1980 United States presidential election in Ohio

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1980 United States presidential election in Ohio
Flag of Ohio.svg
  1976 November 4, 1980 1984  
  Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981-cropped.jpg Carter cropped.jpg John B. Anderson in New Jersey (cropped).jpg
Nominee Ronald Reagan Jimmy Carter John B. Anderson
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Home state California Georgia Illinois
Running mate George H. W. Bush Walter Mondale Patrick Lucey
Electoral vote2500
Popular vote2,206,5451,752,414254,472
Percentage51.51%40.91%5.94%

Ohio Presidential Election Results 1980.svg
County results

President before election

Jimmy Carter
Democratic

Elected President

Ronald Reagan
Republican

The 1980 United States presidential election in Ohio took place on November 4, 1980. All 50 states and The District of Columbia were part of the 1980 United States presidential election. State voters chose 25 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Contents

Because of Ohio's long-time bellwether status, Carter and Reagan campaigned heavily in the state from the start of the presidential primaries. [1] At the beginning of the campaign, it was clear that inflation and the Iranian hostage crisis were cutting heavily into Carter's popularity in the industrial areas of the state, [2] although Reagan was not viewed warmly by the state's electorate either. [3]

Despite the coldness with which the incumbent President was received on his first visit to Columbus, Carter did gain a critical victory over challenger Ted Kennedy in Ohio's presidential primary on June 4, owing to his dominance of Ohio's heavily Appalachian rural counties [4] plus the endorsement of both Buckeye State Senator John Glenn [5] and Cleveland's Plain Dealer newspaper. [6]

In the earliest polls after the nominations were settled, Reagan was slightly ahead of Carter, [7] and from midsummer the GOP nominee targeted Ohio as part of his strategy of appealing to industrial workers in the Northeast and Great Lakes region. [8] Ohio gained further attention from a court case that allowed independent candidate and former Republican rival to Reagan John B. Anderson to be on the state's ballot, [9] but Reagan continued his strategy of seeking the support of Ohio's industrial workers during the remainder of the summer. [10] However, after the challenger being ahead for the first half of the fall – although never by an irreversible margin – by mid-October Ohio was seen as close because Reagan was not gaining so much support from industrial workers as he had hoped in August, [11] with voters simply debating “which candidate they liked least”. [12] However, by the beginning of November, Ohio was viewed as the most problematic of the three “key” Midwestern states [a] for Carter's re-election battle, as he was only seventy-five thousand votes ahead in Cuyahoga County, which he had won by over 93,000 votes in his 11,000-vote statewide triumph four years previously. [13] The Equal Rights Amendment and abortion were also seen as severely handicapping Carter in the Southern-leaning Appalachian counties where he had done well in 1976. [13]

Ohio was won by former California Governor Ronald Reagan (R) by 11%. [14] Ohio voted very close to the nation for both Carter and Reagan, although Anderson was 0.7% below his national percentage. Reagan was the first Republican since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to carry heavily populated Lucas County. [15]

Ronald Reagan campaigning in Youngstown, Ohio on October 8, 1980 Ronald Reagan campaigning in Youngstown, Ohio.jpg
Ronald Reagan campaigning in Youngstown, Ohio on October 8, 1980

Results

1980 United States presidential election in Ohio [16]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
Republican Ronald Reagan 2,206,54551.51%25
Democrat Jimmy Carter (incumbent)1,752,41440.91%0
Not designated John Anderson 254,4725.94%0
Not designated Ed Clark 49,0331.14%0
Not designated Barry Commoner 8,5640.20%0
Not designated Gus Hall 4,7290.11%0
Not designated Richard Congress 4,0290.09%0
Not designated Deirdre Griswold 3,7900.09%0
Write-in Benjamin Bubar 270.00%0
Totals4,283,603100.00%25

Results by county

CountyRonald Reagan
Republican
Jimmy Carter
Democratic
John B. Anderson
Not designated
Edward E. Clark
Not designated
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast [16]
#%#%#%#%#%#%
Adams 5,33653.75%4,16141.91%3033.05%991.00%290.29%1,17511.84%9,928
Allen 29,07065.84%13,14029.76%1,4393.26%4190.95%860.19%15,93036.08%44,154
Ashland 11,69162.56%5,14227.51%1,1286.04%4272.28%3011.61%6,54935.05%18,689
Ashtabula 19,84749.04%17,36342.91%2,4816.13%6001.48%1760.43%2,4846.13%40,467
Athens 8,17041.26%9,51448.05%1,5447.80%3781.91%1950.98%-1,344-6.79%19,801
Auglaize 11,53765.34%5,02228.44%7854.45%2121.20%1010.57%6,51536.90%17,657
Belmont 13,60142.47%16,65352.00%1,4324.47%2510.78%870.27%-3,052-9.53%32,024
Brown 6,06553.50%4,70641.51%3392.99%1511.33%760.67%1,35911.99%11,337
Butler 61,23161.91%31,79632.15%4,7174.77%8260.84%3310.33%29,43529.76%98,901
Carroll 5,80658.94%3,47635.29%4064.12%1371.39%260.26%2,33023.65%9,851
Champaign 7,35660.17%4,10933.61%5964.88%1321.08%320.26%3,24726.56%12,225
Clark 27,23750.42%22,63041.90%3,4146.32%5691.05%1650.31%4,6078.52%54,015
Clermont 26,67463.37%13,19931.36%1,6974.03%4481.06%730.17%13,47532.01%42,091
Clinton 7,67561.90%3,96731.99%6084.90%1160.94%340.27%3,70829.91%12,400
Columbiana 20,79850.55%17,45942.43%2,3205.64%4641.13%1020.25%3,3398.12%41,143
Coshocton 8,35960.33%4,72534.10%5253.79%1611.16%860.62%3,63426.23%13,856
Crawford 12,42462.89%6,05830.67%9154.63%3071.55%510.26%6,36632.22%19,755
Cuyahoga 254,88341.47%307,44850.02%40,7506.63%6,9151.12%4,6860.76%-52,565-8.55%614,682
Darke 12,77358.17%7,63534.77%1,1985.46%2881.31%640.29%5,13823.40%21,958
Defiance 9,35859.84%5,09632.59%8965.73%2401.53%490.31%4,26227.25%15,639
Delaware 14,74064.48%6,41728.07%1,2785.59%3361.47%900.39%8,32336.41%22,861
Erie 15,62851.29%12,34340.51%1,9086.26%3481.14%2430.80%3,28510.78%30,470
Fairfield 24,09660.98%13,14433.26%1,6894.27%4981.26%880.22%10,95227.72%39,515
Fayette 5,82764.26%2,81030.99%3273.61%860.95%180.20%3,01733.27%9,068
Franklin 200,94853.87%143,93238.58%21,2695.70%4,4291.19%2,4670.66%57,01615.29%373,045
Fulton 9,51964.72%3,97227.01%1,0266.98%1521.03%380.26%5,54737.71%14,707
Gallia 6,46956.73%4,40638.64%4013.52%930.82%350.31%2,06318.09%11,404
Geauga 17,76258.81%9,54231.59%2,3597.81%4211.39%1200.40%8,22027.22%30,204
Greene 24,92251.03%20,06841.09%3,1606.47%4690.96%2230.46%4,8549.94%48,842
Guernsey 8,18058.08%5,12136.36%6044.29%1290.92%500.36%3,05921.72%14,084
Hamilton 206,97957.73%129,11436.01%17,8984.99%3,1550.88%1,3950.39%77,86521.72%358,541
Hancock 18,26467.62%6,84325.34%1,4675.43%2831.05%1530.57%11,42142.28%27,010
Hardin 7,45761.51%3,86331.87%5284.36%2011.66%740.61%3,59429.64%12,123
Harrison 3,63952.62%2,84841.18%3314.79%741.07%240.35%79111.44%6,916
Henry 7,58466.01%3,05926.63%6916.01%1161.01%390.34%4,52539.38%11,489
Highland 7,35959.35%4,36335.19%4543.66%1070.86%1170.94%2,99624.16%12,400
Hocking 4,58852.02%3,76542.69%3123.54%1221.38%320.36%8239.33%8,819
Holmes 3,86060.37%2,09432.75%3295.15%901.41%210.33%1,76627.62%6,394
Huron 11,17358.32%6,53734.12%1,1105.79%2791.46%600.31%4,63624.20%19,159
Jackson 5,90255.06%4,40941.13%2742.56%850.79%490.46%1,49313.93%10,719
Jefferson 15,77740.99%20,38252.95%1,7974.67%3951.03%1400.36%-4,605-11.96%38,491
Knox 10,38457.07%6,58636.20%9875.42%1901.04%480.26%3,79820.87%18,195
Lake 43,48550.31%35,24640.78%5,9256.86%1,3811.60%3910.45%8,2399.53%86,428
Lawrence 13,79952.68%11,36643.39%8133.10%1570.60%590.23%2,4339.29%26,194
Licking 28,42558.28%17,20835.28%2,4194.96%5441.12%1730.35%11,21723.00%48,769
Logan 9,72764.87%4,31928.80%7184.79%1971.31%330.22%5,40836.07%14,994
Lorain 51,03449.51%40,91939.69%7,3247.10%2,9092.82%8980.87%10,1159.82%103,084
Lucas 86,65345.30%85,34144.61%16,6368.70%1,5380.80%1,1300.59%1,3120.69%191,298
Madison 7,16663.14%3,56531.41%4383.86%1191.05%620.55%3,60131.73%11,350
Mahoning 50,15340.07%63,67750.88%9,4907.58%1,0090.81%8320.66%-13,524-10.81%125,161
Marion 14,60556.98%9,41936.75%1,2554.90%2941.15%580.23%5,18620.23%25,631
Medina 24,72358.79%13,57332.28%2,9657.05%6541.56%1350.32%11,15026.51%42,050
Meigs 4,91153.56%3,82741.73%2943.21%1121.22%260.28%1,08411.83%9,170
Mercer 8,67356.54%5,50635.90%9416.13%1741.13%450.29%3,16720.64%15,339
Miami 19,92855.65%12,89336.01%2,4296.78%4631.29%950.27%7,03519.64%35,808
Monroe 2,87045.03%3,16649.68%2664.17%470.74%240.38%-296-4.65%6,373
Montgomery 101,44345.49%105,11047.13%13,8176.20%1,7970.81%8420.38%-3,667-1.64%223,009
Morgan 3,23660.31%1,87534.94%1562.91%801.49%190.35%1,36125.37%5,366
Morrow 6,17961.96%3,23932.48%3833.84%1421.42%290.29%2,94029.48%9,972
Muskingum 17,92154.82%12,58438.50%1,3294.07%4561.40%3981.22%5,33716.32%32,688
Noble 3,02557.38%1,94436.87%2083.95%661.25%290.55%1,08120.51%5,272
Ottawa 8,64151.18%6,75340.00%1,2817.59%1761.04%320.19%1,88811.18%16,883
Paulding 4,97158.52%2,77832.71%5506.48%1591.87%360.42%2,19325.81%8,494
Perry 5,72553.77%4,38341.16%3693.47%1361.28%350.33%1,34212.61%10,648
Pickaway 9,28961.23%5,05233.30%5153.39%2291.51%850.56%4,23727.93%15,170
Pike 4,42645.08%4,93850.30%2572.62%590.60%1381.41%-512-5.22%9,818
Portage 22,82947.37%20,57042.69%3,7987.88%7691.60%2240.46%2,2594.68%48,190
Preble 8,37656.89%5,41636.79%6874.67%1851.26%590.40%2,96020.10%14,723
Putnam 9,75268.71%3,74226.37%5333.76%1400.99%260.18%6,01042.34%14,193
Richland 29,21357.48%18,25335.91%2,5865.09%5961.17%1760.35%10,96021.57%50,824
Ross 13,25155.54%9,35539.21%8123.40%2931.23%1480.62%3,89616.33%23,859
Sandusky 13,42055.53%8,48235.10%1,8517.66%2991.24%1140.47%4,93820.43%24,166
Scioto 15,88148.76%15,55247.75%8162.51%2430.75%760.23%3291.01%32,568
Seneca 14,17260.93%7,30331.40%1,4156.08%2941.26%750.32%6,86929.53%23,259
Shelby 8,98854.33%6,42538.84%8955.41%1921.16%440.27%2,56315.49%16,544
Stark 87,76955.87%59,00537.56%8,0305.11%1,8751.19%4270.27%28,76418.31%157,106
Summit 92,29943.35%102,45948.12%15,0027.05%2,4491.15%7100.33%-10,160-4.77%212,919
Trumbull 41,05644.15%44,36647.70%6,2816.75%8770.94%4220.45%-3,310-3.55%93,002
Tuscarawas 15,70852.21%12,11740.27%1,7795.91%4171.39%650.22%3,59111.94%30,086
Union 7,57667.73%3,03827.16%4213.76%1311.17%200.18%4,53840.57%11,186
Van Wert 7,86661.11%4,07031.62%7415.76%1601.24%350.27%3,79629.49%12,872
Vinton 2,48449.05%2,38147.02%1382.73%440.87%170.34%1032.03%5,064
Warren 22,43063.14%11,30631.83%1,3483.79%3320.93%1060.30%11,12431.31%35,522
Washington 14,31059.70%7,93633.11%1,1214.68%5042.10%1000.42%6,37426.59%23,971
Wayne 18,96255.87%12,12935.73%2,3136.81%4191.23%1190.35%6,83320.14%33,942
Williams 9,14664.31%4,01528.23%8726.13%1511.06%370.26%5,13136.08%14,221
Wood 23,31555.23%14,13933.49%4,1569.85%4160.99%1870.44%9,17621.74%42,213
Wyandot 5,78663.06%2,75730.05%4074.44%1511.65%740.81%3,02933.01%9,175
Totals2,206,54551.51%1,752,41440.91%254,4725.94%49,0331.14%21,1390.49%454,13110.60%4,283,603

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

See also

Notes

  1. Michigan and Illinois were the other two states considered in this context, and Carter also lost them, though by smaller margins than Ohio.

References

  1. Weisman, Steven R.; ‘Carter and Reagan 'Debate' in Ohio, Six Blocks Apart: Two Images of the U.S.’; The New York Times Special, May 29, 1980, p. A1
  2. Schellhardt, Timothy D.; ‘Midwest Mood: Carter's Support Slides In a Blue-Collar Town That Backed Him in ‘76’; Wall Street Journal, June 2, 1980, p. 1
  3. Smith, Terence; ‘Visits by Carter and Reagan to Put Ohio's Capital on the Political Map: Little Enthusiasm for Candidates – “Turned His Back on the State”’; New York Times Special, May 29, 1980. p. B6
  4. Nyhan, David and Black, Chris; ‘Carter Is Over Top; Kennedy Will Fight On – Ohio to President; N.J. to Senator; California Close’; The Boston Globe , June 4, 1980, p. 1
  5. ‘Campaign Report: Carter Gets Endorsement From Senator Glenn of Ohio’; The New York Times, May 22, 1980, p. B8
  6. ‘Campaign Report: Kennedy Warns of Threats Of Unrest in Inner Cities; Carter and Reagan Lead In Poll of Jersey Residents; Cleveland Plain Dealer Endorses Carter and Reagan’; The New York Times, May 26, 1980, p. A13
  7. ‘Reagan Leads, Poll Indicates’; The Boston Globe, June 16, 1980, p. 1
  8. Sperling, Godfrey, Jr.; ‘How Reagan plans to beat Carter in November; “Northeast strategy” targets Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, banks on big 'blue collar' vote’; The Christian Science Monitor , July 16, 1980
  9. ‘Campaign Report: Anderson Wins Court Battle To Be on the Ohio Ballot’; The New York Times, July 18, 1980, p. A7
  10. Broder, David S. ‘Reagan, Citing 'the Carter Depression,' Courts Labor: Decrying 'the Carter Depression,' Reagan Courts Support of Labor’; The Washington Post , August 28, 1980, p. A1
  11. Clymer, Adam; ‘Ohio Race Expected to Be Close As Labor Mobilizes for President’; New York Times Special, October 16, 1980, p. A1
  12. Hunt, Albert R.; ‘Buckeye Ambivalence: In Pivotal Ohio, With Reagan Slightly Ahead, Voters Debate Which Candidate They Like Least’; The Wall Street Journal , October 9, 1098. p. 48
  13. 1 2 Healy, Robert L.; ‘Ohio, Mich, and Illinois may decide the election’; The Boston Globe, November 1, 1980, p. 1
  14. "1980 Presidential General Election Results – Ohio". uselectionatlas.org.
  15. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 276-280 ISBN   0786422173
  16. 1 2 McGillivray & Scammon 1994, pp. 579–580.

Works cited