Election Name: | 1980 United States Senate election in Florida |
Country: | Florida |
Flag Year: | 1900 |
Type: | presidential |
Ongoing: | no |
Previous Election: | 1974 United States Senate election in Florida |
Previous Year: | 1974 |
Election Date: | November 4, 1980 |
Next Election: | 1986 United States Senate election in Florida |
Next Year: | 1986 |
Image1: | File:Paula Hawkins.jpg |
Nominee1: | Paula Hawkins |
Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
Popular Vote1: | 1,822,460 |
Percentage1: | 51.66% |
U.S. Senator | |
Before Election: | Richard Stone |
Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
After Election: | Paula Hawkins |
After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
Nominee2: | Bill Gunter |
Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
Popular Vote2: | 1,705,409 |
Percentage2: | 48.34% |
Map Size: | 300px |
The 1980 United States Senate election in Florida took place on November 4, 1980, alongside other elections for President of the United States as well as to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Richard Stone ran for re-election to a second term, but lost the Democratic primary election to Bill Gunter. Republican Paula Hawkins defeated Gunter in the general election.[1]
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.[2] 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.