| Election Name: | 1980 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary |
| Country: | New Hampshire |
| Flag Year: | 1931 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1976 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary |
| Previous Year: | 1976 |
| Next Election: | 1984 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary |
| Next Year: | 1984 |
| Image1: | Ronald Reagan portrait.jpg |
| Candidate1: | Ronald Reagan |
| Color1: | E35e5e |
| Home State1: | California |
| Popular Vote1: | 72,983 |
| Percentage1: | 50.2% |
| Candidate2: | George H. W. Bush |
| Home State2: | Texas |
| Popular Vote2: | 33,443 |
| Percentage2: | 23.0% |
| Colour2: | 4997D0 |
| Image4: | Howard Baker photo.jpg |
| Image5: | John B. Anderson in New Jersey (cropped).jpg |
| Candidate4: | Howard Baker |
| Candidate5: | John H. Anderson |
| Home State4: | Tennessee |
| Home State5: | Illinois |
| Colour4: | 73638c |
| Colour5: | ffd42a |
| Popular Vote4: | 18,943 |
| Popular Vote5: | 14,458 |
| Percentage4: | 13.0% |
| Percentage5: | 10.0% |
| Delegate Count1: | 15 |
| Delegate Count2: | 5 |
| Delegate Count4: | 2 |
See main article: 1980 Republican Party presidential primaries.
The 1980 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary was held on February 26, 1980, in New Hampshire as one of the Republican Party's statewide nomination contests ahead of the 1980 United States presidential election. The contest drew national attention following George H. W. Bush's unexpected victory in the Iowa caucuses, which The New York Times had dubbed "the upset of the century."[1] Despite this earlier setback, Ronald Reagan would go on to win New Hampshire decisively, securing 72,983 votes (50.2%) compared to Bush's 33,443 (23.0%), with Howard Baker of Tennessee finishing third with 18,943 votes (13.0%) and John B. Anderson of Illinois taking fourth with 14,458 votes (10.0%).[2]
The Iowa results had shaken confidence in Reagan's frontrunner status and energized Bush's campaign operation. During the Iowa campaign, Bush had memorably criticized Reagan's economic proposals as "voodoo economics," a phrase that crystallized the growing tension between the two leading candidates.[3] This criticism particularly resonated with moderate Republicans who shared Bush's skepticism about Reagan's bold economic promises.
Following the Iowa setback, Reagan's campaign undertook a major strategic shift. The former Governor of California increased his direct voter contact, scheduling numerous town halls and personal appearances across the Granite State. In a dramatic move just before the primary, Reagan dismissed his campaign manager John Sears, marking a significant change in campaign leadership that would alter the race's dynamics.[4]
The campaign's defining moment came during a debate in Nashua on February 23, 1980. What was originally planned as a one-on-one debate between Reagan and Bush, sponsored by the Nashua Telegraph, became a flashpoint of controversy when Reagan invited other Republican candidates to participate. This led to a tense confrontation with the newspaper's editor, Jon Breen, who was serving as moderator.[5]
The situation reached its climax when Breen attempted to have Reagan's microphone cut off. Reagan responded with what would become one of the most memorable lines of the 1980 campaign: "I am paying for this microphone, Mr. Green [sic]!" The Washington Post reported that this moment demonstrated Reagan's commanding presence and quick wit, qualities that resonated strongly with New Hampshire voters.[6]
Economic concerns dominated the primary campaign, with inflation and unemployment at the forefront of voter concerns.[7] Reagan advocated for substantial tax cuts and reduced government regulation, while Bush promoted a more moderate economic approach. The ongoing Iran hostage crisis shaped foreign policy discussions, forcing candidates to outline their proposed responses to the situation in Tehran.[8]
Reagan's victory in New Hampshire proved both decisive and comprehensive. The Boston Globe reported that his commanding performance, winning 50.2% of the vote, set the stage for upcoming contests across the South.[9] Analysis of voting patterns showed Reagan performed particularly well in rural regions and among conservative voters, while Bush maintained stronger support in the more moderate suburban areas around Manchester and Nashua.[10]
The final delegate count gave Reagan 15 delegates to the Republican National Convention, while Bush received 5 delegates and Baker earned 2 delegates.[11]
The New Hampshire victory transformed the trajectory of Reagan's campaign. Political analysts Germond and Witcover noted that the win effectively erased concerns about his candidacy that had emerged after the Iowa defeat and reestablished him as the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination.[12]
While Bush's second-place finish kept him viable as Reagan's primary challenger, Baker's distant third-place showing effectively ended his hopes for the nomination, though he would remain in the race through March.[13] The "microphone moment" from the Nashua debate became a defining symbol of Reagan's campaign's renewed energy and determination, setting the tone for his eventual march to the nomination.[14]