1980 United States gubernatorial elections

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1980 United States gubernatorial elections
Flag of the United States.svg
  1979 November 4, 1980 1981  

15 governorships
13 states; 2 territories
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Seats before3119
Seats after2723
Seat changeDecrease2.svg4Increase2.svg4
Seats up103
Seats won67

1980 United States gubernatorial elections results map.svg
  Democratic hold
  Republican hold
  Republican gain

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 4, 1980, in 13 states and two territories. The Republican party had a net gain of four seats in this election, coinciding with the Senate, House elections and presidential election. As of 2025, this was the last election in which a Democrat won the gubernatorial election in Utah and also the last election in which a Republican won the gubernatorial race in the state of Washington.

Contents

Election results

StateIncumbentPartyFirst
elected
ResultCandidates
Arkansas Bill Clinton Democratic 1978 [1] Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Delaware Pete du Pont Republican 1976 Incumbent re-elected.
Indiana Otis Bowen Republican 1972 Incumbent term-limited.
New governor elected.
Republican hold.
Missouri Joseph P. Teasdale Democratic 1976 Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Montana Thomas Lee Judge Democratic 1972 Incumbent lost re-nomination.
New governor elected.
Democratic hold.
  • Green check.svgY Ted Schwinden (Democratic) 55.4%
  • Jack Ramirez (Republican) 44.6%
New Hampshire Hugh Gallen Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected.
North Carolina Jim Hunt Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Green check.svgY Jim Hunt (Democratic) 61.9%
  • I. Beverly Lake Jr. (Republican) 37.4%
  • Robert Y. Emory (Libertarian) 0.5%
  • Douglas A. Cooper (Socialist Workers) 0.2%
North Dakota Arthur A. Link Democratic-NPL 1972 Incumbent lost re-election.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
Rhode Island J. Joseph Garrahy Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected.
Utah Scott M. Matheson Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected.
Vermont Richard A. Snelling Republican 1976 Incumbent re-elected.
Washington Dixy Lee Ray Democratic 1976 Incumbent lost re-nomination.
New governor elected.
Republican gain.
West Virginia Jay Rockefeller Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected.

Close states

States where the margin of victory was under 5%:

  1. Arkansas, 3.8%

States where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. Missouri, 5.6%
  2. North Dakota, 7.2%
  3. West Virginia, 8.7%

See also

References

  1. "Bill Clinton (1946–)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved September 15, 2018.