Election to the United States Senate in 1980

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The 1980 election to the United States Senate for the 97th United States Congress took place on November 4th. It was part of the election in the United States that day and coincided with the presidential election in which Ronald Reagan was first elected president. In the course of mobilizing for Reagan, the Republicans were able to gain 12 seats in the Senate and replace the Democrats as the majority party.

blue: Democrats, red: Republicans, lighter shade: profits

The 34 Class III seats were up for election, there were no by-elections for senators who left office prematurely. 24 of these senators were from the Democratic Party and 10 from the Republicans . 16 incumbents were able to defend their seats, 10 Democrats and 6 Republicans. The Republicans were also able to win 12 seats previously held by Democrats, while the Democrats did not manage to win a Republican seat. The Democrats lost their previous majority in the Senate of 58 seats and only got 46, while the Republicans improved from 41 to 53. The independent Senator was not available for election.

New Jersey Democratic Senator Harrison A. Williams resigned in March 1980 to forestall Senate expulsion. As his successor, Governor Thomas Kean appointed the Republican Nicholas F. Brady . That increased the majority of Republicans to 54 seats, while the Democrats fell to 45.

Results

Country Acting Senator Political party Result New senator
Alabama Donald W. Stewart democrat Gain Republicans Jeremiah Denton
Alaska Mike Gravel democrat Gain Republicans Frank Murkowski
Arizona Barry Goldwater republican re-elected Barry Goldwater
Arkansas Dale Bumpers democrat re-elected Dale Bumpers
Colorado Gary Hart democrat re-elected Gary Hart
Connecticut Abraham A. Ribicoff democrat held by Democrats Chris Dodd
Florida Richard Stone democrat Gain Republicans Paula Hawkins
Georgia Herman Talmadge democrat Gain Republicans Mack Mattingly
Hawaii Daniel Inouye democrat re-elected Daniel Inouye
Idaho Frank Church democrat Gain Republicans Steve Symms
Illinois Adlai Stevenson democrat held by Democrats Alan J. Dixon
Indiana Birch Bayh democrat Gain Republicans Dan Quayle
Iowa John Culver democrat Gain Republicans Chuck Grassley
California Alan Cranston democrat re-elected Alan Cranston
Kansas Bob Dole republican re-elected Bob Dole
Kentucky Wendell Ford democrat re-elected Wendell Ford
Louisiana Russell B. Long democrat re-elected Russell B. Long
Maryland Charles Mathias republican re-elected Charles Mathias
Missouri Thomas Eagleton democrat re-elected Thomas Eagleton
Nevada Paul Laxalt republican re-elected Paul Laxalt
New Hampshire John A. Durkin democrat Gain Republicans Warren Rudman
new York Jacob K. Javits republican held by Republicans Al D'Amato
North Carolina Robert Burren Morgan democrat Gain Republicans John Porter East
North Dakota Milton Young republican held by Republicans Mark Andrews
Ohio John Glenn democrat re-elected John Glenn
Oklahoma Henry Bellmon republican held by Republicans Don Nickles
Oregon Bob Packwood republican re-elected Bob Packwood
Pennsylvania Richard Schweiker republican held by Republicans Arlen Specter
South carolina Fritz Hollings democrat re-elected Fritz Hollings
South Dakota George McGovern democrat Gain Republicans James Abdnor
Utah Jake yarn republican re-elected Jake yarn
Vermont Patrick Leahy democrat re-elected Patrick Leahy
Washington Warren G. Magnuson democrat Gain Republicans Slade Gorton
Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson democrat Gain Republicans Bob box
  • re-elected: an elected incumbent was re-elected