1980 United States Senate elections

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 Class 3 (1974→1980)		24	10	0	—	—	34
Incumbent retired		2	3	—	—	—	5
	Held by same party	2	3	—	—	—	5
	Replaced by other party	0	0	—	—	—	0
	Result	2	3	—	—	—	5
Incumbent ran		22[b]	7[c]	—	—	—	29
	Won re-election	10	6	—	—	—	16
	Lost re-election	9 Democrats replaced by   9 Republicans		—	—	—	9
	Lost renomination, but held by same party	0	1	—	—	—	1
	Lost renomination, and party lost	3 Democrats replaced by   3 Republicans		—	—	—	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[d]	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

Source: Office of the Clerk^[1]

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.

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.

In nineteen races the margin of victory was under 10%.

Alabama election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Jeremiah Denton Jim Folsom Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 650,363 610,175 Percentage 50.2% 47.1%

County results Denton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Folsom:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Donald Stewart Democratic Elected U.S. senator Jeremiah Denton Republican

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.

Alaska election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Frank Murkowski Clark Gruening Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 84,159 72,007 Percentage 53.69% 45.93%

Results by state house district Murkowski:      50–60%      60–70% Gruening:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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.

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4][5] A group of Democrats, including future governor Steve Cowper, campaigned against Gravel on the land bill issue.^[6]

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.^[5] Another factor may have been Alaska's blanket primary system, which allows unlimited cross-over voting across parties and from its large unaffiliated electorate;^[6] Republicans believed Gruening would be an easier candidate to defeat in the general election.^[5] 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."^[4] In the August 26, 1980, primary Gruening defeated Gravel by 11 percentage points.

Arizona election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Barry Goldwater Bill Schulz Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 432,371 422,972 Percentage 49.46% 48.38%

County results Goldwater:      40–50%      50–60% Schulz:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

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.

Arkansas election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Dale Bumpers William Clark Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 477,905 330,576 Percentage 59.1% 40.9%

County results Bumpers:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Clark:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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.

California election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Alan Cranston Paul Gann Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 4,705,399 3,093,426 Percentage 56.5% 37.2%

County results Cranston:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Gann:      40–50%      50–60%

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.

Colorado election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Gary Hart Mary Estill Buchanan Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 590,501 571,295 Percentage 50.3% 48.7%

County results Hart:      50–60%      60–70% Bunchanan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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.

Connecticut election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Chris Dodd James Buckley Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 763,969 581,884 Percentage 56.3% 42.9%

County results   Municipality results Dodd:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Buckley:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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.

Florida election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Paula Hawkins Bill Gunter Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,822,460 1,705,409 Percentage 51.7% 48.3%

County results Hawkins:      50–60%      60–70% Gunter:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

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.^[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.^[13] 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.^[13] As was the case in 1974, Stone and Gunter were forced into a runoff but, unlike 1974, Gunter won the nomination.^{[citation needed]}

Georgia election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Mack Mattingly Herman Talmadge Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 803,686 776,143 Percentage 50.87% 49.13%

County results Mattingly:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Talmadge:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

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.^[1]

Hawaii election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Daniel Inouye Cooper Brown Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 224,485 53,068 Percentage 77.95% 18.43%

County results Inouye:      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Daniel Inouye Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Daniel Inouye was re-elected to a fourth term, defeating Republican Cooper Brown.

Idaho election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Steve Symms Frank Church Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 218,701 214,439 Percentage 49.7% 48.8%

County results Symms:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Church:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

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.

Illinois election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Alan Dixon Dave O'Neal Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,565,302 1,946,296 Percentage 56.0% 42.5%

County results Dixon:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% O'Neal:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

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

Indiana election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Dan Quayle Birch Bayh Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,182,414 1,015,922 Percentage 53.8% 46.2%

County results Quayle:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Bayh:      50–60%

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.

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.

Iowa election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Chuck Grassley John Culver Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 683,014 581,545 Percentage 53.49% 45.54%

County results Grassley:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Culver:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election John Culver Democratic Elected U.S. senator Chuck Grassley Republican

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.

Kansas election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Bob Dole John Simpson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 598,686 340,271 Percentage 63.76% 36.24%

County Results Dole:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Bob Dole Republican Elected U.S. Senator Bob Dole Republican

Incumbent Republican Bob Dole won re-election to a third term, defeating Democratic (formerly Republican) State Senator John Simpson.

Kentucky election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Wendell Ford Mary Louise Foust Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 720,891 386,029 Percentage 65.13% 34.87%

County results Ford:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Foust:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Wendell Ford Democratic Elected U.S. senator Wendell Ford Democratic

Democrat Wendell Ford won re-election, defeating Republican Mary Louise Foust.

Louisiana election

← 1974 September 13, 1980 1986 →

Nominee Russell B. Long Woody Jenkins Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 484,770 325,992 Percentage 57.64% 38.76%

Parish Results Long:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Jenkins:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Russell B. Long Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Russell B. Long Democratic

Incumbent Russell B. Long ran for re-election to a seventh and final term, defeating State Representative Woody Jenkins.

Maryland election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Charles Mathias Edward T. Conroy Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 850,970 435,118 Percentage 66.17% 33.83%

County results Mathias:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Charles Mathias Republican Elected U.S. Senator Charles Mathias Republican

Incumbent Republican Charles Mathias ran for re-election to a third term and defeated Democratic State Senator Edward T. Conroy.

Missouri election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Thomas Eagleton Gene McNary Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,074,859 985,399 Percentage 52.00% 47.67%

County Results Eagleton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% McNary:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Thomas Eagleton Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Thomas Eagleton Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Thomas Eagleton won reelection, defeating Republican County Executive of St. Louis County Gene McNary.

Nevada election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Paul Laxalt Mary Gojack Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 144,224 92,129 Percentage 58.5% 37.4%

County results Laxalt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Paul Laxalt Republican Elected U.S. senator Paul Laxalt Republican

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).^[21]

New Hampshire election

← 1975 (special) 1986 →

Nominee Warren Rudman John Durkin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 195,559 179,455 Percentage 52.2% 47.8%

County results   Municipality results Rudman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Durkin:      50–60%      60–70%      80–90% Tie:      50%

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.

New York election

← 1974 1986 →

Nominee Al D'Amato Elizabeth Holtzman Jacob K. Javits Party Republican Democratic Liberal Popular vote 2,699,652 2,618,661 664,544 Percentage 44.9% 43.5% 11.1%

County results

U.S. senator before election Jacob K. Javits Republican Elected U.S. senator Al D'Amato Republican

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.^[24]