1980 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

1980 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

←  1975 (special) November 4, 1980 1986  →

Nominee Warren Rudman John Durkin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 195,563 179,455 Percentage 52.15% 47.85%

County results Municipality results Rudman:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Durkin:     50–60%     60–70%     80–90% Tie:     50%

U.S. senator before election John Durkin Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Warren Rudman Republican

The 1980 United States Senate election in New Hampshire took place on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic Senator John A. Durkin, who won a contentious do-over election in 1975 following an extremely close election in 1974, ran for re-election to a second term. Former New Hampshire Attorney General Warren Rudman won a crowded Republican primary and faced Durkin in the general election. While Republican presidential nominee Ronald Reagan won the state by a wide margin in the presidential election, Rudman unseated Durkin by a slim margin, winning 52 percent of the vote to Durkin's 48 percent. After Durkin's loss, no Democrat would be elected to the Senate from the state until 2008.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• John A. Durkin, incumbent U.S. Senator
• William F. Sullivan, disabled veteran ^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John A. Durkin (inc.)	37,059	78.79%
	Democratic	William F. Sullivan	9,486	20.17%
	Democratic	Write-ins	489	1.04%
Total votes			47,034	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Warren Rudman, former New Hampshire Attorney General ^[3]
• John Sununu, former State Representative, Tufts University professor ^[3]
• Wesley Powell, former Governor of New Hampshire ^[3]
• Edward B. Hager, physician ^[4]
• Lawrence J. Brady, former Deputy Director of the Office of Export Enforcement ^[4]
• David H. Bradley, former State Senator ^[3]
• Anthony Campaigne, businessman ^[3]
• George B. Roberts, Jr., Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives ^[3]
• Robert Marvel, retired United States Navy commander ^[4]
• E. J. Smith, encyclopedia salesman ^[3]
• Carmen Chimento, 1974 and 1975 American Independent Party nominee for the U.S. Senate

Results

Republican primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren Rudman	20,206	20.27%
	Republican	John Sununu	16,885	16.94%
	Republican	Wesley Powell	14,861	14.91%
	Republican	Edward B. Hager	9,821	9.85%
	Republican	Lawrence J. Brady	9,426	9.46%
	Republican	David H. Bradley	9,361	9.39%
	Republican	Anthony Campaigne	8,495	8.52%
	Republican	George B. Roberts, Jr.	7,397	7.42%
	Republican	Robert Marvel	1,475	1.48%
	Republican	E. J. Smith	1,166	1.17%
	Republican	Carmen C. Chimento	502	0.50%
	Republican	Write-ins	78	0.08%
Total votes			99,673	100.00%

General election

Results

1980 United States Senate election in New Hampshire ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Warren Rudman	195,563	52.15%	+9.11%
	Democratic	John A. Durkin (inc.)	179,455	47.85%	−5.76%
Majority			16,108	4.30%	−6.28%
Total votes			375,018	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

See also

• 1980 United States Senate elections

References

1. Burton, Meg (August 23, 1980). "He's Durkin's Opponent, But Chooses to Ignore Him". Concord Monitor . Concord, New Hampshire. p. 1. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
2. New Hampshire Secretary of State (1981). State of New Hampshire Manual for the General Court 1981. Concord, New Hampshire . Retrieved June 16, 2025.
3. Burton, Meg (June 12, 1980). "Finding the Common Denominator: GOP's Senate Forum Becomes a Durkin Roast". Concord Monitor . Concord, New Hampshire. p. 4. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
4. "11 GOP Hopefuls Running for Senate". Valley News . West Lebanon, New Hampshire. June 26, 1980. p. 9. Retrieved June 16, 2025.