Longtime Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings dies at 84

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, who had been battling pancreatic cancer since early 2019, died Tuesday morning. He was 84.

Hastings represented Florida’s 20th Congressional District, which includes majority-Black precincts around Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. A Democrat, Hastings served as a U.S. district judge until his impeachment and removal for accepting bribes.

Hastings was the longest-serving member of Florida’s congressional delegation, winning 15 congressional elections. At the time of his death, he was serving as vice chair of the powerful House Rules Committee.

Hastings was first elected to Congress in 1992. He was born in Altamonte Springs, attended Florida’s public schools and graduated from Fisk University in 1958. He earned his law degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

Appointed by then-President Jimmy Carter in 1979, Hastings became the first Black federal judge in Florida and served in that position until Oct. 20, 1989, when he was convicted in a U.S. Senate impeachment trial for bribery and perjury. He was only the sixth federal judge ever to be removed from office by the Senate which, at that time, was also controlled by Democrats.

Hastings attempted to make a political comeback by running for secretary of state in Florida in 1990, in which he lost to former Atlanta Journal-Constitution managing editor Jim Minter.

Hastings was known as an advocate for minorities, a defender of Israel and a voice for gays, immigrants, women and the elderly. He held senior posts on the House Rules Committee and the Helsinki Commission, which works with other countries on a variety of multinational issues.

“Congressman Hastings leaves behind a powerful legacy of activism and action on behalf of Floridians and all Americans. His leadership and friendship will be missed by his many friends in Congress,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

But his impeachment remained a nagging footnote. It was repeatedly invoked in news accounts and seen as derailing his ambitions for a greater leadership role.

“That seems to be the only thing of significance to people who write,” Hastings told The Associated Press in 2013, predicting that the impeachment would be in the lead paragraph of his obituary.

Despite his seniority, Hastings was passed over for chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee when the Democrats took control of Congress in 2006. But as he did time and again throughout his life, he insisted his fight wasn’t over and that he wouldn’t be discouraged.

“Sorry, haters,” he said when not chosen for the intelligence posting, “God is not finished with me yet.”

Under Florida law, Gov. Ron DeSantis will call a special election in the coming months to fill the vacancy. Hastings’ district is overwhelmingly Democratic — he received 80% of the vote in November.

Hastings’ death, meanwhile, lowers the Democrats’ majority to a scant 218-211 in the House. Their narrow margin is forcing the party to muster nearly unanimous votes to push legislation through the chamber, and is bolstering Republican hopes for capturing House control in the 2022 elections.

There are six vacancies – four from seats that were held by Democrats, two by Republicans.

The seat won by Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, R-La., who died from COVID-19 before being sworn into office, will go to his widow, Julia Letlow, who won a special election. The rest are expected to be retained by the same parties that had held them.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.