put the people of Florida first.”

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“Working alongside him was an honor — his wisdom, integrity, and compassion were unmatched,” she told her X followers.

“He was a kind, smart, caring man — an Air Force veteran, U.S. Congressman and former Governor of Florida,” U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal, a Trump appointee, wrote of MacKay on X.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) issued a statement on social media praising MacKay as “a true Southern gentleman and the personification of goodness” who enriched “millions of people” by his service.

“I was proud to know him, to serve the people of Florida during his tenure and to work closely with him, as the Chiles-MacKay administration prioritized helping children and seniors," Wasserman Schultz said.

Bluesky user Kartik Krishnaiyer remembered MacKay for giving him his “first formal campaign role in a statewide campaign" in 1998.

“A truly great man and a figure who always put Florida and Floridians first,” he wrote.