Summary

Sonny Bono died in a tragic skiing accident and now his widow, Mary Bono (R), 36, has won a special runoff election for his vacant House seat Tuesday, beating out Democrat Ralph Waite, age 68, with 65-percent of the vote. The race drew national attention due to Bono's celebrity and as both Republicans and Democrats are looking to build momentum leading into November's congressional elections. Four other candidates trailed the victor. Ralph Waite, an actor by trade, gained public attention for playing "Pa" on "The Waltons" in the 1970s. Waite was a non-factor in the race as he was starring in a production of "Death of a Salesman" in New Jersey during much of the campaign for Bono's House seat. This election was held to fill out the remain der of Sony Bono's current term, which expires at the end of the year. A primary election will be held in June of '98 for the House term that begins in January of 1999.

Source CONUS Archive
Record ID 136798
Story Slug MARY BONO VICTORY SPEECH (04/08/1998)
Location PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
Format Raw*
Date 4/8/1998
Archive Time 2:35
TRT 8:30
Supers Palm Springs, California Mary Bono, Victorious Republican Candidate for House
Video Description Mary Bono making her way through crowd and press to podium, kissing woman, waving to crowd, Bono waiting for her kids, cameras and crowd waiting for kids to come in from outside, Bono's kids coming to podium, Bono at podium with kids, Bono's victory speech, Chastity Bono, Bono introducing those who helped her.
Description Sonny Bono died in a tragic skiing accident and now his widow, Mary Bono (R), 36, has won a special runoff election for his vacant House seat Tuesday, beating out Democrat Ralph Waite, age 68, with 65-percent of the vote. The race drew national attention due to Bono's celebrity and as both Republicans and Democrats are looking to build momentum leading into November's congressional elections. Four other candidates trailed the victor. Ralph Waite, an actor by trade, gained public attention for playing "Pa" on "The Waltons" in the 1970s. Waite was a non-factor in the race as he was starring in a production of "Death of a Salesman" in New Jersey during much of the campaign for Bono's House seat. This election was held to fill out the remain der of Sony Bono's current term, which expires at the end of the year. A primary election will be held in June of '98 for the House term that begins in January of 1999.
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