Herman Cain, Former Republican Presidential Candidate, Dies from COVID-19

Kayla Koslosky | ChristianHeadlines.com Editor | Updated: Aug 03, 2020
Herman Cain, Former Republican Presidential Candidate, Dies from COVID-19

Herman Cain, Former Republican Presidential Candidate, Dies from COVID-19

After being hospitalized for COVID-19 only one month ago, businessman and former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has died. He was 74.

Staff detailed Cain’s battle against the coronavirus in an announcement on his website early Thursday morning.

“We knew when he was first hospitalized with COVID-19 that this was going to be a rough fight. He had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. We all prayed that the initial meds they gave him would get his breathing back to normal, but it became clear pretty quickly that he was in for a battle,” Dan Calabrese, the editor of HermanCain.com, wrote.

Just five days before his death and after several weeks of treatment, doctors had reportedly indicated “they thought he would eventually recover, although it wouldn’t be quick.”

Despite doctors’ optimism, according to the statement, Cain, “never quite seemed to get to the point where the doctors could advance him to the recovery phase.”

Cain would later succumb to the virus on Thursday morning.

“He’s entering the presence of the Savior he’s served as an associate minister at Antioch Baptist Church in Atlanta for, and preparing for his reward,” Calabrese wrote.

Citing Romans 2:6-7 which says, “God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life,” Calabrese added, “By that measure, we expect the boss is in for some kind of welcome, because all of us who knew him are well aware of how much good he did.”

Because of his age and his former diagnosis with cancer, Cain was considered a high-risk COVID-19 patient. According to Rolling Stone, Cain was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in March 2006. By 2011, after undergoing chemotherapy and having 30 percent of his colon and 70 percent of his liver removed, Cain told Good Morning America that he had a clean bill of health.

Thursday’s statement from his team backed this claim.

Cain earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Morehouse College in 1967. After his graduation, Cain took a job with the Department of the Navy before deciding to pursue a master’s degree in computer science. He received his master’s degree from Purdue University in 1971.

Following his graduation from Purdue and a brief return to the Department of the Navy, Cain took a job as a business analyst for the Coca-Cola Company. In 1977, he left Coca-Cola to join the Pillsbury Company where he would later become the Vice President. In 1982, he would leave his VP position to become a business executive for Pillsbury’s Burger King franchise and then in 1986 he would take over Pillsbury’s Godfather’s Pizza, where he served as chairman and CEO until 1996.

By the 90s, Cain, regarded as a Tea Party activist, had come to prominence in the political sphere after calling former President Bill Clinton to the carpet on healthcare reform. It wasn’t until the 2000s, however, that Cain would attempt to start a career in politics. In 2004, Cain attempted to obtain the Republican nomination for a Georgia Senate seat but failed. Cain once again threw his hat into the ring in 2011, this time with his sights set on the White House. Cain’s run for the presidency was cut short after sexual harassment and misconduct accusations caused him to suspend his campaign. Cain has adamantly denied all accusations levied against him.

Cain is survived by his wife Gloria Etchison, their children Melanie and Vincent, and several grandchildren.

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Daniel Boczarski/Stringer


Kayla Koslosky has been the Editor of ChristianHeadlines.com since 2018. She has B.A. degrees in English and History and previously wrote for and was the managing editor of the Yellow Jacket newspaper. She has also contributed to IBelieve.com and Crosswalk.com.



Herman Cain, Former Republican Presidential Candidate, Dies from COVID-19