Buddy MacKay

Buddy MacKay
Official portrait, 1991
United States Special Envoy for the Americas
In office March 5, 1999 – January 20, 2001
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Mack McLarty
Succeeded by	Otto Reich
42nd Governor of Florida
In office December 12, 1998 – January 5, 1999
Lieutenant	Vacant
Preceded by	Lawton Chiles
Succeeded by	Jeb Bush
14th Lieutenant Governor of Florida
In office January 8, 1991 – December 12, 1998
Governor	Lawton Chiles
Preceded by	Bobby Brantley
Succeeded by	Frank Brogan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 6th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Bill Young
Succeeded by	Cliff Stearns
Member of the Florida Senate from the 6th district
In office November 5, 1974 – November 4, 1980
Preceded by	Jim Williams
Succeeded by	George G. Kirkpatrick Jr.
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
In office November 5, 1968 – November 5, 1974
Preceded by	Bill Chappell
Succeeded by	Wayne C. McCall
Constituency	30th district (1968–1972) 32nd district (1972–1974)
Personal details
Born	Kenneth Hood MacKay Jr. (1933-03-22) March 22, 1933 (age 91) Ocala, Florida, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Anne Selph ​ (m. 1960)​
Children	4
Education	University of Florida (BS, BA, LLB)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1955–1958
Rank	Captain

Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay Jr. (born March 22, 1933) is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 42nd governor of Florida from December 12, 1998, to January 5, 1999, upon the death of Lawton Chiles. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 14th lieutenant governor of Florida from 1991 to 1998. During his career, he also served as a state legislator and as a United States representative and special envoy. Following the death of Bob Graham in 2024, MacKay is the only living former Democratic governor of Florida.