Congressman Alcee Hastings has passed away at the age of 84 after battling pancreatic cancer.
A democrat, Hastings represented Florida’s 20th Congressional District, including areas around Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. He announced in 2019 that he had pancreatic cancer but said he planned on remaining in Congress. The dean of the Florida congressional delegation, Hastings was the longest-serving member from the Sunshine State.
A civil rights activist, Hastings became the first African American federal judge in Florida in 1979, but was impeached and convicted by the Senate in 1989. After running for Congress in 1992, he won a seat, becoming the first African-American from Florida to be elected to the House since the post-Civil War period.
Fellow Florida Democrat, Rep. Val Demings, posted on her twitter, “[Hastings] changed the face of politics in FL and brought passion & unwavering dedication to the fight for justice. We are forever grateful for a life well lived.”
Hastings’ death means that Rep.-elect Julia Letlow will be sworn in and will serve the remainder of his term. His death also means that Republicans will now hold 212 seats as compared to the 218 seats held by Democrats.
