| Election Name: | 1980 United States Senate elections |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1978 United States Senate elections |
| Previous Year: | 1978 |
| Next Election: | 1982 United States Senate elections |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
| Seats For Election: | 34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 51 |
| Election Date: | November 4, 1980 |
| 1Blank: | Seats up |
| 2Blank: | Races won |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Image1: | Howard Baker photo.jpg |
| Leader1: | Howard Baker |
| Leader Since1: | March 5, 1980 |
| Leaders Seat1: | Tennessee |
| Seats Before1: | 41 |
| Seats After1: | 53 |
| Seat Change1: | 12 |
| Popular Vote1: | 26,597,169 |
| Percentage1: | 44.7% |
| 1Data1: | 10 |
| 2Data1: | 22 |
| Leader2: | Robert Byrd |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Leader Since2: | January 3, 1977 |
| Leaders Seat2: | West Virginia |
| Seats Before2: | 58 |
| Seats After2: | 46 |
| Seat Change2: | 12 |
| Popular Vote2: | 30,699,463 |
| Percentage2: | 51.6% |
| 1Data2: | 24 |
| 2Data2: | 12 |
| Party4: | Independent |
| Seats Before4: | 1 |
| Seats After4: | 1 |
| 1Data4: | 0 |
| 2Data4: | 0 |
| Map Size: | 320px |
| Majority Leader | |
| Before Election: | Robert Byrd |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Howard Baker |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
The 1980 United States Senate elections were held on November 4, coinciding with Ronald Reagan's victory in the presidential election. The 34 Senate seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. Reagan's large margin of victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter gave a huge boost to Republican Senate candidates, allowing them to flip 12 Democratic seats and win control of the chamber for the first time since the end of the 83rd Congress in January 1955.
This is one of only five occasions where ten or more Senate seats changed hands in an election, with the others being in 1920, 1932, 1946, and 1958. This is the earliest Senate election with a Senator that is still serving, that being Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
This was the largest Senate swing since 1958, and was the largest Republican gain since 1946, when the Republicans also picked up 12 seats. This was also the last time the Senate changed hands in a presidential election year until 2020 when Democrats won control, the last time the Republicans gained control of the Senate in a presidential election year, and the last time Maryland elected a Republican to the Senate. These elections were also the last time the winner of the presidential election had coattails in the Senate until 2004.
As of 2023, this is the last election cycle in which an incumbent Democratic senator lost a bid for re-election while the Democratic nominee for president simultaneously carried that same state.
| 46 | 1 | 53 | |
| Democratic | I | Republican |
| Parties | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | Independent | Libertarian | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last elections (1978) Before these elections | 58 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Not up | 34 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 66 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Up | 24 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incumbent retired | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incumbent ran | 22 | 7 | — | — | — | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 6 | — | — | — | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 Democrats replaced by 9 Republicans< | --GA, ID, IN, IA, NH, NC, SD, WA, WI--> | — | — | — | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Democrats replaced by 3 Republicans< | --AL, AK, FL--> | — | — | — | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | 10 | 19 | 0 | — | — | 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total elected | 12 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net gain/loss | 12 | 12 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationwide vote | 30,699,463 | 26,597,169 | 112,242 | 401,077 | 1,658,979 | 59,468,930 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share | 51.62% | 44.73% | 0.19% | 0.67% | 2.79% | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | 46 | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | |||||||||||
| width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | |
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | |||||||||||
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | |||||||||||
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | |||||||||||
| Majority → | D | |||||||||||||||||||
| R | I | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | ||||||||||||
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | |||||||||||
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | |||||||||||
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | |||||||||||
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | |||||||||||
| width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | width=10% | D | |
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | |||||||||||
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | |||||||||||
| D | D | D | D | D | D | I | R | R | R | |||||||||||
| Majority → | ||||||||||||||||||||
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | |||||||||||
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | |||||||||||
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | |||||||||||
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | |||||||||||
| R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Key |
|
|---|
Three Republicans and two Democrats retired instead of seeking re-election.
One Republican and twelve Democrats sought re-election but lost in the primary or general election.
| State | Senator | Replaced by | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | (lost primary) | ||||
| Alaska | (lost primary) | ||||
| Florida | (lost primary) | ||||
| Georgia | |||||
| Idaho | |||||
| Indiana | |||||
| Iowa | |||||
| New Hampshire | |||||
| New York | (lost primary) | ||||
| North Carolina | |||||
| South Dakota | |||||
| Washington | |||||
| Wisconsin |
One Democrat resigned on April 12, 1982, and was later replaced by Republican appointee.
There were no special elections in 1980.
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 | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||||||
| Alabama | Democratic | 1978 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. Incumbent resigned January 2, 1981 to give successor advantageous seniority. Winner appointed the same day. | nowrap | |||||
| Alaska | Democratic | 1968 1974 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | |||||
| Arizona | Republican | 1952 1958 1964 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Arkansas | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| California | Democratic | 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Colorado | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Connecticut | Democratic | 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | nowrap | |||||
| Florida | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected. Republican gain. Incumbent resigned December 31, 1980 to give successor preferential seniority. Winner appointed January 1, 1981. | nowrap | |||||
| Georgia | Democratic | 1956 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | |||||
| Hawaii | Democratic | 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Idaho | Democratic | 1956 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | |||||
| Illinois | Democratic | 1970 1974 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Democratic hold. | nowrap | |||||
| Indiana | Democratic | 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | |||||
| Iowa | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | |||||
| Kansas | Republican | 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Kentucky | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Louisiana | Democratic | 1948 1950 1956 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Maryland | Republican | 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Missouri | Democratic | 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Nevada | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| New Hampshire | Democratic | 1975 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. Incumbent resigned December 29, 1980 to give successor preferential seniority. Winner appointed December 30, 1980. | nowrap | |||||
| New York | Republican | 1956 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent lost renomination, then ran as the Liberal nominee but lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican hold. | nowrap | |||||
| North Carolina | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | |||||
| North Dakota | Republican | 1945 1946 1950 1956 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. | nowrap | |||||
| Ohio | Democratic | 1974 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Oklahoma | Republican | 1968 1974 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. | nowrap | |||||
| Oregon | Republican | 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Pennsylvania | Republican | 1968 1974 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected. Republican hold. | nowrap | |||||
| South Carolina | Democratic | 1966 1968 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| South Dakota | Democratic | 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | |||||
| Utah | Republican | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Vermont | Democratic | 1974 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |||||
| Washington | Democratic | 1944 1944 1950 1956 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | |||||
| Wisconsin | Democratic | 1962 1968 1974 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected. Republican gain. | nowrap | |||||
In nineteen races the margin of victory was under 10%.
| State | Party of winner | Margin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 0.58% | |
| Idaho | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 0.97% | |
| Arizona | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 1.08% | |
| Vermont | data-sort-value=-1 | Democratic | 1.32% | |
| New York | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 1.34% | |
| Colorado | data-sort-value=-1 | Democratic | 1.64% | |
| Georgia | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 1.74% | |
| Wisconsin | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 1.85% | |
| Pennsylvania | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 2.44% | |
| Alabama | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 3.10% | |
| Florida | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 3.32% | |
| New Hampshire | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 4.29% | |
| Missouri | data-sort-value=-1 | Democratic | 4.33% | |
| Indiana | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 7.58% | |
| Alaska | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 7.75% | |
| Iowa | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 7.95% | |
| Oregon | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 8.10% | |
| Washington | data-sort-value=.5 | Republican (flip) | 8.35% | |
| Oklahoma | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 9.92% |
| Election Name: | Alabama election |
| Country: | Alabama |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Alabama |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Alabama |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | JeremiahDentonSenate.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Jeremiah Denton |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 650,363 |
| Percentage1: | 50.2% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 610,175 |
| Percentage2: | 47.1% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Alabama.
See also: List of United States senators from Alabama.
Incumbent Democrat Donald Stewart decided to run for his first full term, but was defeated in the primary. In November, Republican Jeremiah Denton defeated Democrat Jim Folsom, Public Service Commissioner.
| Election Name: | Alaska election |
| Country: | Alaska |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Alaska |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Alaska |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Frankmurkowski.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Frank Murkowski |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 84,159 |
| Percentage1: | 53.69% |
| Nominee2: | Clark Gruening |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 72,007 |
| Percentage2: | 45.93% |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | Mike Gravel |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Frank Murkowski |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| Map Size: | 350px |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Alaska.
See also: List of United States senators from Alaska.
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.
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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3] [4] A group of Democrats, including future governor Steve Cowper, campaigned against Gravel on the land bill issue.[5]
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.[4] Another factor may have been Alaska's blanket primary system, which allows unlimited cross-over voting across parties and from its large unaffiliated electorate;[5] Republicans believed Gruening would be an easier candidate to defeat in the general election.[4] 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."[3] In the August 26, 1980, primary Gruening defeated Gravel by 11 percentage points.
| Election Name: | Arizona election |
| Country: | Arizona |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Arizona |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Arizona |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Senator Goldwater 1960.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Barry Goldwater |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 432,371 |
| Percentage1: | 49.46% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 422,972 |
| Percentage2: | 48.38% |
| Map Size: | 210px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Arizona.
See also: List of United States senators from Arizona.
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.
| Election Name: | Arkansas election |
| Country: | Arkansas |
| Flag Year: | 1924 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Arkansas |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Arkansas |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Dale Bumpers.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Dale Bumpers |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 477,905 |
| Percentage1: | 59.1% |
| Nominee2: | William Clark |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 330,576 |
| Percentage2: | 40.9% |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | Dale Bumpers |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Dale Bumpers |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Arkansas.
See also: List of United States senators from Arkansas. Incumbent Democrat Dale Bumpers won re-election to a second term over real estate broker William Clark.
| Election Name: | California election |
| Country: | California |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in California |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in California |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | AlanCranston.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Alan Cranston |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 4,705,399 |
| Percentage1: | 56.5% |
| Nominee2: | Paul Gann |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 3,093,426 |
| Percentage2: | 37.2% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | Alan Cranston |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Alan Cranston |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in California.
See also: List of United States senators from California. 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.
| Election Name: | Colorado election |
| Country: | Colorado |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Colorado |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Colorado |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Gary hart.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Gary Hart |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 590,501 |
| Percentage1: | 50.3% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 571,295 |
| Percentage2: | 48.7% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Colorado.
See also: List of United States senators from Colorado. Incumbent Democrat Gary Hart won re-election to a second term over Mary Estill Buchanan, Colorado Secretary of State.
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Connecticut.
See also: List of United States senators from Connecticut.
| Election Name: | Connecticut election |
| Country: | Connecticut |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Connecticut |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Connecticut |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Rep Chris Dodd.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Chris Dodd |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 763,969 |
| Percentage1: | 56.3% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 581,884 |
| Percentage2: | 42.9% |
| Map Size: | 220px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
Incumbent Democrat Abraham Ribicoff decided to retire. Democrat Chris Dodd won the open seat over James Buckley, former U.S. senator from New York.
| Election Name: | Florida election |
| Country: | Florida |
| Flag Year: | 1900 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Florida |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Florida |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Hawkins, Paula.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Paula Hawkins |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,822,460 |
| Percentage1: | 51.7% |
| Nominee2: | Bill Gunter |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,705,409 |
| Percentage2: | 48.3% |
| U.S. senator | |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| Before Election: | Richard Stone |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Paula Hawkins |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Florida.
See also: List of United States senators from Florida. 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.
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.[6] 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. As was the case in 1974, Stone and Gunter were forced into a runoff but, unlike 1974, Gunter won the nomination.
| Election Name: | Georgia election |
| Country: | Georgia (U.S. state) |
| Flag Year: | 1956 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate special election in Georgia |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Georgia |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | MackMattingly.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Mack Mattingly |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 803,686 |
| Percentage1: | 50.87% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 776,143 |
| Percentage2: | 49.13% |
| Map Size: | 240px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Georgia.
See also: List of United States senators from Georgia. 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.
| Election Name: | Hawaii election |
| Country: | Hawaii |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Hawaii |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Hawaii |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | File:Daniel Inouye.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Daniel Inouye |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 224,485 |
| Percentage1: | 77.95% |
| Nominee2: | Cooper Brown |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 53,068 |
| Percentage2: | 18.43% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Daniel Inouye |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Daniel Inouye |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Hawaii.
See also: List of United States senators from Hawaii.
Incumbent Democrat Daniel Inouye was re-elected to a fourth term, defeating Republican Cooper Brown.
| Election Name: | Idaho election |
| Country: | Idaho |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Idaho |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Idaho |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Stevesymms.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Steve Symms |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 218,701 |
| Percentage1: | 49.7% |
| Nominee2: | Frank Church |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 214,439 |
| Percentage2: | 48.8% |
| U.S. senator | |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| Before Election: | Frank Church |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Steve Symms |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Idaho.
See also: List of United States senators from Idaho. Incumbent Democrat Frank Church ran for re-election to a fifth term, but was defeated by Republican Steve Symms, U.S. Congressman.
| Election Name: | Illinois election |
| Country: | Illinois |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Illinois |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Illinois |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Alan John Dixon.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Alan Dixon |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,565,302 |
| Percentage1: | 56.0% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,946,296 |
| Percentage2: | 42.5% |
| Map Size: | 170px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Illinois.
See also: List of United States senators from Illinois. Incumbent Democrat Adlai Stevenson III decided to retire. Democrat Alan J. Dixon won the open seat, beating Dave O'Neal, Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
| Election Name: | Indiana election |
| Country: | Indiana |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Indiana |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Indiana |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Dan Quayle 1977.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Dan Quayle |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,182,414 |
| Percentage1: | 53.8% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,015,922 |
| Percentage2: | 46.2% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Indiana.
See also: List of United States senators from Indiana. Incumbent Democrat Birch Bayh ran for a fourth term, but was defeated by Republican Dan Quayle.
Birch Bayh, the incumbent senator, faced no opposition within the 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.
| | colspan=4 | Republican gain from Democratic
| Election Name: | Iowa election |
| Country: | Iowa |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Iowa |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Iowa |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Chuck Grassley 1979 congressional photo.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Chuck Grassley |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 683,014 |
| Percentage1: | 53.49% |
| Nominee2: | John Culver |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 581,545 |
| Percentage2: | 45.54% |
| Map Size: | 230px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | John Culver |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Chuck Grassley |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Iowa.
See also: List of United States senators from Iowa.
Incumbent Democrat 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.
| Election Name: | Kansas election |
| Country: | Kansas |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Kansas |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Kansas |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Nominee1: | Bob Dole |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 598,686 |
| Percentage1: | 63.76% |
| Nominee2: | John Simpson |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 340,271 |
| Percentage2: | 36.24% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Bob Dole |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Bob Dole |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Kansas.
See also: List of United States senators from Kansas.
Incumbent Republican Bob Dole won re-election to a third term, defeating Democratic (formerly Republican) State Senator John Simpson.
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Kentucky.
See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky.
| Election Name: | Kentucky election |
| Country: | Kentucky |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Kentucky |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Kentucky |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | File:Wendell-H-Ford.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Wendell Ford |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 720,891 |
| Percentage1: | 65.13% |
| Nominee2: | Mary Louise Foust |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 386,029 |
| Percentage2: | 34.87% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
Democrat Wendell Ford won re-election, defeating Republican Mary Louise Foust.
| Election Name: | Louisiana election |
| Country: | Louisiana |
| Flag Year: | 1912 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Louisiana |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Louisiana |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Election Date: | September 13, 1980 |
| Nominee1: | Russell B. Long |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 484,770 |
| Percentage1: | 57.64% |
| Nominee2: | Woody Jenkins |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 325,992 |
| Percentage2: | 38.76% |
| Map Size: | 285px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Russell B. Long |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Russell B. Long |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Louisiana.
See also: List of United States senators from Louisiana.
Incumbent Russell B. Long ran for re-election to a seventh and final term, defeating State Representative Woody Jenkins.
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Maryland.
See also: List of United States senators from Maryland.
| Election Name: | Maryland election |
| Country: | Maryland |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Maryland |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Maryland |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | File:Charlesmathiasjr (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Charles Mathias |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 850,970 |
| Percentage1: | 66.17% |
| Nominee2: | Edward T. Conroy |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 435,118 |
| Percentage2: | 33.83% |
| Map Size: | 275px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Charles Mathias |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Charles Mathias |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
Incumbent Republican Charles Mathias ran for re-election to a third term and defeated Democratic State Senator Edward T. Conroy.
| Election Name: | Missouri election |
| Country: | Missouri |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Missouri |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Missouri |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Nominee1: | Thomas Eagleton |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,074,859 |
| Percentage1: | 52.00% |
| Nominee2: | Gene McNary |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 985,399 |
| Percentage2: | 47.67% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Thomas Eagleton |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Thomas Eagleton |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Missouri.
See also: List of United States senators from Missouri.
Incumbent Democrat Thomas Eagleton won reelection, defeating Republican County Executive of St. Louis County Gene McNary.
| Election Name: | Nevada election |
| Country: | Nevada |
| Flag Year: | 1929 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Nevada |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Nevada |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Paul Laxalt (colorized).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Paul Laxalt |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 144,224 |
| Percentage1: | 58.5% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 92,129 |
| Percentage2: | 37.4% |
| Map Size: | 230px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Nevada.
See also: List of United States senators from Nevada. Incumbent Republican Paul Laxalt won re-election to a second term over Mary Gojack, former State senator (1974–1978) and former State Assemblywoman (1972–1974).[7]
| Election Name: | New Hampshire election |
| Country: | New Hampshire |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974–75 United States Senate elections in New Hampshire#Special election: September 1975 |
| Previous Year: | 1975 (special) |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in New Hampshire |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Warren Rudman.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Warren Rudman |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 195,559 |
| Percentage1: | 52.2% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 179,455 |
| Percentage2: | 47.8% |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in New Hampshire.
See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire. 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.
| Election Name: | New York election |
| Country: | New York |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in New York |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in New York |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Alfonse D'Amato.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Al D'Amato |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,699,652 |
| Percentage1: | 44.9% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,618,661 |
| Percentage2: | 43.5% |
| Image3: | Jacob Javits.jpg |
| Party3: | Liberal Party (New York) |
| Popular Vote3: | 664,544 |
| Percentage3: | 11.1% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in New York.
See also: List of United States senators from New York. Incumbent Republican 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.
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.[8]
| Election Name: | North Carolina election |
| Country: | North Carolina |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in North Carolina |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate elections in North Carolina |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Flag Year: | 1885 |
| Image1: | John P. East.jpg |
| Nominee1: | John East |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 898,064 |
| Percentage1: | 50.0% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 887,653 |
| Percentage2: | 49.4% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in North Carolina.
See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina. Incumbent Democrat Robert Morgan lost re-election a second term to Republican John East, Professor at East Carolina University.
| Election Name: | North Dakota election |
| Country: | North Dakota |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in North Dakota |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in North Dakota |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Mark Andrews (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Mark Andrews |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 210,347 |
| Percentage1: | 70.29% |
| Nominee2: | Kent Johanneson |
| Party2: | North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party |
| Popular Vote2: | 86,658 |
| Percentage2: | 28.96% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | Milton R. Young |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Election: | Mark Andrews |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in North Dakota.
See also: List of United States senators from North Dakota.
Incumbent Republican Milton Young was retiring. Republican Mark Andrews defeated North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Kent Johanneson to fill the vacated seat.
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.
| Election Name: | Ohio election |
| Country: | Ohio |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Ohio |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Ohio |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | John Glenn 97th Congress 1981.jpg |
| Nominee1: | John Glenn |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,770,786 |
| Percentage1: | 68.8% |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,137,695 |
| Percentage2: | 28.3% |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Ohio.
See also: List of United States senators from Ohio. 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.
| Election Name: | Oklahoma election |
| Country: | Oklahoma |
| Flag Year: | 1941 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Oklahoma |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Oklahoma |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Don Nickles.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Don Nickles |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 587,252 |
| Percentage1: | 53.5% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 400,230 |
| Percentage2: | 44.8% |
| Map Size: | 300px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Oklahoma.
See also: List of United States senators from Oklahoma. 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.[9]
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. 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 31, Nickles was the youngest Republican ever elected to the United States Senate.
| Election Name: | Oregon election |
| Country: | Oregon |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Oregon |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Oregon |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | RWPackwood.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Bob Packwood |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 594,290 |
| Percentage1: | 52.1% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 501,963 |
| Percentage2: | 44.0% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Oregon.
See also: List of United States senators from Oregon.
Republican incumbent Bob Packwood was re-elected to a third term, defeating Democratic state senator Ted Kulongoski and Libertarian Tonie Nathan.
See main article: 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. 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 60miles north of Oregon's most populous city, Portland.[10] [11] 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.[12]
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.[13] 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.[14]
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.[15] [16] 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.[17] The three candidates agreed to three debates, to be held across the state in the summer of 1980.[18] 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.[17] 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.[10]
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%.[19] 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.[20]
| Election Name: | Pennsylvania election |
| Country: | Pennsylvania |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Arlen Specter 1960.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Arlen Specter |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,230,404 |
| Percentage1: | 50.5% |
| Nominee2: | Pete Flaherty |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 2,122,391 |
| Percentage2: | 48.0% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | Richard Schweiker |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Election: | Arlen Specter |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania.
See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania. 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 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.[21]
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.[21]
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.[21]
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.[21]
| Election Name: | South Carolina election |
| Country: | South Carolina |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in South Carolina |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in South Carolina |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | FritzHollings.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Ernest Hollings |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 612,556 |
| Percentage1: | 70.4% |
| Nominee2: | Marshall Mays |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 257,946 |
| Percentage2: | 29.6% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in South Carolina.
See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Marshall Mays to win his fourth (his third full) term.
| Election Name: | South Dakota election |
| Country: | South Dakota |
| Flag Year: | 1963 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in South Dakota |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in South Dakota |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | JamesAbdnor.jpg |
| Nominee1: | James Abdnor |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 190,594 |
| Percentage1: | 58.2% |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 129,018 |
| Percentage2: | 39.4% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in South Dakota.
See also: List of United States senators from South Dakota. Incumbent Democrat George McGovern ran for re-election to a fourth term, but was defeated by Republican James Abdnor, U.S. Representative.
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. They and other anti-abortion groups especially focused on McGovern's support for pro-choice abortion laws.[22] McGovern faced a Democratic primary challenge for the first time, from an anti-abortion candidate.
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.[22] 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.[22] 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.[22] 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.[22]
However, in the general election McGovern was solidly defeated, getting only 39 percent of the vote to Abdnor's 58 percent. McGovern became one of many Democratic casualties of that year's Republican sweep,[23] which became known as the "Reagan Revolution".
| Election Name: | Utah election |
| Country: | Utah |
| Flag Year: | 1913 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Utah |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Utah |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | File:Jake Garn.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Jake Garn |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 437,675 |
| Percentage1: | 73.65% |
| Nominee2: | Dan Berman |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 151,454 |
| Percentage2: | 25.49% |
| Map Size: | 220px |
| U.S. Senator | |
| Before Election: | Jake Garn |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Jake Garn |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Utah.
See also: List of United States senators from Utah.
Incumbent Republican Jake Garn ran successfully for reelection to a second term in the United States Senate, defeating Democrat Dan Berman.
| Election Name: | Vermont election |
| Country: | Vermont |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Vermont |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Vermont |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Patrick Leahy 1979 congressional photo.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Patrick Leahy |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 104,089 |
| Percentage1: | 49.8% |
| Nominee2: | Stewart M. Ledbetter |
| Party2: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 101,647 |
| Percentage2: | 48.6% |
| Map Size: | 219px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | Patrick Leahy |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Patrick Leahy |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Vermont.
See also: List of United States senators from Vermont.
Incumbent Democrat Patrick Leahy ran successfully for reelection to a second term in the United States Senate, defeating Stewart M. Ledbetter in what was the closest race of his Senatorial career.
| Election Name: | Washington election |
| Country: | Washington |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Washington |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Washington |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | Bio gorton.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Slade Gorton |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 936,317 |
| Percentage1: | 54.2% |
| Nominee2: | Warren Magnuson |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 792,052 |
| Percentage2: | 45.8% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | Warren Magnuson |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Slade Gorton |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Washington.
See also: List of United States senators from Washington. Incumbent Democrat Warren Magnuson lost re-election to State Attorney General Slade Gorton.
| Election Name: | Wisconsin election |
| Country: | Wisconsin |
| Flag Year: | 1913 |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Wisconsin |
| Previous Year: | 1974 |
| Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Wisconsin |
| Next Year: | 1986 |
| Image1: | SenatorKasten.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Bob Kasten |
| Party1: | Republican Party (US) |
| Popular Vote1: | 1,106,311 |
| Percentage1: | 50.2% |
| Nominee2: | Gaylord Nelson |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (US) |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,065,487 |
| Percentage2: | 48.3% |
| Map Size: | 220px |
| U.S. senator | |
| Before Election: | Gaylord Nelson |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
| After Election: | Bob Kasten |
| After Party: | Republican Party (US) |
See main article: 1980 United States Senate election in Wisconsin.
See also: List of United States senators from Wisconsin. 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).