African-American firsts in the Fla. Legislature, and Jennifer Carroll

Your faithful Naked Politics contributor dropped a word while editing our story today on Jennifer Carroll's resignation. Carroll was not the first African-American Republican member of the Florida Legislature when she was elected in 2003. She was the first female African-American Republican member.

Several African-American Republicans, of course, were elected to the Legislature during the Reconstruction Era. We've updated our story to account for the change.

But, we wondered: Was Carroll the first African-American GOP lawmaker post-Reconstruction, or Reconstruction Era?

No, it turns out.

John Plummer, a Miami African-American Republican, served one term in the Florida House from 1980-82. Interestingly, Plummer’s election appears to be a fluke. According to the Florida Handbook, Plummer avoided photographs and interviews during his campaign and there was voter confusion with another Plummer, who was a white Democrat and member of the House.

Florida shenanigans ...

Comments

[Absent Leader]

Where is Lenny Curry?

[William E. Foote]

John Plummer used his "famous name" and won the fluke election....it was the basis for the Eddie Murphy starring movie "Distinquished Gentleman", where an unkown African-American wins an election based on him sharing the same last name of a better known politician!

Otherwise go back to Reconstruction for Black Republicans!