Bob Rackleff
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Bob Rackleff (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Florida's 2nd Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Rackleff completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Florida District 2
Incumbent Neal Dunn defeated Bob Rackleff in the general election for U.S. House Florida District 2 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Neal Dunn (R) | 67.4 | 199,335 |
 | Bob Rackleff (D)  | 32.6 | 96,233 | |
| Total votes: 295,568 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 2
Bob Rackleff defeated Brandon Scott Peters in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Florida District 2 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bob Rackleff | 50.8 | 29,395 |
 | Brandon Scott Peters | 49.2 | 28,483 | |
| Total votes: 57,878 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 2
Incumbent Neal Dunn advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Florida District 2 on August 28, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Neal Dunn |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Mary Thomas (R)
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Bob Rackleff completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rackleff's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Affordable health care for all, beginning with Medicare at 55. Protect and improve Social Security and Medicare. Good jobs in rural counties, beginning with a serious federally-funded infrastructure program for transportation, sewer and water, high-speed internet and solar energy.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Affordable health care for all.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
The late Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine, who showed us how to be a masterful legislator. I was his speechwriter for three years in the 1970s.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Seven Pillars of Wisdom, by T. E. Lawrence, for its lessons about inspiring, creative leadership.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Remember why people elected you to office.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
My commitment to two values: Realism and Evidence.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Remember why people elected you to office.
What legacy would you like to leave?
Expanded and improved affordable health care, especially in rural communities, most of them underserved today.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I lived in Germany 1946-51, while my father served as a U.S. Army doctor. My parents took me, at age 6, to tour the Dachau concentration camp, and I left there beginning to understand the enormity of evil.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Seaman Recruit in U.S. Navy boot camp at age 17.
What happened on your most awkward date?
As a senior in college, I had a date with a woman I'd known and had a crush on since the 5th grade. Despite my high hopes, we both realized we had little in common, and I took her home early.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Veterans Day. Each year, I help keep alive the memory of a friend, Major Michael R. R. Odum, killed in Vietnam in 1969. I say his name to anyone who listens.
What is your favorite book? Why?
Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence, for its lessons on inspiring, creative leadership.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Henry V, as portrayed by Shakespeare, for his ability to inspire and lead.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
Our living room fireplace, which enables good conversation and relaxation.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Frank Sinatra, "It Was a Very Good Year."
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Sad memories of my parents' bitter divorce when I was 13. My father moved away and visited me twice in the next eight years.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Redistricting commissions independent of state legislatures.
What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?
Its constitutional role in legislation that can do immense good in our society.
Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?
It's very helpful to have a working knowledge of how government works. It also helps to have relevant life experiences, such as military service.
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
Expanding affordable, high-quality health care to everyone in America.
If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Veterans Affairs and Agriculture
Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
I would prefer four years, but the Constitution has the last say.
What are your thoughts on term limits?
Having witnessed the failure of term limits for Florida legislators, I don't favor term limits for Congress. In Florida, they just speeded up irresponsible, corrupt behavior.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
I expect to be too busy working on effective legislation to have the time to pursue leadership positions.
Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
The late Sen. Ed Muskie.
Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
A month ago, I heard a mother explain that the cost of her son's daily injections of insulin has tripled in the last two years.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
- United States House of Representatives
- Florida's 2nd Congressional District election, 2018
- Florida's 2nd Congressional District
External links
Footnotes
