United States Senate elections, 1980

Last updated
United States Senate elections, 1980
Flag of the United States.svg
  1978 November 4, 1980 1982  

34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate
51 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  Howard baker jr.jpg Robert C. Byrd - 1977.jpg
Leader Howard Baker Robert Byrd
Party Republican Democratic
Leader sinceMarch 5, 1980January 3, 1977
Leader's seat Tennessee West Virginia
Seats before4158
Seats after5346
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 12Decrease2.svg 12
Popular vote26,597,16930,699,463
Percentage44.7%51.6%
SwingDecrease2.svg 2.9%Increase2.svg 1.0%
Seats up1024
Races won2212

 Third party
 
Party Independent
Seats before1 [1] [2]
Seats after1 [1]
Seat changeSteady2.svg
Seats up0
Races won0

1980 Senate election map.svg
Results
     Democratic gain     Democratic hold
     Republican gain     Republican hold

Majority Leader before election

Robert Byrd
Democratic

Elected Majority Leader

Howard Baker
Republican

The 1980 United States Senate elections coincided with Ronald Reagan's victory in the presidential election. Reagan's large margin of victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter pulled in many Democratic voters and gave a huge boost to Republican Senate candidates.

Ronald Reagan 40th president of the United States

Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Prior to his presidency, he was a Hollywood actor and union leader before serving as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975.

Jimmy Carter 39th president of the United States

James Earl Carter Jr. is an American politician and philanthropist who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A Democrat, he previously served as a Georgia State senator from 1963 to 1967 and as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. Carter has remained active in public life during his post-presidency, and in 2002 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in co-founding the Carter Center.

Reagan's coattails refers to the influence of Ronald Reagan's popularity in elections other than his own, after the American political expression to "ride in on another's coattails." Chiefly, it refers to the "Reagan Revolution" accompanying his 1980 election to the U.S. Presidency. This victory was accompanied by the change of twelve seats in the U.S. Senate from Democratic to Republican hands, producing a Republican majority in the Senate for the first time since 1954.

Contents

Gains and losses

The Republicans gained a net of 12 seats from the Democrats and gained control of the Senate, 53461. Majority and minority leaders Robert Byrd and Howard Baker exchanged places. This election marked the first time since 1954 that the Republican Party controlled either chamber of Congress.

Robert Byrd U.S. Senator from West Virginia (1959–2010)

Robert Carlyle Byrd was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia for over 51 years, from 1959 until his death in 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, Byrd previously served as a U.S. Representative from 1953 until 1959. He is the longest-serving U.S. Senator in history. In addition, he was, at the time of his death, the longest-serving member in the history of the United States Congress, a record later surpassed by Representative John Dingell of Michigan. Byrd was the last remaining member of the U.S. Senate to have served during the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower, and the last remaining member of Congress to have served during the presidency of Harry S. Truman. Byrd is also the only West Virginian to have served in both chambers of the state legislature and both chambers of Congress.

Howard Baker American politician

Howard Henry Baker Jr. was an American politician and diplomat who served as a Republican US Senator from Tennessee, Senate Minority Leader, and then Senate Majority Leader.

Without losing any seats, the Republicans took open seats in Alabama, Alaska, and Florida, and unseated nine incumbents: Herman Talmadge (D-GA), Frank Church (D-ID), Birch E. Bayh II (D-IN), John Culver (D-IA), John A. Durkin (D-NH), Robert Morgan (D-NC), 1972 presidential nominee George S. McGovern (D-SD), Warren Magnuson (D-WA), and Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) (see Reagan's coattails).

Herman Talmadge American politician

Herman Eugene Talmadge was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Georgia from 1957 to 1981. A staunch segregationist and a controversial figure, he was censured by the Senate for financial irregularities, which were revealed during a bitter divorce from his second wife. He previously served as governor of the state from 1948 to 1955, taking over after the death of his father Eugene Talmadge, the governor-elect. Talmadge was well known for his opposition to civil rights, ordering schools to be closed rather than desegregated.

Frank Church American politician

Frank Forrester Church III was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Idaho from 1957 to 1981. He is known for heading the Church Committee, which investigated abuses within the United States Intelligence Community.

Birch Bayh American lawyer and politician

Birch Evans Bayh Jr. was an American politician who served as U.S. Senator from Indiana from 1963 to 1981. He was first elected to office in 1954, when he won election to the Indiana House of Representatives; in 1958, he was elected Speaker, the youngest person to hold that office in the state's history. In 1962, he ran for the U.S. Senate, narrowly defeating incumbent Republican Homer E. Capehart. Shortly after entering the Senate, he became Chairman of the Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments, and in that role authored two constitutional amendments: the twenty-fifth—which establishes procedures for an orderly transition of power in the case of the death, disability, or resignation of the President of the United States—and the twenty-sixth, which lowered the voting age to 18 throughout the United States. He is the only non-Founding Father to have authored two constitutional amendments. Bayh also led unsuccessful efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and eliminate the Electoral College.

Milestones

This was the largest Senate swing since 1958, and was the largest Republican gain since 1946, when Republicans also picked up 12 seats. This was also the last time the Senate changed hands in a presidential election year until 2000 when Democrats won control, as well as the last time the Republicans gained control of the Senate in a presidential election year.

Results summary

PartiesTotal SeatsPopular Vote
1978 1980ChangeVote%
Democratic Party 5846Decrease2.svg 1230,699,46351.62%
Republican Party 4153Increase2.svg 1226,597,16944.73%
Libertarian Party 00Steady2.svg401,0770.67%
Independent 11Steady2.svg112,2420.19%
Others00Steady2.svg1,658,9792.79%
Total100100Steady2.svg59,468,930100.0%

Source: Election Statistics – Office of the Clerk

53146
RepublicanIDemocratic

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

D1D2D3D4D5D6D7D8D9D10
D20D19D18D17D16D15D14D13D12D11
D21D22D23D24D25D26D27D28D29D30
D40
Ran
D39
Ran
D38
Ran
D37
Ran
D36
Ran
D35
Ran
D34D33D32D31
D41
Ran
D42
Ran
D43
Ran
D44
Ran
D45
Ran
D46
Ran
D47
Ran
D48
Ran
D49
Ran
D50
Ran
Majority →D51
Ran
R41
Retired
I1D58
Retired
D57
Retired
D56
Ran
D55
Ran
D54
Ran
D53
Ran
D52
Ran
R40
Retired
R39
Retired
R38
Ran
R37
Ran
R36
Ran
R35
Ran
R34
Ran
R33
Ran
R32
Ran
R31
R21R22R23R24R25R26R27R28R29R30
R20R19R18R17R16R15R14R13R12R11
R1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10

After the elections

D1D2D3D4D5D6D7D8D9D10
D20D19D18D17D16D15D14D13D12D11
D21D22D23D24D25D26D27D28D29D30
D40
Re-elected
D39
Re-elected
D38
Re-elected
D37
Re-elected
D36
Re-elected
D35
Re-elected
D34D33D32D31
D41
Re-elected
D42
Re-elected
D43
Re-elected
D44
Re-elected
D45
Hold
D46
Hold
I1R53
Gain
R52
Gain
R51
Gain
Majority →
R41
Hold
R42
Gain
R43
Gain
R44
Gain
R45
Gain
R46
Gain
R47
Gain
R48
Gain
R49
Gain
R50
Gain
R40
Hold
R39
Hold
R38
Hold
R37
Re-elected
R36
Re-elected
R35
Re-elected
R34
Re-elected
R33
Re-elected
R32
Re-elected
R31
R21R22R23R24R25R26R27R28R29R30
R20R19R18R17R16R15R14R13R12R11
R1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican
I#Independent

Race summary

Special elections during the 96th Congress

There were no special elections during 1980 or before January 3, 1981.

Elections leading to the next Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning January 3, 1981; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State
(linked to
summaries below)
IncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Alabama Donald W. Stewart Democratic 1978 (Special) Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Jeremiah Denton (Republican) 50.2%
Jim Folsom, Jr. (Democratic) 47.1%
Alaska Mike Gravel Democratic 1968
1974
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Frank Murkowski (Republican) 53.7%
Clark Gruening (Democratic) 45.9%
Arizona Barry Goldwater Republican 1952
1958
1964 (Retired)
1968
1974
Incumbent re-elected.Barry Goldwater (Republican) 49.5%
Bill Schulz (Democratic) 48.4%
Fred R. Easer (Libertarian) 1.4%
Lorenzo Torrez (People Over Politics) 0.4%
Josefina Otero (Socialist Workers) 0.4%
Arkansas Dale Bumpers Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected.Dale Bumpers (Democratic) 59.1%
William Clark (Republican) 40.9%
California Alan Cranston Democratic 1968
1974
Incumbent re-elected.Alan Cranston (Democratic) 56.5%
Paul Gann (Republican) 37.1%
David Bergland (Libertarian) 2.4%
David Wald (Peace & Freedom) 2.4%
Jim Griffin (American Ind.) 1.6%
Colorado Gary Hart Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected.Gary Hart (Democratic) 50.3%
Mary E. Buchanan (Republican) 48.7%
Earl Higgerson (Statesman) 0.6%
Henry John Olshaw (Unaffiliated-American) 0.4%
Connecticut Abraham A. Ribicoff Democratic 1962
1968
1974
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Chris Dodd (Democratic) 56.3%
James L. Buckley (Republican) 42.9%
Jerry Brennan (Libertarian) 0.4%
Andrew J. Zemel (Concerned Citizens) 0.4%
Florida Richard Stone Democratic 1974 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Paula Hawkins (Republican) 51.7%
Bill Gunter (Democratic) 48.3%
Georgia Herman Talmadge Democratic 1956
1962
1968
1974
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Mack Mattingly (Republican) 50.9%
Herman Talmadge (Democratic) 49.1%
Hawaii Daniel Inouye Democratic 1962
1968
1974
Incumbent re-elected.Daniel Inouye (Democratic) 77.9%
Cooper Brown (Republican) 18.4%
Idaho Frank Church Democratic 1956
1962
1968
1974
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Steve Symms (Republican) 49.7%
Frank Church (Democratic) 48.8%
Larry Fullmer (Libertarian) 1.5%
Illinois Adlai Stevenson III Democratic 1970 (Special)
1974
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Democratic hold.
Alan J. Dixon (Democratic) 56.0%
Dave O'Neal (Republican) 42.5%
Bruce Green (Libertarian) 0.6%
Sidney Lens (Independent) 0.4%
Charles F. Wilson (Communist) 0.2%
Michael Soriano (Workers World) 0.1%
Burton L. Artz (Socialist Workers) 0.1%
Indiana Birch Bayh Democratic 1962
1968
1974
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Dan Quayle (Republican) 53.8%
Birch Bayh (Democratic) 46.2%
Iowa John Culver Democratic 1974 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Chuck Grassley (Republican) 53.5%
John Culver (Democratic) 45.5%
Garry De Young (Independent) 0.5%
Robert V. Hengerer (Libertarian) 0.3%
John Ingram Henderson (Independent) 0.2%
Kansas Bob Dole Republican 1968
1974
Incumbent re-elected.Bob Dole (Republican) 63.8%
John Simpson (Democratic) 36.2%
Kentucky Wendell H. Ford Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected.Wendell H. Ford (Democratic) 65.1%
Mary L. Foust (Republican) 34.9%
Louisiana Russell B. Long Democratic 1948 (Special)
1950
1956
1962
1968
1974
Incumbent re-elected.Russell B. Long (Democratic) 57.64%
Woody Jenkins (Democratic) 38.75%
Jerry Bardwell (Republican) 1.64%
Robert M. Ross (Republican) 1.21%
Naomi Bracy (No Party) .76%
Maryland Charles Mathias, Jr. Republican 1968
1974
Incumbent re-elected. This would be the last time a Republican would win election to the U.S. Senate from Maryland.Charles Mathias, Jr. (Republican) 66.2%
Edward T. Conroy (Democratic) 33.8%
Missouri Thomas Eagleton Democratic 1968
1974
Incumbent re-elected.Thomas Eagleton (Democratic) 52.0%
Gene McNary (Republican) 47.7%
Martha Pettit (Socialist Workers) 0.3%
Nevada Paul Laxalt Republican 1974 Incumbent re-elected.Paul Laxalt (Republican) 58.5%
Mary Gojack (Democratic) 37.4%
New Hampshire John A. Durkin Democratic 1975 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Warren Rudman (Republican) 52.1%
John A. Durkin (Democratic) 47.8%
New York Jacob K. Javits Republican 1956
1962
1968
1974
Incumbent lost re-nomination.
Incumbent lost re-election as the Liberal nominee.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Al D'Amato (Republican) 44.9%
Elizabeth Holtzman (Democratic) 43.5%
Jacob K. Javits (Liberal) 11.0%
Richard Savadel (Libertarian) 0.36%
William R. Scott (Communist) 0.07%
Thomas Soto (Workers World) 0.06%
Victor A. Nieto (Socialist Workers) 0.06%
North Carolina Robert Burren Morgan Democratic 1974 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
John Porter East (Republican) 50.0%
Robert Burren Morgan (Democratic) 49.4%
North Dakota Milton Young Republican1945 (Appointed)
1946 (Special)
1950
1956
1962
1968
1974
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Mark Andrews (Republican) 70.3%
Kent Johanneson (Democratic) 29.0%
Harley McLain (Independent) 0.5%
Don J. Klingensmith (Independent) 0.2%
Ohio John Glenn Democratic 1974
1974 (Appointed)
Incumbent re-elected.John Glenn (Democratic) 68.8%
James E. Betts (Republican) 28.2%
John E. Powers (Independent) 1.9%
Rick Nagin (Independent) 1.1%
Oklahoma Henry Bellmon Republican 1968
1974
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Don Nickles (Republican) 53.5%
Andrew Coats (Democratic) 43.5%
Charles R. Nesbitt (Independent) 1.9%
Robert T. Murphy (Libertarian) 0.9%
Paul E. Trent (Independent) 0.2%
Oregon Bob Packwood Republican 1968
1974
Incumbent re-elected.Bob Packwood (Republican) 52.1%
Ted Kulongoski (Democratic) 44.0%
Theodora Nathalia Nathan (Libertarian) 3.8%
Pennsylvania Richard Schweiker Republican 1968
1974
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Republican hold.
Arlen Specter (Republican) 50.5%
Pete Flaherty (Democratic) 48.0%
South Carolina Ernest Hollings Democratic 1966 (Special)
1968
1974
Incumbent re-elected.Ernest Hollings (Democratic) 70.4%
Marshall T. Mays (Republican) 29.6%
South Dakota George McGovern Democratic 1962
1968
1974
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
James Abdnor (Republican) 58.2%
George McGovern (Democratic) 39.4%
Wayne Peterson (Independent) 2.4%
Utah Jake Garn Republican 1974 Incumbent re-elected.Jake Garn (Republican) 73.6%
Dan Berman (Democratic) 25.5%
Vermont Patrick Leahy Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected.Patrick Leahy (Democratic) 49.8%
Stewart M. Ledbetter (Republican) 48.5%
Washington Warren Magnuson Democratic1944 (Appointed)
1944
1950
1956
1962
1968
1974
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Slade Gorton (Republican) 54.2%
Warren G. Magnuson (Democratic) 45.8%
Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson Democratic 1962
1968
1974
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected.
Republican gain.
Bob Kasten (Republican) 50.2%
Gaylord Nelson (Democratic) 48.3%

Special elections during the 97th Congress

There were no special elections in 1981 after January 3.

Alabama

Alabama election
Flag of Alabama.svg
  1974
1986  
  JeremiahDentonSenate.jpg Jim Folsom Jr..jpg
Nominee Jeremiah Denton Jim Folsom
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote650,363610,175
Percentage50.2%47.1%

Alabama senate election results by county, 1980.png
U.S. Senate election results map.
Red denotes counties won by Denton.
Blue denotes those won by Folsom.

U.S. Senator before election

Donald Stewart
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Jeremiah Denton
Republican

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Donald Stewart decided to run for his second term, but was defeated in the primary. In November, Republican Jeremiah Denton defeated Democrat Jim Folsom, Public Service Commissioner.

Jeremiah Denton American Vietnam War POW and politician

Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. was a U.S. Senator representing Alabama from 1981 to 1987, a United States Navy Rear Admiral, and Naval Aviator taken captive during the Vietnam War.

Jim Folsom Jr. 50th Governor of Alabama

James Elisha Folsom Jr. is an American politician who was the 50th Governor of Alabama from April 22, 1993 to January 16, 1995. He has also served as Lieutenant Governor of Alabama on two separate occasions. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

The Alabama Public Service Commission, commonly called the PSC, was established by an act of the Alabama Legislature in 1915 to primarily replace the State Railroad Commission. The PSC's responsibility was expanded in 1920 to include regulating and setting rates that utility companies charge their customers for electricity. The legislature expanded the PSC's responsibilities in later years to include those companies that provide gas, water, and communications, as well as transportation common carriers such as trucking and air carriers. The PSC effectively determines the rate of profits that most of these companies are allowed to earn. However, some of its traditional responsibilities have passed to the federal government with the passage of the Federal Aviation Act of 1994 and the Federal Communications Act of 1996.

United States Senate election in Alabama, 1980 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jeremiah Denton650,36350.2%
Democratic Jim Folsom 610,17547.1%

Alaska

Alaska election
Flag of Alaska.svg
  1974
1986  
  Frankmurkowski.jpg Clark Gruening.jpg
Nominee Frank Murkowski Clark Gruening
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote84,15972,007
Percentage53.69%45.93%

U.S. Senator before election

Mike Gravel
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Frank Murkowski
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Mike Gravel ran for a third term, but lost in the Democratic primary to Clark Gruening, a former state representative who was the grandson of Ernest Gruening, whom Gravel had defeated twelve years prior in an election for the same seat. Gruening later went on to lose the general election to Republican nominee Frank Murkowski, a banker.

Mike Gravel Democratic U.S. Senator from Alaska

Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is an American politician who was a Democratic United States Senator from Alaska from 1969 to 1981 and a candidate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

Clark Gruening American politician

Clark S. Gruening is an attorney and Democratic Party politician from the U.S. state of Alaska. He is chiefly known as the second of three persons to defeat the incumbent holder of Alaska's Class 3 United States Senate seat in the primary election.

Alaska House of Representatives lower house in the Alaska Legislature

The Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of approximately 17,756 people per 2010 Census figures. Members serve two-year terms without term limits. With 40 representatives, the Alaska House is the smallest state legislative lower house in the United States.

After the loss of Gravel's seat, no Alaska Democrat would win a congressional race again until Mark Begich's narrow, protracted triumph in Alaska's 2008 Senate election. [4]

First elected in 1968, by 1980 two-term Democratic incumbent Mike Gravel had become noted for a filibuster that attempted to end the draft during the Vietnam War and for including the full text of the Pentagon Papers in the Congressional Record.

Gravel faced a challenging bid for re-election, complicated by the fact that his triumph over Ernest Gruening years prior had made him a pariah in the Alaska Democratic Party. Though Gravel had campaigned to be selected as George McGovern's running mate in the 1972 U.S. presidential election and had easily won re-election to the Senate in 1974, he had never established a strong political base in Alaska. [5]

The passage of a controversial land bill earlier in the year, as opposed to a compromise bill worked out by fellow Senator Ted Stevens that failed thanks to Gravel two years prior, further harmed his re-election bid. [6] [7] A group of Democrats, including future governor Steve Cowper, campaigned against Gravel on the land bill issue. [8]

The sources of Gravel's campaign funds, some of which came from political action committees outside the state, also became an issue in the contest. [7] Another factor may have been Alaska's blanket primary system, which allows unlimited cross-over voting across parties and from its large unaffiliated electorate; [8] Republicans believed Gruening would be an easier candidate to defeat in the general election. [7] The blanket primary had first been used in the 1968 election, and was something Gravel himself was able to capitalize upon in his 1968 campaign.

Gravel would later comment that by the time of his primary defeat, he had alienated "almost every constituency in Alaska." [6] In the August 26, 1980, primary Gruening defeated Gravel by 11 percentage points.

Democratic primary results [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Clark Gruening39,71954.88%
Democratic Mike Gravel (inc.)31,50443.53%
Democratic Michael J. Beasley1,1451.58%
Total votes72,368100.00%
Republican primary results [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank Murkowski16,26258.92%
Republican Art Kennedy5,52720.02%
Republican Morris Thompson3,63513.17%
Republican Don Smith8963.25%
Republican Donald R. Wright8242.99%
Republican Dave Moe4581.66%
Total votes27,602100.00%
United States Senate election in Alaska, 1980 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican Frank Murkowski 84,159 53.69% +11.97%
Democratic Clark Gruening 72,00745.93%-12.35%
Write-ins5960.38%
Majority12,1527.75%-8.81%
Turnout 156,762
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Arizona

Arizona election
Flag of Arizona.svg
  1974
1986  
  Barry Goldwater photo1962.jpg No image.png
Nominee Barry Goldwater Bill Schulz
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote432,371422,972
Percentage49.46%48.38%

1980 Arizona.png
U.S. Senate election results map.
Red denotes counties won by Goldwater.
Blue denotes those won by Schulz.

U.S. Senator before election

Barry Goldwater
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Barry Goldwater
Republican

Incumbent Republican Barry Goldwater decided to run for reelection to a third consecutive term, after returning to the U.S. Senate in 1968 following his failed Presidential run in 1964 against Lyndon B. Johnson. Goldwater defeated Democratic Party nominee Bill Schulz in the general election, but only by a narrow margin, which later caused Goldwater to decide against running for reelection to a fourth consecutive term.

Democratic primary results [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Schulz97,52055.36%
Democratic James F. McNulty, Jr.58,89433.43%
Democratic Frank DePaoli19,25910.93%
Democratic Frances Morgan (withdrawn)4850.28%
Total votes176,158100.00
United States Senate election in Arizona, 1980 [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican Barry Goldwater 432,371 49.46%
Democratic Bill Schulz422,97248.38%
Libertarian Fred R. Esser12,0081.37%
People Over PoliticsLorenzo Torrez3,6080.41%
Socialist Workers Josefina Otero3,2660.37%
Majority9,3991.08%
Turnout 874,225

Arkansas

Arkansas election
Flag of Arkansas (1924-2011).svg
  1974
1986  
  Dale Bumpers.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Dale Bumpers William Clark
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote477,905360,576
Percentage57.0%43.0%

U.S. Senator before election

Dale Bumpers
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Dale Bumpers
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Dale Bumpers won re-election to a second term over real estate broker William Clark.

Arkansas Senate election 1980 [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dale Bumpers477,90557.0%
Republican Bill Clark360,57643.0%
Independent Walter McCarty3310.0%

California

California election
Flag of California.svg
  1974
1986  
  AlanCranston.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Alan Cranston Paul Gann
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote4,705,3993,093,426
Percentage56.5%37.2%

U.S. Senator before election

Alan Cranston
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Alan Cranston
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Alan Cranston easily won re-election to a third term over Paul Gann, political activist, even as the state's former Republican governor, Ronald Reagan, claimed a landslide victory in the presidential election.

1980 United States Senate election, California [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Alan Cranston4,705,39956.5%
Republican Paul Gann3,093,42637.2%
Libertarian David Bergland 202,4812.4%
Peace and Freedom David Wald196,3542.4%
American Independent James C. Griffin129,6481.6%

Colorado

Colorado election
Flag of Colorado.svg
  1974
1986  
  Gary hart.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Gary Hart Mary Estill Buchanan
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote590,501571,295
Percentage50.3%48.7%

U.S. Senator before election

Gary Hart
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Gary Hart
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Gary Hart won re-election to a second term over Mary Estill Buchanan, Colorado Secretary of State.

General election results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Democratic Gary Hart (Incumbent) 590,501 50.33% -6.90%
Republican Mary Estill Buchanan571,29548.70%+9.20%
StatesmanEarl Higgerson7,2650.62%
Independent American Henry John Olshaw4,0810.35%
Majority19,2061.64%-16.10%
Turnout 1,173,142
Democratic hold Swing

Connecticut

Connecticut election
Flag of Connecticut.svg
  1974
1986  
  Sen Dodd speaks at a Navy ceremony at New London, Conn, July 6, 1985.JPEG JamesLBuckley.jpg
Nominee Chris Dodd James Buckley
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote763,969581,884
Percentage56.3%42.9%

U.S. Senator before election

Abraham Ribicoff
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Chris Dodd
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Abraham Ribicoff decided to retire. Democrat Chris Dodd won the open seat over James Buckley, former U.S. Senator from New York

Connecticut United States Senate election, 1986 [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Chris Dodd763,96956.3%
Republican James Buckley581,88442.9%
Libertarian Jerry Brennan5,3360.4%
Concerned Citizens Andrew J. Zemel4,7720.4%

Florida

Florida election
Flag of Florida (1900-1985).svg
  1974
1986  
  Hawkins, Paula.jpg WD Gunter JR.jpg
Nominee Paula Hawkins Bill Gunter
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,822,4601,705,409
Percentage51.7%48.3%

U.S. Senator before election

Richard Stone
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Paula Hawkins
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Richard Stone decided to run for re-election to a second term, but was defeated in the Democratic primary election by Bill Gunter. Republican Paula Hawkins won the open seat. [3]

Stone, a freshman Senator, had a reputation for changing his mind. In 1980, the AFL-CIO actively campaigned against him, and Stone was deemed vulnerable in his re-election bid. [15] Six Democrats entered the race for Stone's seat including his 1974 runoff opponent Bill Gunter who was Florida State Treasurer/Insurance Commissioner in 1980. [15] As was the case in 1974, Stone and Gunter were forced into a runoff but, unlike 1974, Gunter won the nomination.[ citation needed ]

Democratic primary results [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Richard Stone355,28732.08%
Democratic Bill Gunter335,85930.33%
Democratic Buddy MacKay272,53824.61%
Democratic Richard A. Pettigrew108,1549.77%
Democratic James L. Miller18,1181.64%
Democratic John B. Coffey17,4101.57%
Total votes1,107,366100.00%
Democratic primary runoff results [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Gunter594,67651.76%
Democratic Richard Stone554,26848.24%
Total votes1,148,944100.00%
Republican primary results [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Paula Hawkins209,85648.14%
Republican Louis Frey, Jr.119,83427.49%
Republican Ander Crenshaw54,76712.56%
Republican Ellis Rubin19,9904.59%
Republican John T. Ware18,1181.64%
Republican Lewis Dinkins15,1743.48%
Total votes435,962100.00%
Republican primary runoff results [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Paula Hawkins293,60061.61%
Republican Louis Frey, Jr.182,91138.39%
Total votes476,511100.00%
General election results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican Paula Hawkins 1,822,460 51.66% +10.74%
Democratic Bill Gunter1,705,40948.34%+4.96%
Write-ins1590.00%
Majority117,0513.32%+0.85%
Turnout 3,528,028
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Georgia

Georgia election
Flag of the State of Georgia (1956-2001).svg
 1974
1986  
  MackMattingly.jpg HermanTalmadge.jpg
Nominee Mack Mattingly Herman Talmadge
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote803,686776,143
Percentage50.87%49.13%

1980GASenateRace.png
County Results

U.S. Senator before election

Herman Talmadge
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Mack Mattingly
Republican

Incumbent Democrat and former Governor of Georgia Herman Talmadge decided to run for re-election to a fifth term, but lost a close race to Mack Mattingly, Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. 1980 resulted in a landslide election for Republicans that would come to be known as the Reagan Revolution. [3]

1980 United States Senate election, Georgia [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican Mack Mattingly 803,68650.87%+22.63%
Democratic Herman Talmadge (inc.)776,14349.13%-22.63%
Majority27,5431.74%-41.78%
Turnout 1,579,829
Republican gain from Democratic Swing 22.63%

Hawaii

Idaho

Idaho election
Flag of Idaho.svg
  1974
1986  
  Stevesymms.jpg FrankChurch.jpg
Nominee Steve Symms Frank Church
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote218,701214,439
Percentage49.7%48.8%

U.S. Senator before election

Frank Church
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Steve Symms
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Frank Church ran for re-election to a fifth term, but was defeated by Republican Steve Symms, U.S. Congressman.

General election results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican Steve Symms 218,701 49.74% +7.61%
Democratic Frank Church (Incumbent)214,43948.78%-7.30%
Libertarian Larry Fullmer6,5071.48%
Majority4,2620.97%-12.96%
Turnout 439,647
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Illinois

Illinois election
Flag of Illinois.svg
  1974
1986  
  Alan John Dixon.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Alan Dixon Dave O'Neal
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote2,565,3021,946,296
Percentage56.0%42.5%

U.S. Senator before election

Adlai Stevenson III
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Alan J. Dixon
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Adlai Stevenson III decided to retire. Democrat Alan J. Dixon won the open seat, beating Dave O'Neal, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois

Illinois United States Senate election, 1980 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Alan Dixon2,565,30256.0%
Republican Dave O'Neal1,946,29642.5%
Libertarian Bruce Green29,3280.6%
Independent Sidney Lens19,2130.4%
Communist Charles F. Wilson5,6710.2%
Workers World Michael Soriano5,6260.1%
Socialist Workers Burton L. Artz2,7150.1%

Indiana

Indiana election
Flag of Indiana.svg
  1974
1986  
  Dan Quayle 1977.jpg Birch bayh.jpg
Nominee Dan Quayle Birch Bayh
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,182,4141,015,922
Percentage53.8%46.2%

80INSenateCounties.PNG
County results

U.S. Senator before election

Birch Bayh
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Dan Quayle
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Birch Bayh ran for a fourth term, but was defeated by Republican Dan Quayle.

Republican primary results [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dan Quayle 397,27377.06%
Republican Roger Marsh118,27322.94%

Birch Bayh, the incumbent Senator, faced no opposition from Indiana Democratic Party and avoided a primary election. Bayh was originally elected in 1962 and re-elected in 1968 and 1974. He was Chairman of Senate Intelligence Committee and architect of 25th and 26th Amendments. This election was one of the key races in the country, and signaled a trend that would come to be known as Reagan's coattails, describing the influence Ronald Reagan had in congressional elections. Incumbent three-term Senator Birch Bayh was defeated by over 160,000 votes to Representative Dan Quayle, who would later go on to be Vice President of the United States.

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dan Quayle 1,182,41453.79%
Democratic Birch Bayh (Incumbent)1,015,92246.21%
Majority166,4927.58%
Turnout 2,198,366
Republican gain from Democrat

Iowa

Iowa election
Flag of Iowa.svg
  1974
1986  
  Chuck Grassley 1979 congressional photo.jpg John Culver.jpg
Nominee Chuck Grassley John Culver
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote683,014581,545
Percentage53.49%45.54%

U.S. Senator before election

John Culver
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Chuck Grassley
Republican

Incumbent Democrat United States Senator John Culver sought re-election to a second term in the Senate, but he was unsuccessful in his bid to do so, falling to Chuck Grassley, the United States Congressman from Iowa's 3rd congressional district, the Republican nominee.

Democratic primary results [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Culver (inc.)95,65699.95%
Democratic Write-ins520.05%
Total votes95,708100.00%
Republican primary results [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Chuck Grassley170,12065.54%
Republican Tom Stoner89,40934.45%
Republican Write-ins340.01%
Total votes259,563100.00%
United States Senate election in Iowa, 1980 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican Chuck Grassley 683,014 53.49% +4.21%
Democratic John Culver (Incumbent)581,54545.54%-4.48%
Independent Garry De Young5,8580.46%
Libertarian Robert V. Hengerer4,2330.33%
Independent John Ingram Henderson2,3360.18%
Majority101,4697.95%+7.20%
Turnout 1,772,983
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Missouri

Nevada

Nevada election
Flag of Nevada (1929-1991).svg
  1974
1986  
  Paul Laxalt (colorized).jpg No image.svg
Nominee Paul Laxalt Mary Gojack
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote144,22492,129
Percentage58.5%37.4%

1980 NV.png
U.S. Senate election results map.
Red denotes those won by Laxalt.

U.S. Senator before election

Paul Laxalt
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Paul Laxalt
Republican

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Paul Laxalt won re-election to a second term over Mary Gojack, former State Senator (1974–1978) and former State Assemblywoman (1972–1974). [22]

General election results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican Paul Laxalt (Incumbent) 144,224 58.52% +11.55%
Democratic Mary Gojack92,12937.38%-9.22%
Libertarian Allen Hacker6,9202.81%
None of These Candidates 3,1631.28%
Majority52,09521.14%+20.77%
Turnout 246,436
Republican hold Swing

New Hampshire

New Hampshire election
Flag of New Hampshire.svg
  1974
1986  
  Warren Rudman.jpg D000574.jpg
Nominee Warren Rudman John Durkin
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote195,559179,455
Percentage52.2%47.8%

U.S. Senator before election

John A. Durkin
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Warren Rudman
Republican

Incumbent Democrat John Durkin was defeated by former Attorney General of New Hampshire Warren Rudman in a relatively close election, where nationwide Republicans would have a landslide election known as the Reagan Revolution.

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Warren Rudman 195,55952.15%
Democratic John A. Durkin (Incumbent)179,45547.85%
Majority16,1044.3%
Turnout 375,014
Republican gain from Democratic

New York

New York election
Flag of New York.svg
  1974
1986  
  Alfonse D'Amato.jpg Elizabeth Holtzman.jpg
Nominee Al D'Amato Elizabeth Holtzman
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote2,699,6522,618,661
Percentage44.9%43.5%

  Jacob Javits.jpg
Nominee Jacob K. Javits
Party Liberal (N.Y.)
Popular vote664,544
Percentage11.1%

NewYorkSenatorial1980.svg
County results

U.S. Senator before election

Jacob K. Javits
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Al D'Amato
Republican

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jacob K. Javits was defeated in the primary, and Republican Al D'Amato, Presiding Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead, won the three way election with Elizabeth Holtzman, U.S. Representative.

New York Senate Democratic primary election, 1980 [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Elizabeth Holtzman 378,56740.74%
Democratic Bess Myerson 292,76731.51%
Democratic John Lindsay 146,81515.80%
Democratic John Santucci36,77011.96%
Republican primary results [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Alfonse M D'Amato323,46855.68%
Republican Jacob K. Javits257,43344.32%
Total votes580,901100.00%

Javits's refusal to adjust politically to the rightward movement of his party as well as his 1979 diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) led to a primary challenge. Javits was defeated in the primary by Hempstead Presiding Supervisor Al D'Amato on September 9.

D'Amato, also running on the Conservative line, proceeded to defeat Democratic U.S. Representative Elizabeth Holtzman and Javits, who ran on the Liberal Party ticket. In the traditionally liberal state of New York, Javits split the Democratic vote with Holtzman to give D'Amato a close victory. [25]

General election results [26] [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Alfonse D'Amato 2,272,082
Conservative (N.Y.) Alfonse D'Amato 275,100
Right to Life (N.Y.) Alfonse D'Amato 152,470
Total Alfonse D'Amato 2,699,65244.88%
Democratic Elizabeth Holtzman 2,618,66143.54%
Liberal (N.Y.) Jacob K. Javits (Incumbent)664,54411.05%
Libertarian Richard Savadel 21,4650.36%
Communist William R. Scott 4,1610.07%
Workers World Thomas Soto 3,6430.06%
Socialist Workers Victor A. Nieto 2,7150.05%
Write-in votes73<0.01%
Majority80,9911.34%
Turnout 6,014,914
Republican hold

North Carolina

North Carolina election
Flag of North Carolina (1885-1991).svg
  1974
1986  
  John Porter East.jpg Robert Burren Morgan.jpg
Nominee John East Robert Morgan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote898,064887,653
Percentage50.0%49.4%

U.S. Senator before election

Robert Morgan
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John East
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Robert Morgan lost re-election a second term to Republican John East, Professor at East Carolina University.

1980 North Carolina U.S. Senate election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican John East 898,064 49.96% +12.18%
Democratic Robert Morgan (incumbent)887,65349.38%-12.39%
Libertarian F.W. (Rick) Pasotto7,6020.04%
Socialist Workers Rebecca Finch4,3460.02%
Turnout 1,797,655

North Dakota

North Dakota election
Flag of North Dakota.svg
  1974
1986  
  Mark Andrews, US Senator from North Dakota.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Mark Andrews Kent Johanneson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote210,34786,658
Percentage70.29%28.96%

U.S. Senator before election

Milton R. Young
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Mark Andrews
Republican

Incumbent Republican Milton Young was retiring. Republican Mark Andrews defeated North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Kent Johanneson to fill the vacated seat. [3]

Andrews, who had served as a Representative since 1965, easily received the Republican nomination, and the endorsed Democratic-NPL candidate was Kent Johanneson. Andrews and Johanneson won the primary elections for their respective parties.

Two independent candidates, Harley McLain and Don J. Klingensmith also filed before the deadline under the Chemical Farming Banned and Statesman parties respectively. McLain would later run for the same seat in 1998 against then incumbent Byron Dorgan.

1980 United States Senate election, North Dakota
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mark Andrews 210,34770.29%
Democratic Kent Johanneson 86,65828.96%
Independent Harley McLain 1,6250.54%
Independent Don J. Klingensmith 6420.22%
Majority
Turnout 299,272

Ohio

Ohio election
Flag of Ohio.svg
  1974
1986  
  John Glenn 97th Congress 1981.jpg No image.svg
Nominee John Glenn Jim Betts
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote2,770,7861,137,695
Percentage68.8%28.3%

U.S. Senator before election

John Glenn
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John Glenn
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat John Glenn won re-election to a second term in a landslide with 69% of the vote over Jim Betts, State Representative, coinciding with Ronald Reagan's substantial win in the state during the presidential election.

OH United States Senate election, 1980 [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Glenn (Incumbent)2,770,78668.8%
Republican Jim Betts1,137,69528.3%
Independent John E. Powers76,4121.9%
Independent Rick Nagin42,4101.1%

Oklahoma

Oklahoma election
Flag of Oklahoma (1941-1988).svg
  1974
1986  
  Don Nickles.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Don Nickles Andy Coats
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote587,252400,230
Percentage53.5%44.8%

U.S. Senator before election

Henry Bellmon
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Don Nickles
Republican

Incumbent Republican Henry Bellmon decided to retire, instead of seeking a third term. Republican nominee Don Nickles won the open seat over Andy Coats, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma district attorney. [28]

After two years in the State Senate and displeased by the policies of the Carter Administration, Nickles ran for the United States Senate in 1980 to succeed Republican Henry Bellmon who was retiring. As an unknown in a field crowded with business and political bigwigs, Nickles was not initially given much of a chance. Bellmon even tried to convince him to wait and run for the U.S. House. Utilizing personal contact and passing out unique "wooden nickel" campaign button novelties, Nickles unique grassroot community ties to local Amway distributors throughout Oklahoma gave him an interpersonal network which proved helpful.[ citation needed ] Nickles beat two well funded oil millionaires (Jack Zink and Ed Noble) in the primary and won the primary run-off against Zink, a race car driver. He later won the general election against Democrat Oklahoma City Mayor Andy Coats and independent Charles Nesbitt, the Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner and former Oklahoma Attorney General. At the age of 32, Nickles was the youngest Republican ever elected to the United States Senate.

General election results [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Don Nickles587,25253.5%
Democratic Andy Coats478,28343.6%
Independent Charles R. Nesbitt 21,1791.9%
Libertarian Robert T. Murphy9,7570.9%
Independent Paul E. Trent1,8230.2%

Oregon

Oregon election
Flag of Oregon.svg
  1974
1986  
  RWPackwood.jpg Ted Kulongoski headshot Color 2007.JPG
Nominee Bob Packwood Ted Kulongoski
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote594,290501,963
Percentage52.1%44.0%

U.S. Senator before election

Bob Packwood
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Packwood
Republican

Republican incumbent Bob Packwood was re-elected to a third term, defeating Democratic state senator Ted Kulongoski and Libertarian Tonie Nathan.

Mount St. Helens erupted two days before the Oregon primaries. MSH80 eruption mount st helens 05-18-80.jpg
Mount St. Helens erupted two days before the Oregon primaries.

The primary elections were held on May 20, 1980 in conjunction with the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries. Interest in the primaries was somewhat subdued because they occurred just two days after the eruption of Mount St. Helens, about 60 miles (97 km) north of Oregon's most populous city, Portland. [30] [31] The eruption (which was a VEI = 5 event) was the first significant one to occur in the contiguous 48 U.S. states since the 1915 eruption of California's Lassen Peak. [32]

Republican primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1980 [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bob Packwood 191,12762.43%
Republican Brenda Jose45,97315.02%
Republican Kenneth Brown23,5997.71%
Republican Rosalie Huss22,9297.49%
Republican William D. Severn22,2816.08%
Republican miscellaneous2270.07%
Total votes306,136100.00%
Democratic primary for the United States Senate from Oregon, 1980 [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ted Kulongoski 161,15347.66%
Democratic Charles O. Porter 69,64620.60%
Democratic Jack Sumner46,10713.64%
Democratic John Sweeney39,96111.82%
Democratic Gene Arvidson20,5486.08%
Democratic miscellaneous6920.21%
Total votes338,110100.00%

In addition to the candidates chosen in the primaries, Tonie Nathan was chosen as the Libertarian Party candidate at that party's convention in June. [35] Previously, Nathan had been the Libertarian vice presidential candidate in the 1972 Presidential election and was the first woman to ever receive an electoral vote in a U.S. Presidential election from a faithless elector who voted for her. [36]

As a well-funded incumbent, Packwood was expected to have a fairly easy road to re-election and led by double digit margins in most early polls. [37] [38] Packwood chose defense spending as his key issue in the campaign while Kulongoski focused on the economy and unemployment. Nathan hammered at core Libertarian principles of limited government, with a goal of 5% of votes which would keep the party as a valid minor party. [39] The three candidates agreed to three debates, to be held across the state in the summer of 1980. [40] As the challenger, Kulongoski aggressively attempted to engage Packwood in the debates, but the debate format did not allow the candidates to ask follow-up questions or rebut each other's statements and Packwood was largely able to avoid confrontation and stay above the fray. [39] As the campaign wore on, Kulongoski grew more confident and tried to appeal to Oregonians' independent values by saying that Packwood's enormous cash advantage was due to "eastern" money. [30]

Kulongoski closed to within a few points in some late polls, but with no mistakes made by Packwood and with the coattail effect of Ronald Reagan's Presidential victory, the incumbent achieved an electoral majority and a fairly comfortable 8-point margin over Kulongoski. Nathan finished with less than 4% of the vote, short of her goal of 5%. [41] With Republicans taking control of the U.S. Senate, Packwood was in line to become chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. Fellow Oregon Republican Senator Mark Hatfield was also elevated to chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, giving Oregon power in the Senate it had never seen before. [42]

United States Senate election in Oregon, 1980 [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bob Packwood 594,29052.13%
Democratic Ted Kulongoski 501,96344.03%
Libertarian Tonie Nathan 43,6863.83%
Total votes1,139,939100.00%
Republican hold

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania election
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg
  1974
1986  
  Arlen Specter 1960.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Arlen Specter Pete Flaherty
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote2,230,4042,122,391
Percentage50.5%48.0%

Pennsylvania Senatorial Election Results by County, 1980.svg
County results

U.S. Senator before election

Richard Schweiker
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Arlen Specter
Republican

Incumbent Republican Richard Schweiker decided to retire, instead of seeking a third term. Republican nominee Arlen Specter won the open seat, defeating Democratic nominee Peter F. Flaherty, former Mayor of Pittsburgh.

Arlen Specter, formerly a member of the Democratic party, had served as legal counsel to the Warren Commission, which investigated the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, after which he became District Attorney of Philadelphia. After he was defeated in a 1967 run for Mayor of Philadelphia, Specter was defeated in his bid for a third term as district attorney. He had run in the Republican primary in the 1976 Senate election, but was defeated by John Heinz and also ran in the 1978 gubernatorial election, but was defeated by Dick Thornburgh in the primary. Shortly after Specter opened a law practice in Atlantic City, New Jersey, incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Richard Schweiker unexpectedly announced his decision not to seek re-election to his seat. Specter, believing his reputation as a political moderate would help him in the general election, decided to run. In the Republican primary, Specter faced state senator Edward Howard, as well as Delaware County councilman Bud Haabestad, who was endorsed by Schweiker, then-governor Thornburgh and John Heinz. Specter ultimately defeated Haabestad, his most prominent challenger, by approximately 37,000 votes. [44]

In the Democratic primary, former Pittsburgh mayor Peter Flaherty contended with State Representative Joseph Rhodes, Jr., former U.S. Representative Edward Mezvinsky, State Senator H. Craig Lewis and Dean of Temple University Law School Peter J. Liacouras. Flaherty's name recognition enabled him to defeat his primary opponents, winning every county and thus winning the Democratic nomination. [44]

Flaherty employed a general election strategy he had used in two previous statewide office campaigns: win by a wide margin in the southwestern part of the state and narrowly win Philadelphia. He also hoped to carry several swing towns on account of his support from several labor unions. Specter hoped to carry his home town of Philadelphia, despite the Democrats' 7-2 voter registration advantage there. To this end, Specter sought endorsements among city Democratic leadership, including future mayor John F. Street. Specter hoped that, with wins in suburban areas and the heavily Republican central portion of the state in addition to winning Philadelphia, he would be able to win the election. Specter distanced himself from Governor Dick Thornburgh, who had become unpopular in some demographics due to his proposals to decrease welfare program spending. [44]

In the end, Specter defeated Flaherty by approximately 108,000 votes, carrying Philadelphia and its suburbs as well as the central and northeastern portions of the state. Flaherty performed strongest in the western portion of the state, including Cambria, Clarion, Erie and Mercer counties. [44]

Pennsylvania United States Senate Election, 1980 [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Arlen Specter 2,230,40450.48%
Democratic Peter F. Flaherty 2,122,39148.04%
Socialist Workers Linda Mohrbacher27,2290.62%
Libertarian David K. Walter18,5950.42%
ConsumerLee Frissell16,0890.36%
Communist Frank Kinces3,3340.08%
Majority108,0132.44%
Turnout 4,418,042
Republican hold

South Carolina

South Carolina election
Flag of South Carolina.svg
  1974
1986  
  FritzHollings.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Ernest Hollings Marshall Mays
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote612,556257,946
Percentage70.4%29.6%

U.S. Senator before election

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Ernest Hollings
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Marshall Mays to win his third full term.

Democratic Primary
CandidateVotes%
Fritz Hollings 266,79681.2%
Nettie Durant Dickerson34,72010.6%
William P. Kreml27,0498.2%
Republican Primary
CandidateVotes%
Marshall Mays14,07542.6%
Charlie Rhodes11,39534.5%
Robert Carley7,57522.9%
Republican Primary Runoff
CandidateVotes%±%
Marshall Mays6,85364.8%+22.2%
Charlie Rhodes3,71735.2%+0.7%
South Carolina U.S. Senate Election, 1980
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Democratic Fritz Hollings 612,556 70.4% +1.0%
Republican Marshall Mays257,94629.6%+0.9%
No party Write-Ins 940.0%0.0%
Majority354,61040.8%+0.1%
Turnout 870,59670.5%+19.2%
Democratic hold

South Dakota

South Dakota election
Flag of South Dakota (1963-1992).svg
  1974
1986  
  JamesAbdnor.jpg George McGovern bioguide.jpg
Nominee James Abdnor George McGovern
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote190,594129,018
Percentage58.2%39.4%

80SDSenateCounties.PNG
County results

U.S. Senator before election

George McGovern
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

James Abdnor
Republican

Incumbent Democrat George McGovern ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by Republican James Abdnor, U.S. Representative.

Democratic primary results [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic George McGovern (Incumbent)44,82262.44%
Democratic Larry Schumaker26,95837.56%
Total votes71,780100.00%
Republican primary results [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican James Abdnor68,19672.93%
Republican Dale Bell25,31427.07%
Total votes93,510100.00%

McGovern was one of several liberal Democratic U.S. senators targeted for defeat in 1980 by the National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC), which put out a year's worth of negative portrayals of McGovern. [46] They and other pro-life groups especially focused on McGovern's support for pro-choice abortion laws. [47] McGovern faced a Democratic primary challenge for the first time, from a pro-life candidate. [48]

Abdnor, a four-term incumbent congressman who held identical positions to McGovern on farm issues, was solidly conservative on national issues, and was well liked within the state. [47] [49] Abdnor's campaign focused on both McGovern's liberal voting record and what it said was McGovern's lack of involvement in South Dakotan affairs. [47] McGovern made an issue of NCPAC's outside involvement, and that group eventually withdrew from the campaign after Abdnor denounced a letter they had sent out. [47] Far behind in the polls earlier, McGovern outspent Abdnor 2-to-1, hammered away at Abdnor's refusal to debate him (drawing attention to a slight speech defect Abdnor had), and, showing the comeback pattern of some of his past races in the state, closed the gap for a while. [47] [50] [51]

However, in the general election McGovern was solidly defeated, getting only 39 percent of the vote to Abdnor's 58 percent. [50] McGovern became one of many Democratic casualties of that year's Republican sweep, [51] which became known as the "Reagan Revolution".

General election results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±
Republican James Abdnor 190,594 58.20% +11.24%
Democratic George McGovern (Incumbent)129,01839.40%-13.65%
Independent Wayne Peterson7,8662.40%
Majority61,57618.80%+12.72%
Turnout 327,478
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Utah

Vermont

Vermont election
Flag of Vermont.svg
  1974
1986  
  Patrick Leahy 1979 congressional photo.jpg No image.svg
Nominee Patrick Leahy Stewart M. Ledbetter
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote104,089101,647
Percentage49.8%48.6%

U.S. Senator before election

Patrick Leahy
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Patrick Leahy
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Patrick Leahy ran successfully for reelection to a second term in the United States Senate, defeating Stewart M. Ledbetter

Democratic primary results [52]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Patrick Leahy (Incumbent)27,54897.5%
Democratic Other6962.5%
Total votes'28,244''100.0%'
Republican primary results [52]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Stewart M. Ledbetter 16,51835.3%
Republican James E. Mullin 12,25626.2%
Republican Tom Evslin 8,57518.3%
Republican T. Garry Buckley 5,20911.1%
Republican Robert Schuettinger 3,4507.4%
Republican Anthony N. Doria 4961.1%
Republican Other3160.7%
Total votes'46,820''100.0%'
Liberty Union primary results [52]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Liberty Union Earl S. Gardner 13580.4%
Liberty Union Other3319.6%
Total votes'168''100.0%'
United States Senate election in Vermont, 1980 [53]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Patrick Leahy (Incumbent)104,08949.8%
Republican Steward M. Ledbetter 101,64748.6%
Independent Anthony N. Doria 1,7640.8%
Liberty Union Earl S. Gardner 1,5780.8%
N/AOther1100.0%
Total votes'209,188''100.0%'

Washington

Washington election
Flag of Washington.svg
  1974
1986  
  Bio gorton.jpg WarrenGMagnuson.jpg
Nominee Slade Gorton Warren Magnuson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote936,317792,052
Percentage54.2%45.8%

1980 Washington senate election.png
County Results

U.S. Senator before election

Warren Magnuson
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Slade Gorton
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Warren Magnuson lost re-election to State Attorney General Slade Gorton.

General election results [54]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Slade Gorton 936,31754.2%
Democratic Warren Magnuson 792,05245.8%
Total votes1,728,369100.0%
Turnout

Wisconsin

Wisconsin election
Flag of Wisconsin (1913-1981).svg
  1974
1986  
  SenatorKasten.jpg GaylordNelson.jpg
Nominee Bob Kasten Gaylord Nelson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,106,3111,065,487
Percentage50.2%48.3%

80WISenateCounties.PNG
County results

U.S. Senator before election

Gaylord Nelson
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Bob Kasten
Republican

Incumbent Democrat Gaylord Nelson ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by Bob Kasten, Former U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 9th congressional district (1975-1979). [3]

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Bob Kasten 1,106,31150.44%
Democratic Gaylord Nelson 1,065,48748.34%
Constitution James P. Wickstrom16,1560.73%
Libertarian Bervin J. Larson9,6790.44%
Socialist Workers Susan Hagen6,5020.30%
Majority40,2841.85%
Turnout 2,204,135
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The Independent caucused with the Democrats.
  2. Harry F. Byrd Jr. (VA) was an Independent who caucused with the Democrats. In some circles he is called an "Independent Democrat," but his actual registration was listed as "Independent." See, e.g., United States Congress. "Harry Flood Byrd, Jr. (id: B001209)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives (1981). "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 1980" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office.
  4. Kane, Paul (November 19, 2008). "Ted Stevens Loses Battle For Alaska Senate Seat". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  5. Robert KC Johnson, "Not Many Senators Have Found Themselves in Joe Lieberman's Predicament", History News Network, August 7, 2006. Accessed July 7, 2007.
  6. 1 2 Alex Koppelman, "Don't worry, be Mike Gravel", Salon.com , May 7, 2007. Accessed July 4, 2007.
  7. 1 2 3 Wallace Turner (August 28, 1980). "Gravel Loses a Bitter Fight In Senate Primary in Alaska" (fee required). The New York Times . Retrieved December 10, 2007.
  8. 1 2 Wallace Turner, "Side Issues Figure in Tricky Alaska Primary", The New York Times , July 6, 1982. Accessed July 7, 2007.
  9. 1 2 http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/80PRIM/80prim.pdf
  10. "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate - D Primary Race - Sep 09, 1980". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  11. "Our Campaigns - AZ US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  12. "Our Campaigns - AR US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  13. "Our Campaigns - CA US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  14. "Our Campaigns - CT US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  15. 1 2 Abramowitz, Alan I.; Segal, Jeffrey Allan (1992). Senate Elections. University of Michigan Press. p. 78. ISBN   0-472-08192-6 . Retrieved January 31, 2007.
  16. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  17. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  18. "United States Senator". Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  19. "IL US Senate Race - November 04, 1980". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  20. "Official Results". OurCampaigns. Retrieved March 6, 2009.
  21. 1 2 http://sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/results/80s/1980primcanv.pdf
  22. "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Mary L. Gojack". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  23. "Our Campaigns - PA Governor - D Primary Race - May 16, 1978". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  24. "Syracuse Mayoral Primary Results - 9wsyr.com". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  25. Abramowitz, Alan; Segal, Jeffrey Allan (January 1, 1992). Senate Elections. University of Michigan Press. ISBN   0472081926.
  26. "Our Campaigns - NY US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  27. "Our Campaigns - OH US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  28. "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Andrew M. Coats". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  29. "Our Campaigns - OK US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  30. 1 2 Sand, Joseph R. (May 20, 1980). "Early turnout moderate as primary vote begins". The Bulletin (Bend) . Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  31. Wicker, Tom (May 21, 1980). "Volcano upstages Oregon primary". Daytona Beach Morning Journal . Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  32. Fisher, Richard V.; Heiken, Grant; Hulen, Jeffrey (4 October 1998). "Volcanoes: Crucibles of Change". Princeton University Press. Retrieved 20 December 2017 via Google Books.
  33. "Oregon US Senate Republican Primary Race, May 20, 1980". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  34. "Oregon US Senate Democratic Primary Race, May 20, 1980". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  35. "Nathan, Wright named nominees by Libertarians". The Register-Guard . June 2, 1980. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  36. Boaz, David (August 29, 2008). "First Woman". Cato @ Liberty (Cato Institute). Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  37. Sand, Joseph R. (September 25, 1980). "Campaign '80: Oregon is interested in home races". The Telegraph (Nashua) . Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  38. "Poll shows Packwood well ahead of his foe". The Bulletin (Bend) . August 18, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  39. 1 2 "Senate race stirs memories of 1968". The Register-Guard . November 2, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  40. "Senate contestants schedule 3 debates". The Register-Guard . July 12, 1980. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  41. "Packwood wins Senate race". The Register-Guard . November 5, 1980. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  42. Forrester, Steve (November 9, 1980). "Never has state had so much power". The Register-Guard . Retrieved March 23, 2010.[ dead link ]
  43. "Oregon US Senate Race, Nov 4, 1980". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  44. 1 2 3 4 Kennedy, John J. (2006). Pennsylvania elections : statewide contests from 1950-2004. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America. pp. 61–63. ISBN   0761832793.
  45. 1 2 "South Dakota Secretary of State, Shantel Krebs" (PDF). www.sdsos.gov. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
    • Marano, Richard Michael, Vote Your Conscience: The Last Campaign of George McGovern, Praeger Publishers, 2003. ISBN   0-275-97189-9.
    pp. 22–23.
  46. 1 2 3 4 5 Petersen, Iver (November 5, 1980). "McGovern Fails in Attempt At Fourth Term as Senator" (fee required). The New York Times . p. A21.
  47. Marano, Vote Your Conscience, p. 27.
  48. Marano, Vote Your Conscience, p. 29.
  49. 1 2 Marano, Vote Your Conscience, p. 32.
  50. 1 2 "Nation: Reagan Gets a G.O.P Senate". Time . November 17, 1980.
  51. 1 2 3 "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  52. "General Election Results - U.S. Senator - 1914-2014" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  53. 40229Olympia, Contact Us Washington Secretary of StateElections Division520 Union Ave SEPO Box; Policy, WA 98504-0229902-4180 Privacy. "Election Search Results - Elections & Voting - WA Secretary of State" . Retrieved 20 December 2017.

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References