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{{For|related races|1980 United States elections}} {{Short description|none}}
{{for|related races|1980 United States elections}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{short description|49th quadrennial U.S. presidential election}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox election {{Infobox election
| election_name = 1980 United States presidential election | election_name = 1980 United States presidential election
| country = United States | country = United States
| type = presidential
| flag_year = 1980
| ongoing = no
| type = presidential
| previous_election = 1976 United States presidential election | previous_election = 1976 United States presidential election
| previous_year = 1976 | previous_year = 1976
| election_date = November 4, 1980 | election_date = November 4, 1980
| next_election = 1984 United States presidential election | next_election = 1984 United States presidential election
| next_year = 1984 | next_year = 1984
| votes_for_election = 538 members of the ] | votes_for_election = 538 members of the ]
| needed_votes = 270 electoral | needed_votes = 270 electoral
| turnout = 52.6%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/data/turnout.php |title=Voter Turnout in Presidential Elections |website=Presidency.ucsb.edu |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> {{decrease}} 0.9 ] | turnout = 54.2%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present|title=National General Election VEP Turnout Rates, 1789-Present|work=United States Election Project|publisher=]|access-date=February 21, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725110444/http://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present|url-status=live}}</ref> {{decrease}} 0.6 ]
| image_size = x160px | image_size = x150px


<!-- Ronald Reagan --> <!-- Ronald Reagan -->| image1 = Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981-cropped.jpg
| nominee1 = ''']'''
| image1 = Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981-cropped.jpg
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| nominee1 = ''']'''
| home_state1 = ]
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| running_mate1 = ''']'''
| home_state1 = ]
| running_mate1 = ''']''' | electoral_vote1 = '''489'''
| electoral_vote1 = '''489''' | states_carried1 = '''44'''
| states_carried1 = '''44''' | popular_vote1 = '''43,903,230'''
| percentage1 = '''{{percent|<!-- REAGAN: --> 43,903,230|<!-- TOTAL: --> 86,509,678|1|pad=yes}}'''


<!-- Jimmy Carter -->| image2 = File:Carter cropped.jpg
| popular_vote1 = '''43,903,230'''
| nominee2 = ]
| percentage1 = '''{{percent|<!-- REAGAN: --> 43,903,230|<!-- TOTAL: --> 86,509,678|1|pad=yes}}'''
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| home_state2 = ]
| running_mate2 = ]
| electoral_vote2 = 49
| states_carried2 = 6 + ]
| popular_vote2 = 35,481,115
| percentage2 = {{percent|<!-- CARTER: --> 35,481,115|<!-- TOTAL: --> 86,509,678|1|pad=yes}}


<!-- John B. Anderson -->| image3 = File: John B. Anderson in New Jersey (cropped).jpg
<!-- Jimmy Carter -->
| nominee3 = ]
| image2 = Carter cropped.jpg
| party3 = ]{{efn|In some states labeled as National Unity, Anderson Coalition, Anderson Alternative or "Anderson for President". Was also the nominee of the Liberal Party of New York.}}
| nominee2 = ]
| home_state3 = ]
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| running_mate3 = ]
| home_state2 = ]
| electoral_vote3 = 0
| running_mate2 = ]
| states_carried3 = 0
| electoral_vote2 = 49
| popular_vote3 = 5,719,850
| states_carried2 = 6 + ]
| percentage3 = {{percent|<!-- ANDERSON: --> 5,719,850|<!-- TOTAL: --> 86,509,678|1|pad=yes}}
| popular_vote2 = 35,480,115
| percentage2 = {{percent|<!-- CARTER: --> 35,480,115|<!-- TOTAL: --> 86,509,678|1|pad=yes}}


| map_size = 350px
<!-- John B. Anderson -->
| map = {{1980 United States presidential election imagemap}}
| image3 = John Bayard Anderson (cropped).jpg
| map_caption = Presidential election results map. <span style="color:red;">Red</span> denotes states won by Reagan/Bush and <span style="color:blue;">blue</span> denotes those won by Carter/Mondale. Numbers indicate ] cast by each state.
| nominee3 = ]
| title = President
| party3 = independent (United States)
| home_state3 = ] | before_election = ]
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| running_mate3 = ]
| after_election = ]
| electoral_vote3 = 0
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
| states_carried3 = 0
| candidate3 = ]
| popular_vote3 = 5,719,850
| percentage3 = {{percent|<!-- ANDERSON: --> 5,719,850|<!-- TOTAL: --> 86,509,678|1|pad=yes}}

<!-- Map -->
| map_size = 350px
| map = {{1980 United States presidential election imagemap}}
| map_caption = Presidential election results map. <span style="color:red;">Red</span> denotes states won by Reagan/Bush and <span style="color:blue;">blue</span> denotes those won by Carter/Mondale. Numbers indicate ] cast by each state.
| title = President
| before_election = ]
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = ]
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}} }}
The '''1980 United States presidential election''' was the 49th quadrennial ]. It was held on Tuesday, November 4, 1980. ] nominee ] defeated incumbent ] president ] in a landslide victory. This was the second successive election in which the incumbent president was defeated, after Carter himself defeated ] four years earlier in ]. Additionally, it was only the second time, and the first in nearly 100 years that a Republican candidate defeated an incumbent Democrat. Due to the rise of ] following Reagan's victory, many historians consider the election to be a ] that began with ]'s ], and the 1980 marked the start of the ]. ] were held in the United States on November 4, 1980. ] nominee, former California governor ], defeated incumbent ] President ] in a ]. This was the second ] election in which an incumbent president was defeated, although ] assumed the presidency after President ] resigned and was not elected, as well as the first election since ] that saw the defeat of an incumbent Democratic president.


Carter's unpopularity and poor relations with Democratic leaders encouraged an intra-party challenge by Senator ], a younger brother of former President ]. Carter defeated Kennedy in the majority of the ], but Kennedy remained in the race until Carter was officially nominated at the ]. The ] were contested between Reagan, who had previously served as the Governor of California, former Congressman ] of Texas, Congressman ] of Illinois, and several other candidates. All of Reagan's opponents had dropped out by the end of the primaries, and the ] nominated a ticket consisting of Reagan and Bush. Anderson entered the race as an ] candidate, and convinced former Wisconsin Governor ], a Democrat, to serve as his running mate. Carter's unpopularity, his poor relations with Democratic leaders, and the poor economic conditions under his administration encouraged an unsuccessful ] from Massachusetts Senator ]. Meanwhile, the ] were contested between Reagan, former ] director ], Illinois Representative ], and several other candidates. All of Reagan's opponents had dropped out by the end of the primaries, and the Republicans nominated a ticket consisting of Reagan and Bush. Anderson entered the general election as an ] with ], former Wisconsin governor, as his running mate.


Reagan campaigned for increased defense spending, implementation of ] policies, and a balanced budget. His campaign was aided by Democratic dissatisfaction with Carter, the ], and a worsening economy at home marked by ]. Carter attacked Reagan as a dangerous right-wing extremist and warned that Reagan would cut ] and ]. Reagan campaigned for increased defense spending, ] policies, and a ]. His campaign was aided by Democratic dissatisfaction with Carter, the ], and a worsening economy marred by ]. Carter attacked Reagan as a dangerous right-wing extremist, and warned that Reagan would cut ] and ]. The Carter campaign was aided early on by the ] from the hostage crisis; as the crisis lasted to election day, it became a detriment.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Callaghan |first1=Karen J. |last2=Virtanen |first2=Simo |date=August 1993 |title=Revised Models of the "Rally Phenomenon": The Case of the Carter Presidency |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.2307/2131999 |journal=The Journal of Politics |language=en |volume=55 |issue=3 |pages=756–764 |doi=10.2307/2131999 |jstor=2131999 |issn=0022-3816 |access-date=December 6, 2023 |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102122002/https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.2307/2131999 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Reagan won the election in a landslide with 489 ] votes to Carter's 49, and 50.7% of the popular vote to Carter's 41.0%. Anderson won 6.6% of the popular vote and no electoral votes. Due to the rise of ] following Reagan's victory, historians have considered the election a ] that began with ]'s presidential campaign in ]. This election began an ongoing pattern in which ] states Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin voted for the same presidential candidate, with the sole exception of ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/17/politics/blue-wall-states-harris-trump-analysis/index.html|title=Why these three states are the most consistent tipping point in American politics|publisher=CNN|last=Brownstein|first=Ronald|date=September 16, 2024|access-date=September 16, 2024}}</ref>
Reagan won the election by a ], taking 489 ] and 50.7% of the popular vote, a landslide margin of 9.7%. Reagan received the highest number of electoral votes ever won by a non-incumbent presidential candidate. In the simultaneous Congressional elections, Republicans ] ] for the first time since 1955. Carter won 41% of the vote but carried just six states and ] Anderson won 6.6% of the popular vote, and he performed best among liberal Republican voters dissatisfied with Reagan. Reagan, then 69, was the oldest person to ever be elected to a first term.


==Background== ==Background==
{{Further|Foreign policy of the Jimmy Carter administration}}
Throughout the 1970s, the United States underwent a wrenching period of ] (low economic growth, high inflation, and interest rates), and ].<ref name="'70s 292">{{cite book|title=How We Got Here: The '70s|last=Frum|first=David|author-link=David Frum|year=2000|publisher=Basic Books|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-465-04195-7|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/292}}</ref> By October 1978, ]—a major oil supplier to the United States at the time—was experiencing a ] that severely damaged its oil infrastructure and greatly weakened its capability to produce oil.<ref name=uppafb>{{cite magazine |title=Oil Squeeze |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946222,00.html |magazine=Time |date=1979-02-05 |access-date=December 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307085655/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946222,00.html |archive-date=7 March 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 1979, shortly after Iran's leader ] ] fled the country, Iranian opposition figure ] ] ended his 14-year exile in France and returned to Iran to establish an ], largely hostile to American interests and influence in the country.<ref name=uppafb /> In the spring and summer of 1979, inflation was on the rise and various parts of the United States were experiencing energy shortages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/retirement-planning/inflation-proofing-6-07/overview/0607_inflation_proofing_ov.htm |title=Inflation-proofing |publisher=ConsumerReports.org |date=2010-02-11 |access-date=December 18, 2013 |archive-date=March 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328194412/http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/retirement-planning/inflation-proofing-6-07/overview/0607_inflation_proofing_ov.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>


Carter was widely blamed for the return of the long gas lines in the summer of 1979 that were last seen just after the 1973 ]. He planned on delivering his fifth major speech on energy, but he felt that the American people were no longer listening. Carter left for the presidential retreat of ]. "For more than a week, a veil of secrecy enveloped the proceedings. Dozens of prominent Democratic Party leaders—], governors, labor leaders, academics and clergy—were summoned to the mountaintop retreat to confer with the beleaguered president." His pollster, ], told him that the American people simply faced a crisis of confidence because of the assassinations of ], ] and ]; the ]; and ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/carter-crisis-speech/ |publisher=PBS |work=American Experience |title=Jimmy Carter |access-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019101602/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/carter-crisis-speech/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> On July 15, 1979, Carter gave a nationally televised address in which he identified what he believed to be a "crisis of confidence" among the American people. This came to be known as his "]", although Carter never used the word in the speech.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3402 |title="Crisis of Confidence" Speech (July 15, 1979) |publisher=Miller Center, University of Virginia |format=text and video |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721024329/http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3402 |archive-date=July 21, 2009 |df=mdy-all |date=October 20, 2016}}</ref>
Throughout the 1970s, the United States underwent a wrenching period of ], and intermittent energy crises.<ref name="'70s 292">{{cite book|title= How We Got Here: The '70s|last= Frum|first= David|author-link= David Frum|year= 2000|publisher= Basic Books|location= New York, New York|isbn= 0-465-04195-7|page= |url= https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/292}}</ref> By October 1978, Iran—a major oil supplier to the United States at the time—was experiencing a ] that severely damaged its oil infrastructure and greatly weakened its capability to produce oil.<ref name=uppafb>{{cite magazine| title=Oil Squeeze | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946222,00.html | magazine= Time magazine | date= 1979-02-05| access-date=December 18, 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080307085655/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,946222,00.html| archive-date= 7 March 2008| url-status=live}}</ref> In January 1979, shortly after Iran's leader ] ] fled the country, Iranian opposition figure ] ] ended his 14-year exile in France and returned to Iran to establish an Islamic Republic, largely hostile to American interests and influence in the country.<ref name=uppafb/> In the spring and summer of 1979, inflation was on the rise and various parts of the United States were experiencing energy shortages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/money/retirement-planning/inflation-proofing-6-07/overview/0607_inflation_proofing_ov.htm |title=Inflation-proofing |publisher=ConsumerReports.org |date=2010-02-11 |access-date=December 18, 2013}}</ref>


Many expected Senator Ted Kennedy to successfully challenge Carter in the upcoming Democratic primary. Kennedy's official announcement was scheduled for early November. A television ] of CBS a few days before the announcement went badly, however. Kennedy gave an "incoherent and repetitive"<ref name="bg-series-4">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/02/18/chapter_4_sailing_into_the_wind/ |title=Chapter 4: Sailing Into the Wind: Losing a quest for the top, finding a new freedom |author=Allis, Sam |newspaper=] |date=2009-02-18 |access-date=March 10, 2009 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174031/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/02/18/chapter_4_sailing_into_the_wind/ |url-status=live }}</ref> answer to the question of why he was running, and the polls, which showed him leading Carter by 58–25 in August now had him ahead 49–39.<ref>Time Magazine, 11/12/79</ref> Kennedy was also politically scarred by the 1969 ];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/17/686186156/how-ted-kennedys-80-challenge-to-president-carter-broke-the-democratic-party|title=How Ted Kennedy's '80 Challenge To President Carter 'Broke The Democratic Party'|publisher=NPR|date=January 17, 2019|access-date=October 26, 2023|archive-date=March 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314233440/https://www.npr.org/2019/01/17/686186156/how-ted-kennedys-80-challenge-to-president-carter-broke-the-democratic-party|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=chappaquiddick21980 /> the controversy had been a major reason for Kennedy's decision to not run for president in 1972 and 1976.<ref name=chappaquiddick21980>{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/07/chappaquiddick-anniversary-kennedy-kopechne|title="The Kennedy Machine Buried What Really Happened": Revisiting Chappaquiddick, 50 Years Later|first=Josh|last=Sanburn|publisher=Vanity Fair|date=July 17, 2019|access-date=October 26, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222094911/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/07/chappaquiddick-anniversary-kennedy-kopechne|url-status=live}}</ref>
Carter was widely blamed for the return of the long gas lines in the summer of 1979 that was last seen just after the 1973 ]. He planned on delivering his fifth major speech on energy, but he felt that the American people were no longer listening. Carter left for the presidential retreat of ]. "For more than a week, a veil of secrecy enveloped the proceedings. Dozens of prominent Democratic Party leaders—members of Congress, governors, labor leaders, academics and clergy—were summoned to the mountaintop retreat to confer with the beleaguered president." His pollster, ], told him that the American people simply faced a crisis of confidence because of the assassinations of ], ] and ]; the ]; and ].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/carter-crisis-speech/ | publisher = PBS | work = American Experience | title = Jimmy Carter}}</ref> On July 15, 1979, Carter gave a nationally televised address in which he identified what he believed to be a "crisis of confidence" among the American people. This came to be known as his "]", although Carter never used the word in the speech.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3402 |title="Crisis of Confidence" Speech (July 15, 1979) |publisher=Miller Center, University of Virginia |format=text and video |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721024329/http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3402 |archive-date=July 21, 2009 |df=mdy-all |date=October 20, 2016 }}</ref>

Many expected Senator Ted Kennedy to successfully challenge Carter in the upcoming Democratic primary. Kennedy's official announcement was scheduled for early November. A television ] of CBS a few days before the announcement went badly, however. Kennedy gave an "incoherent and repetitive"<ref name="bg-series-4">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/02/18/chapter_4_sailing_into_the_wind/ | title=Chapter 4: Sailing Into the Wind: Losing a quest for the top, finding a new freedom | author=Allis, Sam | newspaper=] | date=2009-02-18 | access-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref> answer to the question of why he was running, and the polls, which showed him leading the President by 58–25 in August now had him ahead 49–39.<ref>Time Magazine, 11/12/79</ref>


Meanwhile, Carter was given an opportunity for political redemption when the Khomeini regime again gained public attention and allowed the taking of ] by a group of ] students and militants at the U.S. embassy in ] on November 4, 1979. Carter's calm approach towards the handling of this crisis resulted in his approval ratings jump in the 60-percent range in some polls, due to a "rally round the flag" effect.<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=174181|title=Foreign Policy and Presidential Popularity: Creating Windows of Opportunity in the Perpetual Election|first1=Robin F.|last1=Marra|first2=Charles W.|last2=Ostrom|first3=Dennis M.|last3=Simon|date=1 January 1990|journal=The Journal of Conflict Resolution|volume=34|issue=4|pages=588–623|doi=10.1177/0022002790034004002|s2cid=154620443}}</ref> Meanwhile, Carter was given an opportunity for political redemption when the Khomeini regime again gained public attention and allowed the taking of ] by a group of ] students and militants at the U.S. embassy in ] on November 4, 1979. Carter's calm approach towards the handling of this crisis resulted in his approval ratings jump in the 60-percent range in some polls, due to a "rally round the flag" effect.<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=174181|title=Foreign Policy and Presidential Popularity: Creating Windows of Opportunity in the Perpetual Election|first1=Robin F.|last1=Marra|first2=Charles W.|last2=Ostrom|first3=Dennis M.|last3=Simon|date=1 January 1990|journal=The Journal of Conflict Resolution|volume=34|issue=4|pages=588–623|doi=10.1177/0022002790034004002|s2cid=154620443}}</ref>


By the beginning of the election campaign, the prolonged ] had sharpened public perceptions of a national crisis.<ref></ref> On April 25, 1980, Carter's ability to use the hostage crisis to regain public acceptance eroded when his high risk ] ended in disaster when eight servicemen were killed. The unsuccessful rescue attempt drew further skepticism towards his leadership skills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.press.umich.edu/pdf/0472108670-03.pdf |title=Chapter 3 : The Iranian Hostage Rescue Mission |website=Press.umich.edu |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> By the beginning of the election campaign, the prolonged ] had sharpened public perceptions of a national crisis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/01/19/iran/main265499.shtml |title=CBS News &#124; Reagan's Lucky Day |website=CBS News |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021016003953/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/01/19/iran/main265499.shtml |archive-date=16 October 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On April 25, 1980, Carter's ability to use the hostage crisis to regain public acceptance eroded when his high risk ] ended in disaster when eight servicemen were killed. The unsuccessful rescue attempt drew further skepticism towards his leadership skills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.press.umich.edu/pdf/0472108670-03.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.press.umich.edu/pdf/0472108670-03.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Chapter 3 : The Iranian Hostage Rescue Mission |website=Press.umich.edu |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref>

Following the failed rescue attempt, Carter took overwhelming blame for the Iran hostage crisis, in which the followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini burned ] and chanted anti-American slogans, paraded the captured American hostages in public, and burned Carter in ]. Carter's critics saw him as an inept leader who had failed to solve the worsening economic problems at home. His supporters defended the president as a decent, well-intentioned man being unfairly criticized for problems that had been escalating for years.<ref name="christian science">{{cite news |title=A historic victory. A changed nation. Now, can Obama deliver? |author=Jerry Lanson |newspaper=Christian Science Monitor |date=November 6, 2008 |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1106/p09s02-coop.html
|access-date=November 5, 2008}}</ref>

Meanwhile, in ] in ], ] challenger ] was elected ] in a decisive victory defeating incumbent ] Prime Minister ]. The UK Election was held against the backdrop of stagflation, high oil prices, high inflation, a large welfare state, turmoil in public sector unions and the ] summed up by the '']'' newspaper headline, "Crisis? What crisis?". The scenario which played out in Britain would essentially be repeated and would foreshadow Carter's loss.


Following the failed rescue attempt, Carter took overwhelming blame for the Iran hostage crisis, in which the followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini burned ] and chanted anti-American slogans, paraded the captured American hostages in public, and burned Carter in ]. Carter's critics saw him as an inept leader who had failed to solve the worsening economic problems at home. His supporters defended the president as a decent, well-intentioned man being unfairly criticized for problems that had been escalating for years.<ref name="christian science">{{cite news |title=A historic victory. A changed nation. Now, can Obama deliver? |author=Jerry Lanson |newspaper=Christian Science Monitor |date=November 6, 2008 |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1106/p09s02-coop.html |access-date=November 5, 2008 |archive-date=May 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501071734/http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1106/p09s02-coop.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Another event that polarized the electorate was the U.S.-led ]. Shortly following the ]'s December 1979 ], Carter demanded that the USSR withdraw from Afghanistan or the U.S. would boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics, set to be staged in Moscow. The USSR did not withdraw (for ten years). Carter's stance was controversial—he was both praised for his moral stand and criticized for politicizing the Olympics. With many allied countries joining the U.S. in the boycott, the contrasting spirits of competitive goodwill and campaign animosity, a feature of most presidential campaign years, was absent and the press had additional time to devote to national and international strife.


When ], Carter seized international leadership in rallying opposition. He cut off American grain sales, which hurt Soviet consumers and annoyed American farmers. In terms of prestige, the Soviets were deeply hurt by the large-scale boycott of their ]. Furthermore, Carter began ] in Afghanistan that successfully tied down the Soviet army for a decade. The effect was to end détente and reopen the Cold War.<ref>Gaddis Smith, ''Morality, Reason and Power: American Diplomacy in the Carter Years'' (1986) pp 224–228.</ref><ref>Odd Arne Westad, ed. "The Fall of Détente." in ''Soviet-American Relations during the Carter Years'' (Scandinavian University Press, 1997).</ref>
In a ] response four years later, the Soviet Bloc countries ] the ] in Los Angeles.


== Nominations == == Nominations ==
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=== Republican Party === === Republican Party ===
{{Main|1980 Republican Party presidential primaries}} {{Main|1980 Republican Party presidential primaries}}
{{Ronald Reagan series}}
{{George H. W. Bush series}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|- |-
| style="background:#f1f1f1;" colspan="30"|]<big>'''1980 Republican Party ticket'''</big> | colspan="2" style="background:#f1f1f1;" |]<big>'''1980 Republican Party ticket'''</big>
|- |-
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:#E81B23; width:200px;"| ] ! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:#E81B23; width:200px;"| ]
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|- |-
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
|- |-
|]<br/>]<br/><small>(1967–1975)</small> |]<br />]<br /><small>(1967–1975)</small>
|]<br/>]<br/><small>(1976–1977)</small> |]<br />]<br /><small>(1976–1977)</small>
|- |-
| colspan=2 |] | colspan=2 |]
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{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|- <sup>†</sup> |- <sup>†</sup>
| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; width:1000px; font-size:120%; color:white; background:{{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}};"|''Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawal from the nomination race'' | colspan="5" style="text-align:center; width:1000px; font-size:120%; color:white; background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|''Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawal from the nomination race''
|- |-
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|] ! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|] ! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|] ! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|] ! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|]
|- |-
|] |]
|] |]
|] |]
|] |]
|]
|- style="text-align:center" |- style="text-align:center"
|Fmr. ]<br><small>(1976–1977)</small> |]<br /><small>(1976–1977)</small>
|] from<br>] ]<br><small>(1961–1981)</small> |] from<br />] ]<br /><small>(1961–1981)</small>
|] from<br>] ]<br><small>(1973–1993)</small> |] from<br />] ]<br /><small>(1973–1993)</small>
|] from ]<br><small>(1969–1996)</small> |] from ]<br /><small>(1969–1996)</small>
|Fmr. ] from ]<br><small>(1971–1972)</small>
|- style="text-align:center" |- style="text-align:center"
|] |]
|] |]
|]
|]
|- style="text-align:center"
|]
|]
|] |]
|] |]
|]
|- style="text-align:center" |- style="text-align:center"
|''{{abbr|SC|suspended campaign}}: May 26, 1980''<br/>''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: June 14, 1980''<br/><small>'''3,070,033''' votes</small> |''{{abbr|SC|suspended campaign}}: May 26, 1980''<br />''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: June 14, 1980''<br /><small>'''3,070,033''' votes</small>
|''{{abbr|DI|declared independent campaign}}: April 24, 1980''<br/><small>'''1,572,174''' votes</small> |''{{abbr|DI|declared independent campaign}}: April 24, 1980''<br /><small>'''1,572,174''' votes</small>
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: April 17, 1980''<br/>''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: April 17, 1980''<br/><small>'''97,793''' votes</small> |''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: April 17, 1980''<br />''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: April 17, 1980''<br /><small>'''97,793''' votes</small>
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: March 15, 1980''<br/>''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: March 30, 1980''<br/><small>'''7,204''' votes</small> |''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: March 15, 1980''<br />''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: March 30, 1980''<br /><small>'''7,204''' votes</small>
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: March 9, 1980''<br/>''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: March 25, 1980''<br/><small>'''82,625''' votes</small>
|- |-
! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
|
! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
|
! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
|
! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
|
|
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|]
|- |-
|] |]
|]
|] |]
|] |]
|]
|]
|- style="text-align:center" |- style="text-align:center"
|] from ]<br><small>(1967–1985)</small> |] from ]<br /><small>(1971–1972)</small>
|] from ]<br><small>(1979–1997)</small> |] from ]<br /><small>(1967–1985)</small>
|] from ]<br><small>(1971–1989)</small> |] from ]<br /><small>(1979–1997)</small>
|] of ]<br><small>(1939–1943)</small> |] from ]<br /><small>(1971–1989)</small>
|] from ]<br><small>(1973–1973)</small>
|- style="text-align:center" |- style="text-align:center"
|]
|
|]
|
|]
|
|
| |
|- style="text-align:center" |- style="text-align:center"
|]
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: March 5, 1980''<br/>''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: April 20, 1980''<br/><small>'''181,153''' votes</small>
|]
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: January 8, 1980''<br/>''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: March 21, 1980''<br/><small>0 votes</small>
|]
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: May 16, 1979''<br/><small>0 votes</small>
|]
|''{{abbr|?|unknown}}: n/a''<br/><small>'''25,425''' votes</small>
|- style="text-align:center"
|''{{abbr|?|unknown}}: n/a''<br/><small>'''25,520''' votes</small>
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: March 9, 1980''<br />''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: March 25, 1980''<br /><small>'''82,625''' votes</small>
|-
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: March 5, 1980''<br />''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: April 20, 1980''<br /><small>'''181,153''' votes</small>
|
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: January 8, 1980''<br />''{{abbr|ER|endorsed Reagan}}: March 21, 1980''<br /><small>0 votes</small>
|
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: May 16, 1979''<br /><small>0 votes</small>
|
|
|
|} |}


Former governor ] of ] was the odds-on favorite to win his party's nomination for president after ] incumbent President ] just four years earlier. Reagan dominated the primaries early, driving from the field Senate Minority Leader ] from Tennessee, former governor ] of Texas, Senator ] from Kansas, Representative ] from Illinois, and Representative ] from Illinois, who dropped out of the race to run as an Independent. George Bush from Texas posed the strongest challenge to Reagan with his victories in the Pennsylvania and Michigan primaries, but it was not enough to turn the tide. Reagan won the nomination on the first round at the ] in ], in July, then chose ], his top rival, as his running mate. Former governor ] of ] was the odds-on favorite to win his party's nomination for president after ] incumbent President ] just four years earlier. Reagan dominated the primaries early, driving from the field Senate Minority Leader ] from Tennessee, former governor ] of Texas, Senator ] from Kansas, Representative ] from Illinois, and Representative ] from Illinois, who dropped out of the race to run as an Independent. ] from Texas posed the strongest challenge to Reagan with his victories in the Pennsylvania and Michigan primaries, but it was not enough to turn the tide. Reagan won the nomination on the first round at the ] in ], in July, then chose Bush (his top rival) as his running mate. Reagan, Bush, and Dole would all go on to be the nominees in the next four elections. (Reagan in ], Bush in ] and ], and Dole in ]).


=== Democratic Party === === Democratic Party ===
{{Main|1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries}} {{Main|1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries}}
{{Jimmy Carter series}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|- |-
| style="background:#f1f1f1;" colspan="30"|]<big>'''1980 Democratic Party ticket'''</big> | style="background:#f1f1f1;" colspan="30"|]<big>'''1980 Democratic Party ticket'''</big>
|- |-
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:#3333FF; width:200px;"| ] ! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:#3333FF; width:200px;"| ]
Line 211: Line 194:
|- |-
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
|- |-
| ]<br/>]<br/><small>(1977–1981)</small> | ]<br />]<br /><small>(1977–1981)</small>
| ]<br/>]<br/><small>(1977–1981)</small> | ]<br />]<br /><small>(1977–1981)</small>
|- |-
| colspan=2 |] | colspan=2 |''']'''
|- |-
| colspan=2 |] | colspan=2 |]
Line 227: Line 210:
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|- <sup>†</sup> |- <sup>†</sup>
| colspan="9" style="text-align:center; width:600px; font-size:120%; color:white; background:{{Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color}};"|''Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawal from the nomination race'' | colspan="9" style="text-align:center; width:600px; font-size:120%; color:white; background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|''Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawal from the nomination race''
|- |-
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|] ! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|] ! scope="col" style="width:10em; font-size:120%;"|]
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;"|]
|- |-
|] |]
|] |]
|]
|- style="text-align:center" |- style="text-align:center"
|U.S. Senator from ]<br><small>(1962–2009)</small> |U.S. Senator<br />from ]<br /><small>(1962–2009)</small>
|Governor of ]<br><small>(1975–1983)</small> |Governor<br />of ]<br /><small>(1975–1983)</small>
|- style="text-align:center"
|Governor of ]<br><small>(1976–1980)</small>
|]
|]
|- style="text-align:center" |- style="text-align:center"
|] |]
|] |]
|]
|- style="text-align:center" |- style="text-align:center"
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: August 11, 1980''<br/><small>'''7,381,693''' votes</small> |''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: August 11, 1980''<br /><small>'''7,381,693''' votes</small>
|''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: April 2, 1980''<br/><small>'''575,296''' votes</small> |''{{abbr|W|withdrew}}: April 2, 1980''<br /><small>'''575,296''' votes</small>
|''{{abbr|?|unknown}}: N/A''<br/><small>'''48,032''' votes</small>
|} |}


The three major Democratic candidates in early 1980 were incumbent President ], Senator ] of Massachusetts, and Governor ] of California. Brown withdrew on April 2. Carter and Kennedy faced off in 34 primaries. Not counting the ] in which ] withdrew his candidacy, this was the most tumultuous ] that an elected incumbent president had encountered since ], during the highly contentious ]. The three major Democratic candidates in early 1980 were incumbent President ], Senator ] of Massachusetts, and Governor ] of California. Brown withdrew on April 2. Carter and Kennedy faced off in 34 primaries. Not counting the ] in which ] withdrew his candidacy, this was the most tumultuous ] that an elected incumbent president had encountered since ], during the highly contentious ].


During the summer of 1980, there was a short-lived "Draft Muskie" movement; Secretary of State ] was seen as a favorable alternative to a deadlocked convention. One poll showed that Muskie would be a more popular alternative to Carter than Kennedy, implying that the attraction was not so much to Kennedy as to the fact that he was not Carter. Muskie was polling even with Ronald Reagan at the time, while Carter was seven points behind.<ref>{{cite web|author=Robbins, James S. |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/13/opinion/main4091259.shtml |title=Clinton Campaign Reminiscent of 1980 Race |work=] |date=2008-05-13 |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> Although the underground "Draft Muskie" campaign failed, it became a political legend.<ref></ref> During the summer of 1980, there was a short-lived "Draft Muskie" movement; Secretary of State ] was seen as a favorable alternative to a deadlocked convention. One poll showed that Muskie would be a more popular alternative to Carter than Kennedy, implying that the attraction was not so much to Kennedy as to the fact that he was not Carter. Muskie was polling even with Ronald Reagan at the time, while Carter was seven points behind.<ref>{{cite web |author=Robbins, James S. |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/clinton-campaign-reminiscent-of-1980-race/ |title=Clinton Campaign Reminiscent of 1980 Race |publisher=] |date=2008-05-13 |access-date=2016-08-18 |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605020402/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/clinton-campaign-reminiscent-of-1980-race/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the underground "Draft Muskie" campaign failed, it became a political legend.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/business/15887132.html |title=Steenland: Odd man out? |website=Star Tribune |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226161048/http://www.startribune.com/business/15887132.html |archive-date=26 February 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


After defeating Kennedy in 24 of 34 primaries, Carter entered the party's ] in New York in August with 60 percent of the delegates pledged to him on the first ballot. Still, Kennedy refused to drop out. At the convention, after a futile last-ditch attempt by Kennedy to alter the rules to free delegates from their first-ballot pledges, Carter was renominated with 2,129 votes to 1,146 for Kennedy. Vice President ] was also renominated. In his acceptance speech, Carter warned that Reagan's conservatism posed a threat to world peace and progressive social welfare programs from the ] to the ].<ref>William DeGregorio, ''The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents'', Gramercy 1997</ref> After defeating Kennedy in 24 of 34 primaries, Carter entered the party's ] in New York in August with 60 percent of the delegates pledged to him on the first ballot. Still, Kennedy refused to drop out. At the convention, after a futile last-ditch attempt by Kennedy to alter the rules to free delegates from their first-ballot pledges, Carter was renominated with 2,129 votes to 1,146 for Kennedy. Vice President ] was also renominated. In his acceptance speech, Carter warned that Reagan's conservatism posed a threat to world peace and progressive social welfare programs from the ] to the ].<ref>William DeGregorio, ''The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents'', Gramercy 1997</ref>


=== Other candidates === === Other candidates ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
] was defeated in the Republican primaries, but entered the general election as an independent candidate. He campaigned as a liberal Republican alternative to Reagan's conservatism. Anderson's campaign appealed primarily to frustrated anti-Carter voters from Republican and Democratic backgrounds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/books/history/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/04/04/third_party_myth_easterbrook|title=The myths that just won't die - History - Salon.com|last=Kornacki|first=Steve|date=2011-04-06|website=Salon.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406213710/http://www.salon.com/books/history/index.html?story=%2Fpolitics%2Fwar_room%2F2011%2F04%2F04%2Fthird_party_myth_easterbrook|archive-date=April 6, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-02-07|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Despite maintaining the support of millions of liberal, pro-ERA, anti-Reagan and anti-Carter voters all the way up to election day to finish third with 5.7 million votes, Anderson's poll ratings had ebbed away through the campaign season as many of his initial supporters were pulled away by Carter and Reagan. Anderson's running mate was ], a Democratic former governor of ] and then ambassador to Mexico, appointed by President Carter.
| colspan="2" style="background:#DCDCDC;" |<big>'''1980 Independent ticket'''</big>
| colspan="2" style="background:{{party color|Libertarian Party (United States)}};" |<big>'''1980 Libertarian ticket'''</big>
|-
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:#dddddd; width:200px;" |]
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:#dddddd; width:200px;" |]
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:{{party color|Libertarian Party (United States)}};" ; width:200px;" |]
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:{{party color|Libertarian Party (United States)}};" ; width:200px;" |]
|- style="color:#000; font-size:100%;"
| style="width:3em; width:200px; background:#dddddd;" |'''''for President'''''
| style="width:3em; width:200px; background:#dddddd;" |'''''for Vice President'''''
| style="width:3em; width:200px; background:{{party color|Libertarian Party (United States)}};" |'''''for President'''''
| style="width:3em; width:200px; background:{{party color|Libertarian Party (United States)}};" |'''''for Vice President'''''
|-
|]
|]
|]
|]
|-
|U.S. Representative from ]<br><small>(1961–1981)</small>
|]<br><small>(1977–1979)</small>
|Chair of the<br>]<br><small>(1973–1974)</small>
|Co-owner of ]
|-
| colspan="2" |]
| colspan="2" |]
|-
| colspan="2" |]
| colspan="2" |]
|}


] was defeated in the Republican primaries, but entered the general election as an independent candidate. He campaigned as a liberal Republican alternative to Reagan's conservatism. Anderson's campaign appealed primarily to frustrated anti-Carter voters from Republican and Democratic backgrounds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/books/history/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/04/04/third_party_myth_easterbrook|title=The myths that just won't die - History - Salon.com|last=Kornacki|first=Steve|date=2011-04-06|website=Salon.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406213710/http://www.salon.com/books/history/index.html?story=%2Fpolitics%2Fwar_room%2F2011%2F04%2F04%2Fthird_party_myth_easterbrook|archive-date=April 6, 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-02-07|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Anderson's running mate was ], a Democratic former ] and then ambassador to Mexico, appointed by President Carter.
The ] nominated ] for president and ] for vice president. They received almost one million votes and were on the ballot in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. Koch, a co-owner of ], pledged part of his personal fortune to the campaign. The Libertarian Party platform was the only political party in 1980 to contain a plank advocating for the equal rights of homosexual men and women as well as the only party platform to advocate explicitly for "amnesty" for all illegal non-citizens.<ref name="presidency.ucsb.edu">http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php http://www.lpedia.org/1980_Libertarian_Party_Platform#3._Victimless_Crimes {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119182240/http://www.lpedia.org/1980_Libertarian_Party_Platform#3._Victimless_Crimes |date=November 19, 2016 }}</ref> The platform was also unique in favoring the repeal of both the National Labor Relations Act and all state Right to Work laws.<ref name="presidency.ucsb.edu"/> Clark emphasized his support for an end to the war on drugs.<ref>Ed Clark emphasized his opposition to the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT3LisckcdU</ref> He advertised his opposition to the draft and wars of choice.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXSZCthogmM</ref>


The ] nominated ] for president and ] for vice president. They were on the ballot in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C. The Libertarian Party platform was the only political party in 1980 to contain a plank advocating for the ] as well as the only party platform to advocate explicitly for "amnesty" for all illegal non-citizens.<ref name="presidency.ucsb.edu">http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523221423/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/platforms.php |date=May 23, 2008 }} http://www.lpedia.org/1980_Libertarian_Party_Platform#3._Victimless_Crimes {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119182240/http://www.lpedia.org/1980_Libertarian_Party_Platform#3._Victimless_Crimes |date=November 19, 2016 }}</ref>
The Clark–Koch ticket received 921,128 votes (1.1% of the total nationwide), finishing in fourth place nationwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=1980&off=0&f=1|title=1980 Presidential General Election Results|author=David Leip|year=2005|website=Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|access-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref> This was the highest overall number of votes earned by a Libertarian candidate until the ], when ] and ] became the first Libertarian ticket to earn more than a million votes, albeit with a lower overall vote percentage than Clark–Koch. The 1980 total remained the highest percentage of popular votes a Libertarian Party candidate received in a presidential race until Johnson and ] received 3.3% of the popular vote in ]. Clark's strongest support was in ], where he came in third place with 11.7% of the vote, finishing ahead of Independent candidate John B. Anderson and receiving almost half as many votes as Jimmy Carter.


The ] ran ] ] for president and ] ] activist ] for vice president. The Commoner–Harris ticket was on the ballot in twenty-nine states{{Which|date=April 2024}} and in the ].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Elections A-Z|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uVVcAgAAQBAJ&q=commoner+harris+ticket&pg=PA73|publisher=Routledge|date=2013-12-16|isbn=9781135938703|first=John|last=Moore}}</ref>
The ] nominated ] for president and Sister ] for vice president, making McReynolds the first openly gay man to run for president and Drufenbrock the first nun to be a candidate for national office in the U.S.


==General election==
The ] ran ] ] for president and ] ] activist ] for vice president. The Commoner–Harris ticket was on the ballot in twenty-nine states and in the ].<ref>{{Cite book|title = Elections A-Z|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=uVVcAgAAQBAJ&q=commoner+harris+ticket&pg=PA73|publisher = Routledge|date = 2013-12-16|isbn = 9781135938703|first = John|last = Moore}}</ref>
=== Polling aggregation ===
The following graph depicts the standing of each candidate in the poll aggregators from July 1979 to November 1980.


[[File:OpinionPolling1980UnitedStatesPresidentialElection.svg|thumb|800px|center| {{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
The ] ran ] for president and ] for vice president.
{{Legend-line|#e81b23 solid 5px|]}}
{{Legend-line|#3333ff solid 5px|]}}
{{Legend-line|#ffd700 solid 5px|]}}
}}]]


=== Polling ===
The ] nominated ] for president and Frank L. Varnum for vice president.
{{See also|Nationwide opinion polling for the 1980 United States presidential election}}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;line-height:17px"
Rock star ] ran a mock campaign as a ], promising to make his song "]" the new national anthem if he won, and running on a platform of "Free Gas For Everyone." Though the 33-year-old Walsh was not old enough to actually assume the office, he wanted to raise public awareness of the election.
|- valign= bottom

! Poll source
==General election==
! Date(s)<br />administered
! class="unsortable" style="width:100px;"| Ronald<br>Reagan (R)
! class="unsortable" style="width:100px;"| Jimmy<br>Carter (D)
! class="unsortable" style="width:100px;"| John<br>Anderson (I)
! class="unsortable" | Other
! class="unsortable" | Undecided
! Margin
|-
! | '''Election Results'''
| Nov. 4, 1980
|align="center" {{party shading/Republican}}|'''50.75%'''
|align="center" | 41.01%
|align="center" | 6.61%
|align="center" | 1.63%
|align="center" | -
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''9.74'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Reagan Leading In Final Poll">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/73899964 | title=Reagan Leading In Final Poll | work=The Pantagraph | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=September 21, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921111242/https://www.newspapers.com/image/73899964 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''46%'''
| align="center" | 43%
| align="center" | 7%
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 3%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''3'''
|-
| align="center" | CBS-New York Times{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
| align="center" | Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''44%'''
| align="center" | 43%
| align="center" | 8%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''1'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
| align="center" | Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''45%'''
| align="center" | 40%
| align="center" | 10%
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 4%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| align="center" | Newsweek-Gallup<ref name="Polls Say Its Going Down To The Wire"/>
| align="center" | October 29–30, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''44%'''
| align="center" | 43%
| align="center" | 7%
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''4'''
|-
| align="center" | Washington Post<ref name="Polls Say Its Going Down To The Wire">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/628971036 | title=Polls Say It's Going Down To The Wire | work=The Miami Herald | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527230900/https://www.newspapers.com/image/628971036 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | October 26–27, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''43%'''
| align="center" | 39%
| align="center" | 7%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 11%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''4'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan, Carter In Tight Fight">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/124902873 | title=Reagan, Carter In Tight Fight | work=Florida Today | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528190454/https://www.newspapers.com/image/124902873 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | October 22–25, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''45%'''
| align="center" | 42%
| align="center" | 10%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''3'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="This Poll Puts Jimmy, Ron In Dead Heat">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/803642769 | title=This Poll Puts Jimmy, Ron In Dead Heat | work=The Olympian | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527230859/https://www.newspapers.com/image/803642769 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | October 17–20, 1980
| align="center" | 40%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''41%'''
| align="center" | 10%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 9%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''1'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Carter Trims Reagan's Lead By One Point">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/873974448 | title=Poll Reveals 3-Point Slip By Anderson | work=The Buffalo News | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528190456/https://www.newspapers.com/image/873974448 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | October 14–16, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''42%'''
| align="center" | 39%
| align="center" | 12%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''3'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Reagan Holds Narrow Lead; Anderson Dips"/>
| align="center" | October 10–12, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''45%'''
| align="center" | 42%
| align="center" | 8%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''3'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Poll Reveals 3-Point Slip By Anderson">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1051563422 | title=Poll Reveals 3-Point Slip By Anderson | work=Tarrytown Daily News | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528190457/https://www.newspapers.com/image/1051563422 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | October 3–6, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''43%'''
| align="center" | 39%
| align="center" | 14%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 4%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''4'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Carter Loses Ground In Poll">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/186033302 | title=Carter Loses Ground In Poll | work=The Times Herald | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=September 21, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921111129/https://www.newspapers.com/image/186033302 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | September 22, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''42%'''
| align="center" | 36%
| align="center" | 19%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''6'''
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''48%'''
| align="center" | 46%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 6%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''2'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Latest Test Still Shows Reagan And Carter In Close Contention"/><ref name="Reagan Holds Narrow Lead; Anderson Dips">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/107626108 | title=Reagan Holds Narrow Lead; Anderson Dips | work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527222807/https://www.newspapers.com/image/107626108 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | September 12–15, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''41%'''
| align="center" | 37%
| align="center" | 15%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''4'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Carter Nixes 3-Way Campaign Debates">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/186033302 | title=Carter Nixes 3-Way Campaign Debates | work=Philadelphia Daily News}}</ref>
| align="center" | September 3–7, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''41%'''
| align="center" | 37%
| align="center" | 17%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''4'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Latest Test Still Shows Reagan And Carter In Close Contention">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/107626108 | title=Latest Test Still Shows Reagan And Carter In Close Contention | work=The Indianapolis Star | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527222807/https://www.newspapers.com/image/107626108 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | August 15–18, 1980
| align="center" | 38%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''39%'''
| align="center" | 13%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 10%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''1'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="AFL-CIO Balks On Carter Support">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/161566588 | title=AFL-CIO Balks On Carter Support | work=The News Journal | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528182446/https://www.newspapers.com/image/161566588 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | August 14–18, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''42%'''
| align="center" | 36%
| align="center" | 17%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''6'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Reagan And Carter Run Neck And Neck In Gallup">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/628730997 | title=Reagan And Carter Run Neck And Neck In Gallup | work=The Miami Herald | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527213126/https://www.newspapers.com/image/628730997 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Carter And Reagan In Dead Heat, According To Gallup Poll">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/129129713 | title=Carter And Reagan In Dead Heat, According To Gallup Poll | work=The Des Moines Register | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527213124/https://www.newspapers.com/image/129129713 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | August 15–17, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''39%'''
| align="center" | 38%
| align="center" | 14%
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 8%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''1'''
|-
| align="center" | 40%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''46%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 14%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''6'''
|-
| colspan="10" align="center" | '''August 11–14: Democratic National Convention'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Latest Figures: Reagan 48%, Carter 28%, Anderson 19%">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1065588592 | title=Latest Figures: Reagan 48%, Carter 28%, Anderson 19% | work=The Plain Dealer | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528180701/https://www.newspapers.com/image/1065588592 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | August 5–6, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''48%'''
| align="center" | 28%
| align="center" | 19%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''20'''
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''57%'''
| align="center" | 36%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''21'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Gallup Poll: Carter Falters But Still Leads Teddy">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/518942142 | title=Gallup Poll: Carter Falters But Still Leads Teddy | work=The Daily News | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527125326/https://www.newspapers.com/image/518942142 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | August 1–3, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''45%'''
| align="center" | 31%{{efn|With Walter Mondale}}
| align="center" | 14%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 10%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''14'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Poll: Reagan Leads Carter By 28 Percent">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/149658493 | title=Poll: Reagan Leads Carter By 28 Percent | work=Reno Gazette-Journal | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528173232/https://www.newspapers.com/image/149658493 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Poll Shows Carter Third">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/428525563 | title=Poll Shows Carter Third | work=The Boston Globe | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528173233/https://www.newspapers.com/image/428525563 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | July 18–21, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''49%'''
| align="center" | 23%
| align="center" | 25%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''24'''
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''61%'''
| align="center" | 33%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 6%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''28'''
|-
| colspan="10" align="center" | '''July 14–17: Republican National Convention'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Reagan-Bush Ticket Leads Dems">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/88789023 | title=Reagan-Bush Ticket Leads Dems | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527125320/https://www.newspapers.com/image/88789023 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | July 11–13, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''43%'''{{efn|With George Bush}}
| align="center" | 34%{{efn|With Walter Mondale}}
| align="center" | 16%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''9'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Gallup Poll Has Reagan Maintaining Lead Over Carter">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/351854273 | title=Gallup Poll Has Reagan Maintaining Lead Over Carter | work=Rapid City Journal | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527123305/https://www.newspapers.com/image/351854273 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Reagan Widens Lead While Anderson Slips">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/965797924 | title=Reagan Widens Lead While Anderson Slips | work=Danville Register and Bee | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527210848/https://www.newspapers.com/image/965797924 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | July 11–14, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''37%'''
| align="center" | 34%
| align="center" | 21%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 8%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''3'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Reagan Stretches Lead Over President Carter"/><ref name="Reagan Widens Lead While Anderson Slips"/>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | June 27–30, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''37%'''
| align="center" | 32%
| align="center" | 22%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 9%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''47%'''
| align="center" | 41%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 12%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''6'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Reagan Stretches Lead Over President Carter"/><ref name="Reagan Widens Lead While Anderson Slips"/>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | June 13–16, 1980
| align="center" | 33%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''35%'''
| align="center" | 24%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 8%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''2'''
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''45%'''
| align="center" | 42%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 13%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''3'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Three New National Polls Show Reagan Well Ahead">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/399442859/ | title=Three New National Polls Show Reagan Well Ahead | work=The Atlanta Constitution | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528170506/https://www.newspapers.com/image/399442859/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | June 5–9, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''39%'''
| align="center" | 34%
| align="center" | 24%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''51%'''
| align="center" | 44%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''7'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Reagan Stretches Lead Over President Carter">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/612964907 | title=Reagan Stretches Lead Over President Carter | work=The Salt Lake Tribune}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | May 30 – Jun. 2, 1980
| align="center" | 32%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''39%'''
| align="center" | 21%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 8%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''7'''
|-
| align="center" | 39%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''50%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 11%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''11'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter Outpolls Reagan 49% to 41% In Survey"/>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | May 16–18, 1980
| align="center" | 32%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''40%'''
| align="center" | 21%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''8'''
|-
| align="center" | 41%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''49%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 10%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''8'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter Outpolls Reagan 49% to 41% In Survey">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/385345061 | title=Carter Outpolls Reagan 49% to 41% In Survey | work=Los Angeles Times | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527034257/https://www.newspapers.com/image/385345061 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | May 2–5, 1980
| align="center" | 33%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''38%'''
| align="center" | 21%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| align="center" | 40%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''47%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 13%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''7'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Anderson Starts To Look Like A Possible Winner">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/98551357 | title=Anderson Starts To Look Like A Possible Winner | work=Detroit Free Press | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528170502/https://www.newspapers.com/image/98551357 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | April 26–30, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''39%'''
| align="center" | 33%
| align="center" | 23%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''6'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Anderson Strongest Among Younger Voters">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/965404960 | title=Anderson Strongest Among Younger Voters | work=The Boston Globe | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527034256/https://www.newspapers.com/image/965404960 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | April 26–27, 1980
| align="center" | 35%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''40%'''
| align="center" | 19%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 6%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| align="center" | 43%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''47%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 10%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''4'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan Leads Carter">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1046603486 | title=Reagan Leads Carter | work=Journal and Courier}}</ref>
| align="center" | April 25, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''42%'''
| align="center" | 33%
| align="center" | 19%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 6%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''9'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter's Lead Over Reagan Slipping; Anderson Strong"/>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | April 11–13, 1980
| align="center" | 34%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''41%'''
| align="center" | 18%
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 6%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''7'''
|-
| align="center" | 44%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''49%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 6%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan Tops Voters' List; Carter Dives"/>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | April 8, 1980
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''38%'''
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''38%'''
| align="center" | 22%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | '''Tied'''
|-
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''48%'''
| align="center" | 45%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''3'''
|-
| rowspan=2 align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter's Lead Over Reagan Slipping; Anderson Strong">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/628717795 | title=Carter's Lead Over Reagan Slipping; Anderson Strong | work=The Miami Herald | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527031401/https://www.newspapers.com/image/628717795 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| rowspan=2 align="center" | March 28–30, 1980
| align="center" | 34%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''39%'''
| align="center" | 21%
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| align="center" | 43%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''48%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 2%
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan Tops Voters' List; Carter Dives"/>
| align="center" | March 26–30, 1980
| align="center" | 47%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''50%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''3'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan Tops Voters' List; Carter Dives">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/255523976 | title=Reagan Tops Voters' List; Carter Dives | work=Press and Sun-Bulletin}}</ref>
| align="center" | March 13–15, 1980
| align="center" | 40%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''55%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''15'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Republicans And Independents Pick Ford As Favorite Candidate">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/143606587 | title=Republicans And Independents Pick Ford As Favorite Candidate | work=Asbury Park Press}}</ref>
| align="center" | March 5–8, 1980
| align="center" | 40%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''58%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 2%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''18'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Reagan Invites Connally Workers To Join His Effort">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/325240462 | title=Reagan Invites Connally Workers To Join His Effort | work=Des Moines Tribune | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527025716/https://www.newspapers.com/image/325240462 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | Feb. 29 – Mar. 2, 1980
| align="center" | 34%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''57%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| align="center" | 6%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''23'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Republicans And Independents Pick Ford As Favorite Candidate"/>
| align="center" | Jan. 31 – Feb. 4, 1980
| align="center" | 32%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''64%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 4%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''32'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter Leads 3 GOP Contenders, But Ted Trails">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/628290780 | title=Carter Leads 3 GOP Contenders, But Ted Trails | work=The Miami Herald | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527022626/https://www.newspapers.com/image/628290780 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | February 1–3, 1980
| align="center" | 32%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''59%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| align="center" | 6%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''27'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Carter Holds Lead Among Candidates">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/145007946 | title=Carter Holds Lead Among Candidates | work=Asbury Park Press | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528153250/https://www.newspapers.com/image/145007946 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | January 22, 1980
| align="center" | 31%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''65%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 4%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''34'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter Consolidates Lead Over GOP">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/325233058 | title=Carter Consolidates Lead Over GOP | work=The Tampa Tribune | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527021000/https://www.newspapers.com/image/325233058 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | January 4–6, 1980
| align="center" | 32%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''63%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 4%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''31'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Carter Takes Big Lead Over Reagan In Presidential Race Poll">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/143538507 | title=Carter Takes Big Lead Over Reagan In Presidential Race Poll | work=Asbury Park Press | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528150513/https://www.newspapers.com/image/143538507 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | December 14–16, 1979
| align="center" | 36%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''59%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''23'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter Pushes Ahead As Kennedy Falters In Ford-Reagan Tests">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/628237858 | title=Carter Pushes Ahead As Kennedy Falters In Ford-Reagan Tests | work=The Miami Herald | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527012759/https://www.newspapers.com/image/628237858 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | December 7–9, 1979
| align="center" | 36%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''60%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 3%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''24'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter Continues Lead Over GOP">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/335317843 | title=Carter Continues Lead Over GOP | work=The Tampa Tribune}}</ref>
| align="center" | November 16–19, 1979
| align="center" | 41%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''53%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''12'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan Takes Big Lead In GOP Race">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/144219110 | title=Reagan Takes Big Lead In GOP Race | work=Asbury Park Press | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528145709/https://www.newspapers.com/image/144219110 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | November 7–10, 1979
| align="center" | 42%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''53%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''11'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="President, Reagan In Dead Heat"/>
| align="center" | October 12–15, 1979
| align="center" | 42%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''48%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''6'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan's Standing Suffers Sharp Drop In Presidential Poll">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/144586078 | title=Reagan's Standing Suffers Sharp Drop In Presidential Poll | work=Asbury Park Press | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528143942/https://www.newspapers.com/image/144586078 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | Sep. 26 – Oct. 1, 1979
| align="center" | 45%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''52%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''7'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="President, Reagan In Dead Heat">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/628225800 | title=President, Reagan In Dead Heat | work=The Miami Herald | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 27, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527002240/https://www.newspapers.com/image/628225800 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | September 7–10, 1979
| align="center" | 46%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''47%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 2%
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''1'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan Keeps Lead Over Carter In Presidential Choice Poll">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/144100454 | title=Reagan Keeps Lead Over Carter In Presidential Choice Poll | work=Asbury Park Press | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528143247/https://www.newspapers.com/image/144100454 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | September 1–5, 1979
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''50%'''
| align="center" | 45%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter Gaining Ground">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/351779118 | title=Carter Gaining Ground | work=Rapid City Journal | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 26, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526235326/https://www.newspapers.com/image/351779118 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | August 3–6, 1979
| align="center" | 42%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''47%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 4%
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''5'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Carter Trailing Reagan, Baker">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/191090602 | title=Carter Trailing Reagan, Baker | work=The Minneapolis Star | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528141602/https://www.newspapers.com/image/191090602 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | July 28–29, 1979
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''51%'''
| align="center" | 44%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''7'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Poll Shows Kennedy Stronger Than Carter Against GOP's Top 4">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/602399108 | title=Poll Shows Kennedy Stronger Than Carter Against GOP's Top 4 | work=The Shreveport Journal | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 26, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526233436/https://www.newspapers.com/image/602399108 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | July 13–15, 1979
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''52%'''
| align="center" | 42%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 2%
| align="center" | 4%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''10'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup{{full citation needed|date=May 2024}}
| align="center" | June 22–25, 1979
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''49%'''
| align="center" | 45%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''4'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan Leads Carter 51-43%">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/220787304 | title=Reagan Leads Carter 51-43% | work=The Times | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528053152/https://www.newspapers.com/image/220787304 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | June, 1979
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''51%'''
| align="center" | 43%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 6%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''8'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan Cuts Deeper Into Carter's Lead">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/190984428 | title=Reagan Cuts Deeper Into Carter's Lead | work=The Minneapolis Star | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528053150/https://www.newspapers.com/image/190984428 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | May, 1979
| align="center" | 45%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''47%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 8%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''2'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Reagan Trails Carter, Kennedy">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/209258899 | title=Reagan Trails Carter, Kennedy | work=Lansing State Journal}}</ref>
| align="center" | March, 1979
| align="center" | 46%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''49%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''3'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Carter Leads, Edge Narrows">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/964544995 | title=Carter Leads, Edge Narrows | work=Danville Register and Bee | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 26, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526165855/https://www.newspapers.com/image/964544995 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | March 23–26, 1979
| align="center" | 38%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''52%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 3%
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''14'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Carter Routs Reagan In Election Poll">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/144038489 | title=Carter Routs Reagan In Election Poll | work=Asbury Park Press | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528040712/https://www.newspapers.com/image/144038489 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | December 21–26, 1978
| align="center" | 38%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''55%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''17'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Jimmy Carter Leading Ford And Reagan">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/964283432 | title=Jimmy Carter Leading Ford And Reagan | work=Danville Register and Bee | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 26, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526160621/https://www.newspapers.com/image/964283432 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | December 8–11, 1978
| align="center" | 35%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''57%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 2%
| align="center" | 5%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''22'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="Kennedy Stronger Than Carter Against GOP">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/351850922 | title=Kennedy Stronger Than Carter Against GOP | work=Rapid City Journal | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 26, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526154211/https://www.newspapers.com/image/351850922 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | July 7–10, 1978
| align="center" | 43%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''52%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 4%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''9'''
|-
| align="center" | ABC-Harris<ref name="Ford Leads Carter For 1980, Poll Says">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/677446948 | title=Ford Leads Carter For 1980, Poll Says | work=The Kansas City Times | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528043441/https://www.newspapers.com/image/677446948 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | May 14–20,{{efn|Date is approximate}} 1978
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''47%'''
| align="center" | 46%
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 7%
| {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | '''1'''
|-
| align="center" | Gallup<ref name="President Would Beat Ford, Reagan">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/334905281 | title=President Would Beat Ford, Reagan | work=The Tampa Tribune | access-date=May 28, 2024 | archive-date=May 25, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525183252/https://www.newspapers.com/image/334905281 | url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | Mar. 31 – Apr. 3, 1978
| align="center" | 46%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''50%'''
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | 1%
| align="center" | 3%
| {{party shading/Democratic}} align="center" | '''4'''
|-
|}


===Campaign=== ===Campaign===
Reagan gained in former Democratic strongholds such as the South and white ethnics dubbed "]s",<ref>Julio Borquez, "Partisan Appraisals of Party Defectors: Looking Back at the Reagan Democrats." ''American Review of Politics'' 26 (2005): 323-346 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921111231/https://journals.shareok.org/arp/article/view/368/345 |date=September 21, 2024 }}.</ref> and exuded upbeat optimism.<ref name="strategy campaigning">{{cite book |title=The Strategy of Campaigning |author1=Skinner |author2=Kudelia |author3=Mesquita |author4=Rice |publisher=University of Michigan Press |year=2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F0dCiDh4fMsC |access-date=October 20, 2008 |isbn=978-0-472-11627-0 |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921111129/https://books.google.com/books?id=F0dCiDh4fMsC |url-status=live }}</ref> ] says Carter ran an attack-based campaign based on "despair and pessimism" which "cost him the election."<ref name="'70s 161">{{cite book|title=How We Got Here: The '70s|last=Frum|first=David|author-link=David Frum|year=2000|publisher=Basic Books|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-465-04195-7|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/161}}</ref> Carter emphasized his record as a peacemaker, and said Reagan's election would threaten ] and social programs that stretched back to the ]. Reagan's platform also emphasized the importance of peace, as well as a prepared self-defense.<ref name="strategy campaigning" />
Under federal election laws, Carter and Reagan received $29.4 million each, and Anderson was given a limit of $18.5 million with private fund-raising allowed for him only. They were not allowed to spend any other money. Carter and Reagan each spent about $15 million on television advertising, and Anderson under $2 million. Reagan ended up spending $29.2 million in total, Carter $29.4 million, and Anderson spent $17.6 million—partially because he (Anderson) didn't get ] money until after the election.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}

The 1980 election is considered by many to be a ], reaching a climate of confrontation practically not seen since 1932. Reagan's supporters praise him for running a campaign of upbeat optimism.<ref name="strategy campaigning">{{cite book | title = The Strategy of Campaigning | author1 = Skinner|author2=Kudelia|author3=Mesquita|author4=Rice | publisher = University of Michigan Press | year = 2007 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=F0dCiDh4fMsC | access-date = October 20, 2008 | isbn = 978-0-472-11627-0}}</ref> ] says Carter ran an attack-based campaign based on "despair and pessimism" which "cost him the election."<ref name="'70s 161">{{cite book|title= How We Got Here: The '70s|last= Frum|first= David|author-link= David Frum|year= 2000|publisher= Basic Books|location= New York, New York|isbn= 0-465-04195-7|page= |url= https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/161}}</ref> Carter emphasized his record as a peacemaker, and said Reagan's election would threaten ] and social programs that stretched back to the ]. Reagan's platform also emphasized the importance of ], as well as a prepared self-defense.<ref name="strategy campaigning"/>


Immediately after the conclusion of the primaries,{{date?}} a ] held that Reagan was ahead, with 58% of voters upset by Carter's handling of the Presidency.<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> One analysis of the election has suggested that "Both Carter and Reagan were perceived negatively by a majority of the electorate."<ref>Wayne, Stephen J. (1984). ''The Road to the White House'' (2nd ed.), p. 210. New York: St. Martin's Press. {{ISBN|0-312-68526-2}}.</ref> While the three leading candidates (Reagan, Anderson and Carter) were religious Christians, Carter had the most support of evangelical Christians according to a Gallup poll.<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> However, in the end, ]'s ] lobbying group is credited with giving Reagan two-thirds of the white evangelical vote.<ref name="worldscollide">{{cite news |title= When worlds collide: politics, religion, and media at the 1970 East Tennessee Billy Graham Crusade. (appearance by President Richard M. Nixon) |url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19592304.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110517015119/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19592304.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= May 17, 2011|publisher=Journal of Church and State |date=March 22, 1997 |access-date=August 18, 2007}}</ref> According to Carter: "that autumn a group headed by Jerry Falwell purchased $10 million in commercials on southern radio and TV to brand me as a traitor to the South and no longer a Christian."<ref>{{Cite book | page = 469 | last = Carter | first = Jimmy | title = White House Diary | year = 2010 | publisher = Farrar, Straus and Giroux | location = New York, N.Y }}</ref> Immediately after the conclusion of the primaries,{{date?}} a ] held that Reagan was ahead, with 58% of voters upset by Carter's handling of the presidency.<ref name="strategy campaigning" /> One analysis of the election has suggested that "Both Carter and Reagan were perceived negatively by a majority of the electorate."<ref>Wayne, Stephen J. (1984). ''The Road to the White House'' (2nd ed.), p. 210. New York: St. Martin's Press. {{ISBN|0-312-68526-2}}.</ref> While the three leading candidates (Reagan, Anderson and Carter) were religious Christians, Carter had the most support of evangelical Christians according to a Gallup poll.<ref name="strategy campaigning" /> However, in the end, ]'s ] lobbying group is credited with giving Reagan two-thirds of the white evangelical vote.<ref name="worldscollide">{{cite news |title=When worlds collide: politics, religion, and media at the 1970 East Tennessee Billy Graham Crusade. (appearance by President Richard M. Nixon) |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19592304.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517015119/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19592304.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2011|publisher=Journal of Church and State |date=March 22, 1997 |access-date=August 18, 2007}}</ref> According to Carter: "that autumn a group headed by Jerry Falwell purchased $10 million in commercials on southern radio and TV to brand me as a traitor to the South and no longer a Christian."<ref>{{Cite book |page=469 |last=Carter |first=Jimmy |title=White House Diary |year=2010 |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |location=New York, NY}}</ref>


The election of 1980 was a key turning point in American politics. It signaled the new electoral power of the suburbs and the ]. Reagan's success as a ] would initiate a realigning of the parties, as ] Republicans and ] would either leave politics or change party affiliations through the 1980s and 1990s to leave the parties much more ideologically polarized.<ref name="christian science"/> While during ]'s ], many voters saw his warnings about a too-powerful government as hyperbolic and only 30% of the electorate agreed that government was too powerful, by 1980 a majority of Americans believed that government held too much power.<ref name="'70s 283">{{cite book|title= How We Got Here: The '70s|last= Frum|first= David|author-link= David Frum|year= 2000|publisher= Basic Books|location= New York, New York|isbn= 0-465-04195-7|page= |url= https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/283}}</ref> The election of 1980 was a key turning point in American politics. It signaled the new electoral power of the ]s and the ]. Reagan's success as a ] would initiate a realigning of the parties, as ] and ] would either leave politics or change party affiliations through the 1980s and 1990s to leave the parties much more ideologically polarized.<ref name="christian science" /> While during ]'s ], many voters saw his warnings about a too-powerful government as hyperbolic and only 30% of the electorate agreed that government was too powerful, by 1980 a majority of Americans believed that government held too much power.<ref name="'70s 283">{{cite book|title=How We Got Here: The '70s|last=Frum|first=David|author-link=David Frum|year=2000|publisher=Basic Books|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-465-04195-7|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/283}}</ref>


====Promises==== ====Promises====
Reagan promised a restoration of the nation's military strength, at the same time 60% of Americans polled felt defense spending was too low.<ref name="'70s 344">{{cite book|title= How We Got Here: The '70s|last= Frum|first= David|author-link= David Frum|year= 2000|publisher= Basic Books|location= New York, New York|isbn= 0-465-04195-7|page= |url= https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/344}}</ref> Reagan also promised an end to "trust me government" and to restore economic health by implementing a ] policy. Reagan promised a ] within three years (which he said would be "the beginning of the end of inflation"), accompanied by a 30% reduction in tax rates over those same years. With respect to the economy, Reagan famously said, "A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his."<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> Reagan also criticized the "]" that Carter and Congress enacted that year in regards to domestic oil production and promised to attempt to repeal it as president.<ref name="tax history">{{cite web| last = Thorndike| first = Joseph J.| title = Historical Perspective: The Windfall Profit Tax -- Career of a Concept| work = TaxHistory.org| date = November 10, 2005| url = http://www.taxhistory.org/thp/readings.nsf/cf7c9c870b600b9585256df80075b9dd/edf8de04e58e4b14852570ba0048848b| access-date = November 6, 2008}}</ref> The tax was not a tax on profits, but on the difference between the ]-mandated price and the market price.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33305_20060309.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211074013/http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33305_20060309.pdf |archive-date=February 11, 2012 }}, CRS Report RL33305, The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax of the 1980s: Implications for Current Energy Policy, by Salvatore Lazzari, p. 5.</ref> Reagan promised a restoration of the nation's military strength, at the same time 60% of Americans polled felt defense spending was too low.<ref name="'70s 344">{{cite book|title=How We Got Here: The '70s|last=Frum|first=David|author-link=David Frum|year=2000|publisher=Basic Books|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-465-04195-7|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/344}}</ref> Reagan also promised an end to "trust me government" and to restore economic health by implementing a ] policy. Reagan promised a ] within three years (which he said would be "the beginning of the end of inflation"), accompanied by a 30% reduction in tax rates over those same years. With respect to the economy, Reagan famously said, "A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his."<ref name="strategy campaigning" /> Reagan also criticized the "]" that Carter and Congress enacted that year in regards to domestic oil production and promised to attempt to repeal it as president.<ref name="tax history">{{cite web |last=Thorndike |first=Joseph J. |title=Historical Perspective: The Windfall Profit Tax -- Career of a Concept |work=TaxHistory.org |date=November 10, 2005 |url=http://www.taxhistory.org/thp/readings.nsf/cf7c9c870b600b9585256df80075b9dd/edf8de04e58e4b14852570ba0048848b |access-date=November 6, 2008 |archive-date=November 26, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126011759/http://www.taxhistory.org/thp/readings.nsf/cf7c9c870b600b9585256df80075b9dd/edf8de04e58e4b14852570ba0048848b |url-status=live }}</ref> The tax was not a tax on profits, but on the difference between the ]-mandated price and the market price.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33305_20060309.pdf |title=The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax of the 1980s: Implications for Current Energy Policy |access-date=January 12, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211074013/http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33305_20060309.pdf |archive-date=February 11, 2012}}, CRS Report RL33305, "The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax of the 1980s: Implications for Current Energy Policy," by Salvatore Lazzari, p. 5.</ref>


On the issue of women's rights there was much division, with many feminists frustrated with Carter, the only major-party candidate who supported the ]. After a bitter Convention fight between Republican feminists and antifeminists the Republican Party dropped their forty-year endorsement of the ERA.<ref>{{cite web |last=Melich |first=Tanya |url=http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2379/context/archive |title=O'Connor's Tenure Began One Hot Summer |publisher=Women's eNews |date=July 18, 2005 |access-date=May 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817044630/http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2379/context/archive |archive-date=August 17, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Reagan, however, announced his dedication to women's rights and his intention to, if elected, appoint women to his cabinet and the first female justice to the ].<ref name="presidential leadership">{{cite book | title = Presidential Leadership |author1=James Taranto |author2=Leonard Leo | publisher = Wall Street Journal Books | year = 2004 | url = https://archive.org/details/presidentiallead00tara | url-access = registration | access-date = October 20, 2008 | isbn = 978-0-7432-7226-1}}</ref> He also pledged to work with all 50 state governors to combat discrimination against women and to equalize federal laws as an alternative to the ERA.<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> Reagan was convinced to give an endorsement of women's rights in his nomination acceptance speech. On the issue of ] there was much division, with many feminists frustrated with Carter, the only major-party candidate who supported the ]. After a bitter Convention fight between Republican feminists and antifeminists the Republican Party dropped their forty-year endorsement of the ERA.<ref>{{cite web |last=Melich |first=Tanya |url=http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2379/context/archive |title=O'Connor's Tenure Began One Hot Summer |publisher=Women's eNews |date=July 18, 2005 |access-date=May 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817044630/http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2379/context/archive |archive-date=August 17, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Reagan, however, announced his dedication to women's rights and his intention to, if elected, appoint women to his cabinet and the first female justice to the ].<ref name="presidential leadership">{{cite book |title=Presidential Leadership |author1=James Taranto |author2=Leonard Leo |publisher=Wall Street Journal Books |year=2004 |url=https://archive.org/details/presidentiallead00tara |url-access=registration |access-date=October 20, 2008 |isbn=978-0-7432-7226-1}}</ref> He also pledged to work with all 50 state governors to combat discrimination against women and to equalize federal laws as an alternative to the ERA.<ref name="strategy campaigning" /> Reagan was convinced to give an endorsement of women's rights in his nomination acceptance speech.


Carter was criticized by his own aides for not having a "grand plan" for the recovery of the economy, nor did he ever make any campaign promises; he often criticized Reagan's economic recovery plan, but did not create one of his own in response.<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> Carter was criticized by his own aides for not having a "grand plan" for the recovery of the economy, nor did he ever make any campaign promises; he often criticized Reagan's economic recovery plan, but did not create one of his own in response.<ref name="strategy campaigning" />


====Events==== ====Events====
] in Columbia, South Carolina, October 10, 1980]] ] campaigning in Florida]] ] in Columbia, South Carolina, October 10, 1980]] ] campaigning in Florida]]
In August, after the ], Ronald Reagan gave a campaign speech at the annual ] Fair on the outskirts of ], where three civil rights workers were ]. He was the first presidential candidate ever to campaign at the fair.<ref>Kornacki, Steve (February 3, 2011) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413151441/http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/03/reagan_southern_strategy/index.html |date=April 13, 2011 }}, '']''</ref> Reagan famously announced, "Programs like education and others should be turned back to the states and local communities with the tax sources to fund them. I believe in ]. I believe in people doing as much as they can at the community level and the private level."<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> Reagan also stated, "I believe we have distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended to be given in the ] to that federal establishment." He went on to promise to "restore to states and local governments the power that properly belongs to them."<ref>{{cite news |first=Douglas E. |last=Kneeland |title=Reagan Campaigns at Mississippi Fair; Nominee Tells Crowd of 10,000 He Is Backing States' Rights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/04/archives/reagan-campaigns-at-mississippi-fair-nominee-tells-crowd-of-10000.html |work=] |date=August 4, 1980 |page=A11}}</ref> President Carter criticized Reagan for injecting "hate and racism" by the "rebirth of ], though Carter made appeals to segregationist voters when running for the governorship of Georgia in 1970.<ref>{{youtube|RpHZdreWz3E|'The Made-for-TV Election with Martin Sheen' clip 14}}</ref> In August, after the ], Ronald Reagan gave a campaign speech at the annual ] Fair on the outskirts of ], where three civil rights workers were ]. He was the first presidential candidate ever to campaign at the fair.<ref>Kornacki, Steve (February 3, 2011) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413151441/http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/03/reagan_southern_strategy/index.html |date=April 13, 2011}}, ''Salon.com''</ref> Reagan famously announced, "Programs like education and others should be turned back to the states and local communities with the tax sources to fund them. I believe in ]. I believe in people doing as much as they can at the community level and the private level."<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> Reagan also stated, "I believe we have distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended to be given in the ] to that federal establishment." He went on to promise to "restore to states and local governments the power that properly belongs to them."<ref>{{cite news |first=Douglas E. |last=Kneeland |title=Reagan Campaigns at Mississippi Fair; Nominee Tells Crowd of 10,000 He Is Backing States' Rights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/04/archives/reagan-campaigns-at-mississippi-fair-nominee-tells-crowd-of-10000.html |work=] |date=August 4, 1980 |page=A11 |access-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-date=July 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709065418/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/04/archives/reagan-campaigns-at-mississippi-fair-nominee-tells-crowd-of-10000.html |url-status=live }}</ref> President Carter criticized Reagan for injecting "hate and racism" by the "rebirth of ]".<ref>{{YouTube|RpHZdreWz3E|'The Made-for-TV Election with Martin Sheen' clip 14}}</ref>
] shaking hands with supporters at a campaign stop in Indiana]] ] shaking hands with supporters at a campaign stop in Indiana]]
Two days later, Reagan appeared at the ] convention in New York, where he said, "I am committed to the protection and enforcement of the civil rights of black Americans. This commitment is interwoven into every phase of the plans I will propose."<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> He then said that he would develop "]" to help with urban renewal.<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> Two days later, Reagan appeared at the ] convention in New York, where he said, "I am committed to the protection and enforcement of the civil rights of black Americans. This commitment is interwoven into every phase of the plans I will propose."<ref name="strategy campaigning" /> He then said that he would develop "]" to help with urban renewal.<ref name="strategy campaigning" />


The media's main criticism of Reagan centered on his gaffes. When Carter kicked off his general election campaign in ], Reagan—referring to the Southern U.S. as a whole—claimed that Carter had begun his campaign in the birthplace of the ]. In doing so, Reagan seemed to insinuate that the KKK represented the South, which caused many Southern governors to denounce Reagan's remarks.<ref>White House Diary, by Jimmy Carter, pp 461-462.</ref> Additionally, Reagan was widely ridiculed by Democrats for saying that trees caused pollution; he later said that he meant only certain types of pollution and his remarks had been misquoted.<ref name="cbs news">{{cite news |title=Here We Go Again! | first=Andrew |last=Bridges |work=CBS News |date=March 17, 2003 |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/17/tech/main544188.shtml |access-date=October 20, 2008}}</ref> The media's main criticism of Reagan centered on his gaffes. When Carter kicked off his general election campaign in ], Reagan—referring to the Southern U.S. as a whole—claimed that Carter had begun his campaign in the birthplace of the ]. In doing so, Reagan seemed to insinuate that the KKK represented the South, which caused many Southern governors to denounce Reagan's remarks.<ref>''White House Diary'', by Jimmy Carter, pp 461–462.</ref> Additionally, Reagan was widely ridiculed by Democrats for saying that trees caused pollution; he later said that he meant only certain types of pollution and his remarks had been misquoted.<ref name="cbs news">{{cite news |title=Here We Go Again! |first=Andrew |last=Bridges |work=CBS News |date=March 17, 2003 |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/17/tech/main544188.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003195921/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/17/tech/main544188.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 3, 2003 |access-date=October 20, 2008}}</ref>


Meanwhile, Carter was burdened by a continued weak economy and the ].<ref name="'70s 344"/> ], high ], and ] continued through the course of the campaign, and the ongoing hostage crisis in Iran became, according to David Frum in ''How We Got Here: The '70s'', a symbol of American impotence during the Carter years.<ref name="'70s 344"/> John Anderson's independent candidacy, aimed at eliciting support from liberals, was also seen as hurting Carter more than Reagan,<ref name="strategy campaigning"/> especially in reliably Democratic states such as ] and ]. Meanwhile, Carter was burdened by a continued weak economy and the ].<ref name="'70s 344" /> Inflation, high interest rates, and unemployment continued through the course of the campaign, and the ongoing hostage crisis in Iran became, according to ] in ''How We Got Here: The '70s'', a symbol of American impotence during the Carter years.<ref name="'70s 344" /> John Anderson's independent candidacy, aimed at eliciting support from liberals, especially former supporters of ], was also seen as hurting Carter more than Reagan,<ref name="strategy campaigning" /> especially in reliably Democratic states such as Massachusetts and New York.


===Presidential debates=== ===Presidential debates===
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|]<br />]<br />Charles Corddry<br />Lee May<br />]<br />Soma Golden
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Soma Golden
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|80.6<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=1980-debates|title=CPD: 1980 Debates|website=www.debates.org|access-date=2019-01-08|archive-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108145500/https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=1980-debates|url-status=live}}</ref>
]
|80.6<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=1980-debates|title=CPD: 1980 Debates|website=www.debates.org|access-date=2019-01-08}}</ref>
|} |}
{{external media {{external media
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| video1 = {{YouTube|_8YxFc_1b_0|Reagan-Carter presidential debate, October 28, 1980}} | video1 = {{YouTube|_8YxFc_1b_0|Reagan-Carter presidential debate, October 28, 1980}}
}} }}


The ], which had sponsored the 1976 Ford/Carter debate series, announced that it would do so again for the next cycle in the spring of 1979. Carter steadfastly refused to participate in a debate if Anderson was included, and Reagan refused to debate without him. A League-sponsored debate was held on September 21, 1980, in the ]. Of Carter's refusal to debate, Reagan said: "He knows that he couldn't win a debate even if it were held in the ] before an audience of Administration officials with the questions being asked by ]".<ref name="Reagan on Carter in Baltimore 478">{{cite book |title=Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America|last=Shirley|first=Craig|author-link=Craig Shirley|year=2009|publisher=ISI Books|location=Wilmington, Delaware|isbn=978-1-933859-55-2|page=478}}</ref> Anderson, who many thought would handily dispatch Reagan, managed only a narrow win, according to many in the media at that time, with Reagan putting up a much stronger performance than expected. Despite the narrow win in the debate, Anderson, who had been as high as 20% in some polls, and at the time of the debate was over 10%, dropped to about 5% soon after. Anderson failed to substantively engage Reagan enough on their social issue differences and on Reagan's advocation of supply-side economics. Instead, Anderson started off by criticizing Carter: "Governor Reagan is not responsible for what has happened over the last four years, nor am I. The man who should be here tonight to respond to those charges chose not to attend," to which Reagan added: "It's a shame now that there are only two of us here debating, because the two that are here are in more agreement than disagreement."<ref name="Reagan Anderson Debate 479">{{cite book |title=Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America|last=Shirley|first=Craig|author-link=Craig Shirley|year=2009|publisher=ISI Books|location=Wilmington, Delaware |isbn=978-1-933859-55-2 |page=479}}</ref> In one moment in the debate, Reagan commented on a rumor that Anderson had invited Senator ] to be his running mate by asking the candidate directly, "John, would you really prefer Teddy Kennedy to me?"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://conversationswithbillkristol.org/video/fred-barnes/ |title=Fred Barnes on Conversations with Bill Kristol |website=Conversationswithbillkristol.org |access-date=2016-08-18 |archive-date=October 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020162346/http://conversationswithbillkristol.org/video/fred-barnes/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The ], which had sponsored the 1976 Ford/Carter debate series, announced that it would do so again for the next cycle in the spring of 1979. However, Carter was not eager to participate with any debate. He had repeatedly refused to a debate with Senator ] during the primary season, and had given ambivalent signals as to his participation in the fall.


As September turned into October, the situation remained essentially the same. Reagan insisted Anderson be allowed to participate in a three-way debate, while Carter remained steadfastly opposed to this. As the standoff continued, the second debate was canceled, as was the vice presidential debate.
The League of Women Voters had announced a schedule of debates similar to 1976, three presidential and one vice presidential. No one had much of a problem with this until it was announced that Rep. ] might be invited to participate along with Carter and Reagan. Carter steadfastly refused to participate with Anderson included, and Reagan refused to debate without him. It took months of negotiations for the League of Women Voters to finally put it together. It was held on September 21, 1980, in the ]. Reagan said of Carter's refusal to debate: "He knows that he couldn't win a debate even if it were held in the ] before an audience of Administration officials with the questions being asked by ]."<ref name="Reagan on Carter in Baltimore 478">{{cite book |title= Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America|last= Shirley|first= Craig|author-link= Craig Shirley|year= 2009|publisher= ISI Books|location= Wilmington, Delaware|isbn= 978-1-933859-55-2|page= 478}}</ref> The League of Women Voters promised the Reagan campaign that the debate stage would feature an empty chair to represent the missing president. Carter was very upset about the planned chair stunt, and at the last minute convinced the league to take it out. The debate was moderated by ]. Anderson, who many thought would handily dispatch Reagan, managed only a narrow win, according to many in the media at that time, with Reagan putting up a much stronger performance than expected. Despite the narrow win in the debate, Anderson, who had been as high as 20% in some polls, and at the time of the debate was over 10%, dropped to about 5% soon after, although Anderson got back up to winning 6.6% of the vote on election day. In the debate, Anderson failed to substantively engage Reagan enough on their social issue differences and on Reagan's advocation of supply-side economics. Anderson instead started off by criticizing Carter: "Governor Reagan is not responsible for what has happened over the last four years, nor am I. The man who should be here tonight to respond to those charges chose not to attend," to which Reagan added: "It's a shame now that there are only two of us here debating, because the two that are here are in more agreement than disagreement."<ref name="Reagan Anderson Debate 479">{{cite book |title= Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America|last= Shirley|first= Craig|author-link= Craig Shirley|year= 2009|publisher= ISI Books|location= Wilmington, Delaware |isbn=978-1-933859-55-2 |page=479}}</ref> In one moment in the debate, Reagan commented on a rumor that Anderson had invited Senator ] to be his running mate by asking the candidate directly, "John, would you really prefer Teddy Kennedy to me?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conversationswithbillkristol.org/video/fred-barnes/ |title=Fred Barnes on Conversations with Bill Kristol |website=Conversationswithbillkristol.org |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref>

As September turned into October, the situation remained essentially the same. Governor Reagan insisted Anderson be allowed to participate in a three-way debate, while President Carter remained steadfastly opposed to this. As the standoff continued, the second debate was canceled, as was the vice presidential debate.

With two weeks to go to the election, the Reagan campaign decided that the best thing to do at that moment was to accede to all of President Carter's demands, including that Anderson not feature, and LWV agreed to exclude Congressman Anderson from the final debate, which was rescheduled for October 28 in ], ].


] ]
The presidential debate between President Carter and Governor Reagan was moderated by ] and presented by the League of Women Voters. The showdown ranked among the highest ratings of any ] program in the previous decade. Debate topics included the Iranian hostage crisis, and nuclear arms treaties and proliferation. Carter's campaign sought to portray Reagan as a reckless "war hawk," as well as a "dangerous right-wing radical". But it was President Carter's reference to his consultation with 12-year-old daughter ] concerning nuclear weapons policy that became the focus of post-debate analysis and fodder for late-night television ]s. President Carter said he had asked Amy what the most important issue in that election was and she said, "the control of ]." A famous political cartoon, published the day after Reagan's landslide victory, showed Amy Carter sitting in Jimmy's lap with her shoulders shrugged asking "the economy? the hostage crisis?" With two weeks to go to the election, the Reagan campaign decided at that point that the best thing to do was to accede to all of President Carter's demands. The final debate, featuring only Carter and Reagan, was rescheduled for October 28 in ], ]. The showdown ranked among the highest ratings of any ] program in the previous decade. Debate topics included the Iranian hostage crisis and nuclear arms. Carter's campaign sought to portray Reagan as a reckless "war hawk", as well as a "dangerous right-wing radical". But it was President Carter's reference to his consultation with 12-year-old daughter ] concerning nuclear weapons policy that became the focus of post-debate analysis and fodder for late-night television ]s. President Carter said he had asked Amy what the most important issue in that election was and she said, "the control of ]." A famous political cartoon, published the day after Reagan's landslide victory, showed Amy Carter sitting in Jimmy's lap with her shoulders shrugged asking "the economy? the hostage crisis?"{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

When President Carter criticized Reagan's record, which included voting against ] and ] benefits, Governor Reagan audibly sighed and replied: "]".<ref name="pbs debate">{{cite web | title = The Second 1980 Presidential Debate | publisher = PBS | url = https://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/80debates/cart1.html | access-date = October 20, 2008}}</ref>


When President Carter criticized Reagan's record, which included voting against ] and ] benefits, former Governor Reagan audibly sighed and replied: "]".<ref name="pbs debate">{{cite web |title=The Second 1980 Presidential Debate |publisher=PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/80debates/cart1.html |access-date=October 20, 2008 |archive-date=September 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922233925/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/80debates/cart1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In describing the national debt that was approaching $1 trillion, Reagan stated "a billion is a thousand millions, and a trillion is a thousand billions." When Carter would criticize the content of Reagan's campaign speeches, Reagan began his counter with the words: "Well ... I don't know that I said that. I really don't."


In his closing remarks, Reagan asked viewers: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we're as strong as we were four years ago? And if you answer all of those questions 'yes', why then, I think your choice is very obvious as to whom you will vote for. If you don't agree, if you don't think that this course that we've been on for the last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have." In his closing remarks, Reagan asked viewers: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we're as strong as we were four years ago? And if you answer all of those questions 'yes', why then, I think your choice is very obvious as to whom you will vote for. If you don't agree, if you don't think that this course that we've been on for the last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/1980-ronald-reagan-and-jimmy-carter-presidential-debate|title=1980 Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter Presidential Debate|website=Ronald Reagan|access-date=August 6, 2023|archive-date=July 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722040804/https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/1980-ronald-reagan-and-jimmy-carter-presidential-debate|url-status=live}}</ref>


After trailing Carter by 8 points among registered voters (and by 3 points among likely voters) right before their debate, Reagan moved into a 3-point lead among likely voters immediately afterward.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/111451/late-upsets-rare-happened.aspx|title=Late Upsets Are Rare, but Have Happened|last=Inc.|first=Gallup|access-date=2016-08-25}}</ref> After trailing Carter by eight points among registered voters (and by three points among likely voters) right before their debate, Reagan moved into a three-point lead among likely voters immediately afterward.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/111451/late-upsets-rare-happened.aspx|title=Late Upsets Are Rare, but Have Happened|last=Saad|first=Lydia|date=October 27, 2008|access-date=2016-08-25|archive-date=August 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826040529/http://www.gallup.com/poll/111451/late-upsets-rare-happened.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Endorsements=== ===Endorsements===
In September 1980, former ] prosecutor ] accepted a position as honorary chairman of ].<ref name="'70s 344"/> Five months earlier, Jaworski had harshly criticized Reagan as an "extremist"; he said after accepting the chairmanship, "I would rather have a competent extremist than an incompetent moderate."<ref name="'70s 344"/> In September 1980, former ] prosecutor ] accepted a position as honorary chairman of ].<ref name="'70s 344"/> Five months earlier, Jaworski had harshly criticized Reagan as an "extremist"; he said after accepting the chairmanship, "I would rather have a competent extremist than an incompetent moderate."<ref name="'70s 344"/>


Former Democratic Senator ] of Minnesota (who in ] had challenged ] from the left, causing the then-President to all but abdicate) endorsed Reagan.<ref name="MacNeil-Lehrer">MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour (December 12, 2005). . December 12, 2005. ].</ref> Former Democratic Senator ] of Minnesota (who in ] had challenged ] from the left, causing the then-President to all but abdicate) endorsed Reagan.<ref name="MacNeil-Lehrer">MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour (December 12, 2005). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218074245/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/july-dec05/mccarthy_12-12.html |date=February 18, 2006 }}. December 12, 2005. ].</ref>


Three days before the November 4 voting in the election, the ] endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in its history, backing Reagan. Reagan had received the California Rifle and Pistol Association's Outstanding Public Service Award. Carter had appointed ], a fervent proponent of ], to a federal judgeship and had supported the Alaska Lands Bill, closing {{convert|40000000|acre|km2}} to hunting.<ref>Facts on File 1980 Yearbook, p.844</ref> Three days before the election, the ] endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in its history, backing Reagan.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Matthew Lacombe |title=Trump is at the NRA today. It didn't used to be a Republican ally. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/04/26/how-nra-became-core-member-republican-coalition/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426125637/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/04/26/how-nra-became-core-member-republican-coalition/ |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |language=English |date=April 26, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Reagan had received the California Rifle and Pistol Association's Outstanding Public Service Award. Carter had appointed ], a fervent proponent of ], to a federal judgeship and had supported the Alaska Lands Bill, closing {{convert|40000000|acre|km2}} to hunting.<ref>Facts on File 1980 Yearbook, p.844</ref>


==== General election endorsements ==== ==== General election endorsements ====
{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=List of John B. Anderson endorsements|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
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'''List of John B. Anderson endorsements'''
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Anderson had received endorsements from: Anderson had received endorsements from:
;Former officeholders ;Former officeholders
* Former ] (]) ] (R-CA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - CA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2271&ShowAllCand=Y |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * Former ] (]) and ] ] (D-AZ)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meissner |first=Steve |date=July 19, 1980 |title=Stewart Udall calls Carter weak, endorses Anderson |pages=2 |work=Arizona Daily Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/163783305/?terms=%22Stewart%20Udall%22%20John%20Anderson%20endorse%20endorses&match=1 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615223513/https://www.newspapers.com/image/163783305/?terms=%22Stewart%20Udall%22%20John%20Anderson%20endorse%20endorses&match=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Former ] (]) and ] ] (D-AZ)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - AZ US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2269 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
;Current and former state and local officials and party officeholders ;Current and former state and local officials and party officeholders
:'''Massachusetts''' :'''Massachusetts'''
* ] ] (D-MA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - MA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2288 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * ] ] (D-MA)<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 18, 1980 |title=Some Bay State GOP uneasy over G. Bush |pages=3 |work=North Adams Transcript |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/544925654/?terms=%22John%20J.%20Buckley%22%20John%20B.%20Anderson%20endorse%20endorses&match=1 |access-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616154221/https://www.newspapers.com/image/544925654/?terms=%22John%20J.%20Buckley%22%20John%20B.%20Anderson%20endorse%20endorses&match=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Former ] ] (R-MA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - MA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2288 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * Former ] ] (R-MA)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Benjamin |date=June 12, 1980 |title=Hatch breaks ranks, backs Anderson |pages=7 |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/428232105/?terms=Francis%20W.%20Hatch%20John%20B.%20Anderson%20endorse%20endorses&match=1 |access-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616154223/https://www.newspapers.com/image/428232105/?terms=Francis%20W.%20Hatch%20John%20B.%20Anderson%20endorse%20endorses&match=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Former ] chairman ] (R-MA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - MA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2288 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * Former ] chairman ] (R-MA)<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 27, 1983 |title=Josiah Spaulding Dies at 60; Massachusetts G.O.P. Leader |pages=40 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/27/obituaries/josiah-spaulding-dies-at-60-massachusetts-gop-leader.html |access-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616154223/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/03/27/obituaries/josiah-spaulding-dies-at-60-massachusetts-gop-leader.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
;Celebrities, political activists, and political commentators ;Celebrities, political activists, and political commentators
* Band ]<ref name="post">{{cite news |title=Politics and Hollywood
* Actor ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - CA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2271&ShowAllCand=Y |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
|newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1980/03/09/politics-and-hollywood/586384d1-c5ef-45d5-a794-6005cd2705bd/|date=8 March 1980}}</ref>
* Actor ]<ref name="post"/>
* Band ]<ref name="post"/>
* Screenwriter ]<ref name="post"/>
* Actress ]<ref name="post"/>
* Actor ]<ref name="post"/>
* Actor ]<ref name="post"/>
* Band ]<ref name="post"/>
* Actress ]<ref name="post"/>
;Newspapers ;Newspapers
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - KS US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2283 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 10, 1980 |title=Independent presidential candidate John Anderson will receive editorial endorsement |work=] |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/10/10/Independent-presidential-candidate-John-Anderson-will-receive-editorial-endorsement/4782339998400/ |access-date=June 15, 2022}}</ref>
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - VT US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2312 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 26, 1980 |title=Anderson Offers Intelligent Solutions to Problems |pages=10 |work=] |url=https://burlingtonfreepress.newspapers.com/image/200067471/?terms=john%20b.%20anderson%20editorial%20board&match=1 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=August 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817191531/https://burlingtonfreepress.newspapers.com/image/200067471/?terms=john%20b.%20anderson%20editorial%20board&match=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{hidden end}}
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{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=List of Jimmy Carter endorsements|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
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'''List of Jimmy Carter endorsements'''
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Carter had received endorsements from: Carter had received endorsements from:
;Current and former state and local officials and party officeholders
* ] ] (D-OH)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - OH US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2302 |website=Our Campaigns}}</ref>
;Newspapers ;Newspapers
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - IA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2282 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2016 |title=25 photos: Register presidential endorsements (1912-2012) |url=https://eu.desmoinesregister.com/picture-gallery/news/politics/2015/06/03/25-photos-register-presidential-endorsements-1912-2012/28434019/ |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=The Des Moines Register |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921111233/https://www.desmoinesregister.com/picture-gallery/news/politics/2015/06/03/25-photos-register-presidential-endorsements-1912-2012/28434019/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The ''] Daily Collegian'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - PA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2305 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * The ''] Daily Collegian'' in ]<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 4, 1980 |title=Election '80 Endorsements |pages=2 |work=The Daily Collegian |url=https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1980-11-04/ed-1/seq-2/ |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=August 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816170801/https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1980-11-04/ed-1/seq-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{hidden end}}
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{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=List of Barry Commoner endorsements|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
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{| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; border:0; margin-top:0.2em;"
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'''List of Barry Commoner endorsements'''
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Commoner had received endorsements from: Commoner had received endorsements from:
;Celebrities, political activists, and political commentators ;Celebrities, political activists, and political commentators
* ] precinct committeeman and Consumer Party ] candidate Darcy Richardson (D-PA)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gemma |first=Peter B. |date=August 5, 2016 |title=An Interview with Darcy Richardson, Reform Party Presidential Candidate. |url=http://independentpoliticalreport.com/2016/08/an-interview-with-darcy-richardson-reform-party-presidential-candidate/ |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=Independent Political Report |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625061421/http://independentpoliticalreport.com/2016/08/an-interview-with-darcy-richardson-reform-party-presidential-candidate/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Anti-nuclear activist ] of ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - NY US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2299 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
{{hidden end}}
* ] precinct committeeman and Consumer Party ] candidate ] (D-PA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - PA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2305 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=List of Clifton DeBerry endorsements|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
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'''List of Clifton DeBerry endorsements'''
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DeBerry had received endorsements from: DeBerry had received endorsements from:
;Celebrities, political activists and political commentators ;Celebrities, political activists and political commentators
* American People's Historical Society director ] of ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - VT US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2312 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * American People's Historical Society director ] of ]<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 12, 1990 |title=Socialist Vows to Be Capitol Outsider |pages=9 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/12/us/socialist-vows-to-be-capitol-outsider.html |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615202836/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/12/us/socialist-vows-to-be-capitol-outsider.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=List of Ronald Reagan endorsements|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
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{| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; border:0; margin-top:0.2em;"
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'''List of Ronald Reagan endorsements'''
|-
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Reagan had received endorsements from: Reagan had received endorsements from:
;United States Senate ;United States Senate
* ] ] (D-AZ)<ref>{{Cite book |last1=DeConcini |first1=Dennis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TPAAc-ossjAC&q=Senator+Dennis+DeConcini |title=Senator Dennis DeConcini: From the Center of the Aisle |last2=August |first2=Jack L. Jr. |publisher=] |year=2006 |isbn=9780816525690 |pages=83 |quote=I viewed his leadership and administration with no small amount of frustration and concern, and in 1980 I crossed party lines and voted for Ronald Reagan for president. |access-date=March 18, 2023 |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821002234/https://books.google.com/books?id=TPAAc-ossjAC&q=Senator+Dennis+DeConcini |url-status=live }}</ref>
*] ] (D-AZ)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - AZ US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2269 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
*] ] (D-VA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - VA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2313 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * ] ] (D-VA)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frankel |first=Glenn |date=October 15, 1980 |title=Sen. Harry Byrd Endorses Reagan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/10/15/sen-harry-byrd-endorses-reagan/6bd21c82-3ef7-49c7-b4b1-411f88fe425c/ |access-date=June 16, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828154009/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/10/15/sen-harry-byrd-endorses-reagan/6bd21c82-3ef7-49c7-b4b1-411f88fe425c/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ] ] (R-NY)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/09/24/why-carter-is-wooing-javits/65ddb1ee-9589-4639-8e9c-bacd5fca1973/ |title=Why Carter Is Wooing Javits|newspaper=]|date=September 24, 1980 }}</ref>
* ] ] (R-MD)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/09/15/mac-mathias-agonistes/91e76242-5361-4865-b865-341f1c27cbec/ |title=Mac Mathias Agonistes |newspaper=] |date=September 14, 1980 |access-date=April 6, 2024 |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828155646/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/09/15/mac-mathias-agonistes/91e76242-5361-4865-b865-341f1c27cbec/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Former ] ] (R-MA)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/10/26/archives/reagan-preparing-for-debate.html |title=Reagan Preparing for Debate|website=] | date=October 26, 1980 }}</ref>
* Former ] ] (D-MN)<ref name="MacNeil-Lehrer"/>
;United States House of Representatives ;United States House of Representatives
* Former ] (]) ] (D-CA; son of ])<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - CA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2271&ShowAllCand=Y |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * ] (]) ] (R-CA)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/09/26/mccloskey-buries-the-hatchet-by-endorsing-reagan/65911bc2-4c8a-41d0-aa87-628ff78f72c0/ |title=McCloskey Buries the Hatchet by Endorsing Reagan|newspaper=] | date=September 26, 1980 }}</ref>
* Former ] (]) ] (D-CA; son of ])<ref>{{Cite news |date=1980-10-27 |title=FDR son gives Reagan backing |pages=27 |work=Lodi News-Sentinel |agency=UPI |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KBczAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WjIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4659,7154351&dq=james-roosevelt+ronald-reagan&hl=en |access-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616161104/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KBczAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WjIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4659,7154351&dq=james-roosevelt+ronald-reagan&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
;Governors and State Constitutional officers ;Governors and State Constitutional officers
* Former ] ] (D-GA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - GA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2277 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * Former ] ] (D-GA)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Daniel |first=Leon |date=October 24, 1980 |title=Nobody Listens To Maddox Anymore, Who Relishes Chance To Rap Carter |pages=5 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lJwcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2mcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6797,4141131&dq=lester+maddox+endorsement&hl=en |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615194211/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lJwcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2mcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6797,4141131&dq=lester+maddox+endorsement&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Former ] ] (D-AL)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - AL US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1908 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * Former ] ] (D-AL)<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 29, 1980 |title=GOP leaders, Demo ex-governor back Selden |pages=6 |work=Birmingham Post-Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/794766735/?terms=John%20Patterson%20endorse%20endorses%20Ronald%20Reagan&match=1 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615194700/https://www.newspapers.com/image/794766735/?terms=John%20Patterson%20endorse%20endorses%20Ronald%20Reagan&match=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Former ] ] (D-TX)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - TX US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2310 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * Former ] ] (D-TX)<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 28, 1980 |title=Last Minute Blitz |pages=4 |work=Abilene Reporter-News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/763277616/?terms=%22Preston%20Smith%22%20%22Ronald%20Reagan%22%20endorse%20endorses&match=1 |access-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616154223/https://www.newspapers.com/image/763277616/?terms=%22Preston%20Smith%22%20%22Ronald%20Reagan%22%20endorse%20endorses&match=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Former ] ] (D-MS)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - MS US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2291 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * Former ] ] (D-MS)<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 3, 1980 |title=Republicans turnout to hear Reagan |pages=9 |work=Sun Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/743423334/?terms=%22John%20Bell%20Williams%22%20endorse%20endorses%20Ronald%20Reagan&match=1 |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615195445/https://www.newspapers.com/image/743423334/?terms=%22John%20Bell%20Williams%22%20endorse%20endorses%20Ronald%20Reagan&match=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
;Current and former state and local officials and party officeholders ;Current and former state and local officials and party officeholders
:'''Florida''' :'''Florida'''
* ] City Advisory Board member ] (D-FL)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - FL US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2276 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * ] City Advisory Board member ] (D-FL)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Norman |first=Bob |date=October 26, 2000 |title=Politically Incorrect |url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/politically-incorrect-6324763 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121015339/http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/politically-incorrect-6324763 |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |website=New Times Broward-Palm Beach}}</ref>
:'''New York''' :'''New York'''
* Former ] ] (D-NY)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - NY US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2299 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * Former ] ] (D-NY)<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 5, 1980 |title=Bloom Agrees to Head Democrats for Reagan |pages=16 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/05/archives/bloom-agrees-to-head-democrats-for-reagan.html |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615224715/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/05/archives/bloom-agrees-to-head-democrats-for-reagan.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
;Celebrities, political activists and political commentators ;Celebrities, political activists and political commentators
* Former ] ]<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Davis |first=Seth |date=2009-08-24 |title=Checking in on John Wooden |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/seth_davis/08/24/john.wooden/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827193402/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/seth_davis/08/24/john.wooden/index.html |archive-date=2009-08-27 |access-date=2022-06-16 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>
* Activist ] (D-NY)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - NY US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2299 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
* Retired ] ] ] (D-VA)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boodman |first=Sandra G. |date=October 13, 1980 |title=Zumwalt Dismays Va. Democrats With Z-Grams for Reagan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/10/13/zumwalt-dismays-va-democrats-with-z-grams-for-reagan/942df155-a9bb-4e31-91dc-05e3ff881f76/ |access-date=June 16, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828155428/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/10/13/zumwalt-dismays-va-democrats-with-z-grams-for-reagan/942df155-a9bb-4e31-91dc-05e3ff881f76/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ] president ] (D-MA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - MA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2288 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
* Former ] ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - CA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2271&ShowAllCand=Y |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
* Houston businessman ] (D-TX)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - TX US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2310 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
* Retired ] ] ] (D-VA)<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - VA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2313 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
;Newspaper endorsements ;Newspaper endorsements
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - AZ US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2269 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2016 |title=Coming Tuesday: Who will The Arizona Republic endorse? |url=https://eu.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/09/26/presidential-endorsement-preview/90904896/ |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=The Arizona Republic |archive-date=August 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817015459/https://eu.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2016/09/26/presidential-endorsement-preview/90904896/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - CA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2271&ShowAllCand=Y |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-30 |title=Through the years: Desert Sun presidential endorsements |url=https://eu.desertsun.com/picture-gallery/news/2016/09/29/through-the-years-desert-sun-presidential-endorsements/91300646/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Desert Sun}}</ref>
* The '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite news |last=World-Herald editorial |date=October 16, 2019 |title=Editorial: Hillary Clinton is prudent pick for president |work=] |url=https://omaha.com/opinion/editorial-hillary-clinton-is-prudent-pick-for-president/article_94a58d80-9341-11e6-a7e8-cf8bfd4f296a.html |access-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-date=April 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429035513/https://omaha.com/opinion/editorial-hillary-clinton-is-prudent-pick-for-president/article_94a58d80-9341-11e6-a7e8-cf8bfd4f296a.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The ''] in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - NE US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2294 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref>
* The '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - IA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2282 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * The '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2008 |title=A history of Times presidential endorsements |url=https://qctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/a-history-of-times-presidential-endorsements/article_e0a998f0-e69d-5681-bd30-51dce8d44bc6.html |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=Quad-City Times |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615201141/https://qctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/a-history-of-times-presidential-endorsements/article_e0a998f0-e69d-5681-bd30-51dce8d44bc6.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - CA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2271&ShowAllCand=Y |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-08 |title=Record Endorsements, President: Clinton best for country |url=http://www.recordnet.com/opinion/20161008/record-endorsements-president-clinton-best-for-country |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Recordnet |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730192617/https://www.recordnet.com/opinion/20161008/record-endorsements-president-clinton-best-for-country |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - OH US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2302 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Gary |date=October 11, 2016 |title=Repository presidential endorsements through history |url=https://eu.cantonrep.com/story/news/politics/elections/presidential/2016/10/11/repository-presidential-endorsements-through-history/24839102007/ |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=The Repository}}</ref>
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - OH US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2302 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2012 |title=Plain Dealer presidential endorsements: Every pick we made since 1936 |url=https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2012/10/plain_dealer_presidential_endo.html |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=Plain Dealer |archive-date=May 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525083938/https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2012/10/plain_dealer_presidential_endo.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - OH US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2302 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 1980 |title=Ronald Reagan got most of the new newspaper endorsements,... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/03/Ronald-Reagan-got-most-of-the-new-newspaper-endorsements/6748342075600/ |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=UPI |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012102135/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/11/03/Ronald-Reagan-got-most-of-the-new-newspaper-endorsements/6748342075600/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - TX US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2310 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Dunham |first1=Richard |date=October 19, 2008 |title=A half-century of Chronicle endorsements: 11 R, 2 D |url=https://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2008/10/a-half-century-of-chronicle-endorsements-11-r-2-d/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Texas on the Potomac |language=en-US |archive-date=June 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608114603/https://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2008/10/a-half-century-of-chronicle-endorsements-11-r-2-d/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '']'' in ]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - VA US President - Nov 04, 1980 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=2313 |website=Our Campaigns |access-date=4 November 2020}}</ref> * '']'' in ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2016 |title=A brief history of Richmond Times-Dispatch presidential endorsements |url=https://richmond.com/opinion/our-opinion/article_e8b7da3b-9981-5ca1-9b63-d4ee072c1dc2.html |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |archive-date=May 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527080225/https://richmond.com/opinion/our-opinion/article_e8b7da3b-9981-5ca1-9b63-d4ee072c1dc2.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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===Results=== ===Results===
The election was held on November 4, 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=feST4K8J0scC&dat=19801104&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Voters the choice is yours|date=4 November 1980|work=St. Petersburg Times|access-date=January 16, 2014|archive-date=September 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920171304/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=feST4K8J0scC&dat=19801104&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Ronald Reagan and running mate ] defeated the Carter-Mondale ticket by almost 10 percentage points in the popular vote. The electoral college vote was a landslide, with 489 votes (representing 44 states) for Reagan and 49 for Carter (representing six states and Washington, D.C.). ] also gained control of the Senate for the first time since 1954.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=gL9scSG3K_gC&dat=19801105&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Reagan in a landslide|date=5 November 1980|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=January 16, 2014|archive-date=September 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920151642/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=gL9scSG3K_gC&dat=19801105&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
]|border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}

{{legend|#1560BD|]|border=1px #AAAAAA solid}}]]
] projected Reagan as the winner at 8:15 pm EST (5:15 PST), before voting was finished in the West, based on ]; it was the first time a broadcast network used exit polling to project a winner, and it took the other broadcast networks by surprise. Carter conceded defeat at 9:50 pm EST.<ref>Facts on File Yearbook 1980 p. 865</ref><ref>Facts on File Yearbook 1980 p. 838</ref> Some of Carter's advisors urged him to wait until 11:00 pm EST to allow poll results from the West Coast to come in, but Carter decided to concede earlier in order to avoid the impression that he was sulking. ] ] angrily accused Carter of weakening the party's performance in the ] by doing this.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Farris|first=Scott|url=http://archive.org/details/almostpresidentm0000farr|title=Almost president : the men who lost the race but changed the nation|date=2012|publisher=Lyons Press|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-7627-6378-8|location=Guilford, CN|pages=7}}</ref>
]

The election was held on November 4, 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=feST4K8J0scC&dat=19801104&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title= Voters the choice is yours |date=4 November 1980|work=St. Petersburg Times|access-date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> Ronald Reagan and running mate ] beat Carter by almost 10 percentage points in the popular vote. ] also gained control of the Senate on ] for the first time since 1952. The electoral college vote was a landslide, with 489 votes (representing 44 states) for Reagan and 49 for Carter (representing six states and Washington, D.C.).<ref>{{cite web|url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=gL9scSG3K_gC&dat=19801105&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title= Reagan in a landslide|date=5 November 1980|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> NBC News projected Reagan as the winner at 8:15 pm EST (5:15 PST), before voting was finished in the West, based on ]; it was the first time a broadcast network used exit polling to project a winner, and took the other broadcast networks by surprise. Carter conceded defeat at 9:50 pm EST.<ref>Facts on File Yearbook 1980 p. 865</ref><ref>Facts on File Yearbook 1980 p. 838</ref> Carter's loss was the worst performance by an incumbent president since Herbert Hoover lost to Franklin D. Roosevelt by a margin of 18% in 1932, and his 49 electoral college votes were the fewest won by an incumbent since ] won only 8 in 1912. Carter was the first incumbent Democrat to serve only one full term since ] and also the first to serve one full term, seek re-election, and lose since ]; ] served two non-consecutive terms while ] and ] served one full term in addition to respectively taking over following the deaths of ] and ].
John Anderson won 6.6% of the popular vote but no states.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0928/p09s02-coop.html|title=Let the most popular candidate win|last=Anderson|first=John B.|date=2007-09-28|work=Christian Science Monitor|access-date=2017-09-01|issn=0882-7729|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902053638/https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0928/p09s02-coop.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He had the most support in ], fueled by liberal and moderate Republicans who felt Reagan was too far to the right, and with voters who normally leaned Democratic but were dissatisfied with the Carter administration's policies. His best showing was in ], where he won 15% of the vote.


Anderson performed worst in the ], receiving under 2% of the vote in South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. He said he was accused of ] by receiving votes that might have otherwise been cast for Carter,<ref name="auto"/> but 37% of Anderson voters polled preferred Reagan as their second choice.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Kornacki |first=Steve |date=2011-04-04 |title=The myths that just won't die |url=http://www.salon.com/2011/04/04/third_party_myth_easterbrook/ |access-date=2017-08-01 |website=Salon |archive-date=August 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801123934/http://www.salon.com/2011/04/04/third_party_myth_easterbrook/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ] nominee ] received 921,299 popular votes (1.06%).
Carter carried only ] (his home state), ], ] (Mondale's home state), ], ], ], and the ].


Carter's loss was the worst performance by an incumbent president since Herbert Hoover lost to Franklin Roosevelt by a margin of 18% in ], and his 49 Electoral College votes were the fewest won by an incumbent since ] won eight in ]. Carter was the first incumbent Democrat to serve only one full term since ], and was also the last until ]. This was the third and most recent presidential election in which the incumbent Democrat lost reelection, after 1840 and 1888. This was the first time since 1840 that an incumbent Democrat lost the popular vote. Reagan had the most lopsided Electoral College victory for a first-time president-elect, with the exception of George Washington's unanimous victory in 1788.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-30|title=The 10 biggest landslides in presidential election history|url=https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/lists/the-10-biggest-landslides-in-presidential-election-history/|access-date=2021-02-09|website=List Wire|language=en-US|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120165619/https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/lists/the-10-biggest-landslides-in-presidential-election-history/|url-status=live}}</ref>
John Anderson won 6.6% of the popular vote but failed to win any state outright. He found the most support in ], fueled by liberal and moderate Republicans who felt Reagan was too far to the right and with voters who normally leaned Democratic but were dissatisfied with the policies of the Carter Administration. His best showing was in ], where he won 15% of the popular vote. Conversely, Anderson performed worst in the ], receiving under 2% of the popular vote in South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. Anderson claims that he was accused of ] for Carter by receiving votes that might have otherwise been cast for Carter.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0928/p09s02-coop.html|title=Let the most popular candidate win|last=Anderson|first=John B.|date=2007-09-28|work=Christian Science Monitor|access-date=2017-09-01|issn=0882-7729}}</ref> However, 37 percent of Anderson voters polled preferred Reagan as their second choice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2011/04/04/third_party_myth_easterbrook/|title=The myths that just won't die|last=Kornacki|first=Steve|date=2011-04-04|website=Salon|access-date=2017-08-01}}</ref>


This election was the last time a Republican won the presidency without winning Georgia. It was the first time Massachusetts voted for a Republican candidate since 1956. 1980 is one of only two occurrences of pairs of consecutive elections seeing the incumbent presidents defeated, the other happening in ]. This is the first time since 1892 that a party was voted out after a single four-year term, and the first for Democrats since 1896. This did not occur again for either party until 2020, and for the Democrats until 2024.
] candidate ] received 921,299 popular votes (1.06%). The Libertarians succeeded in getting Clark on the ballot in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Clark's best showing was in Alaska, where he received 11.66% of the vote. The 921,299 votes achieved by the Clark–Koch ticket was the best performance by a Libertarian presidential candidate until 2012, when the Johnson–Gray ticket received 1,273,667 votes. In addition, the popular vote percentage was the highest of a Libertarian presidential candidate until 2016, when the Johnson-Weld ticket received 3.28%.


Reagan won 53% of the vote in reliably Democratic ].<ref name="'70s 283"/> His electoral college victory of 489 electoral votes (90.9% of the electoral vote) was the most lopsided electoral college victory for a first-time President-elect, with the exception of George Washington's unanimous victory in 1788.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-30|title=The 10 biggest landslides in presidential election history|url=https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/lists/the-10-biggest-landslides-in-presidential-election-history/|access-date=2021-02-09|website=List Wire|language=en-US}}</ref> Although Reagan was to win an even greater Electoral College majority in 1984, the 1980 election nonetheless stands as the last time some currently very strong Democratic counties gave a Republican majority or plurality. Notable examples are ] in Washington State, ], ] and ] in California, ], and ].<ref>Sullivan, Robert David; ; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016</ref> Conversely, this was the last time that the Democrats won Georgia and Maryland until 1992. This election is the last time a Republican won the presidency without winning Georgia. This is the first time Massachusetts voted for the Republican candidate since 1956. 1980 is one of only two occurrences of a pair of consecutive elections seeing the incumbent president defeated, the other one happening in ]. This is the only time in the 20th century a party was voted out after a single four-year term. Reagan won 53% of the vote in reliably Democratic ], one example of the so-called ].<ref name="'70s 283"/> Although he won an even larger Electoral College majority in 1984, the 1980 election nonetheless stands as the last time some now very strongly Democratic counties gave a Republican a majority or plurality. Notable examples are ] in Washington State, ], ] and ] in California, ], and ].<ref>Sullivan, Robert David; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116163625/http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century |date=November 16, 2016 }}; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016</ref> Survey research and post-election polling indicated that the landslide result had been more a repudiation of Carter than an embrace of Reagan. But the public was aware that Reagan would move the nation in a more conservative direction, and was apparently willing to give it a chance to avoid four more years of Carter.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brauer |first1=Carl M. |title=Presidential Transitions: Eisenhower Through Reagan |date=1986 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |isbn=0195040511 |page=220}}</ref>


At 69 years old, ] was the oldest non-incumbent presidential candidate to win a presidential election. Thirty-six years later in ] this record was surpassed by ] at 70 years old. It was then surpassed again by ] who was elected at 77 years old in ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Joe Biden will become the oldest president in American history, a title previously held by Ronald Reagan|last=Peter|first=Josh|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/05/oldest-president-joe-biden/6181672002/ |website=]}}</ref> At age 69, Reagan was the oldest non-incumbent to win a presidential election. Thirty-six years later, in ], this record was surpassed by ] at age 70,<ref>{{cite web|title=Joe Biden will become the oldest president in American history, a title previously held by Ronald Reagan|last=Peter|first=Josh|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/05/oldest-president-joe-biden/6181672002/|website=]|access-date=November 9, 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107182039/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/05/oldest-president-joe-biden/6181672002/|url-status=live}}</ref> and ] by ] at age 77,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/us/politics/joe-biden-age-oldest-presidents.html|title=Biden Is the Oldest President to Take the Oath (Published 2021)|website=]|date=January 18, 2021|access-date=August 6, 2023|archive-date=December 28, 2021|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/us/politics/joe-biden-age-oldest-presidents.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and ] by ] again at age 78.


==Results== ==Results==
{{start U.S. presidential ticket box| pv_footnote=| ev_footnote=}} {{start U.S. presidential ticket box| pv_footnote=| ev_footnote=}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]| pv=43,903,230| pv_pct=50.75%| ev=489| vp_name=]| vp_state=]}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]| pv=43,903,230| pv_pct=50.75%| ev=489| vp_name=]| vp_state=]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=] (incumbent)| party=]| state=]| pv=35,480,115| pv_pct=41.01%| ev=49| vp_name=]| vp_state=]}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=] (incumbent)| party=]| state=]| pv=35,481,115| pv_pct=41.01%| ev=49| vp_name=] (incumbent)| vp_state=]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=Independent| state=]| pv=5,719,850| pv_pct=6.61%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]| pv=5,719,850| pv_pct=6.61%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]| pv=921,128| pv_pct=1.06%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]| pv=921,128| pv_pct=1.06%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]| pv=233,052| pv_pct=0.27%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]| pv=233,052| pv_pct=0.27%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=44,933| pv_pct=0.05%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]&nbsp;}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=44,933| pv_pct=0.05%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]&nbsp;}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=40,906| pv_pct=0.05%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]&nbsp;}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=40,906| pv_pct=0.05%| ev=0| vp_name=Eileen Shearer| vp_state=]&nbsp;}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=38,738| pv_pct=0.04%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]&nbsp;}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=38,738| pv_pct=0.04%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]&nbsp;}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=32,320| pv_pct=0.04%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]&nbsp;}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=32,320| pv_pct=0.04%| ev=0| vp_name=Carroll Driscoll| vp_state=]&nbsp;}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=18,116| pv_pct=0.02%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]&nbsp;}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=]| party=]| state=]&nbsp;| pv=18,116| pv_pct=0.02%| ev=0| vp_name=]| vp_state=]&nbsp;}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box other| footnote=| pv=77,290| pv_pct=0.09%}} {{U.S. presidential ticket box other| footnote=| pv=77,290| pv_pct=0.09%}}
Line 532: Line 1,171:
|barwidth=410px |barwidth=410px
|bars= |bars=
{{bar percent|'''Reagan'''|{{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}|50.75}} {{bar percent|'''Reagan'''|{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}|50.75}}
{{bar percent|Carter|{{Democratic Party (US)/meta/color}}|41.01}} {{bar percent|Carter|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}|41.01}}
{{bar percent|Anderson|{{Independent (US)/meta/color}}|6.61}} {{bar percent|Anderson|{{party color|Independent}}|6.61}}
{{bar percent|Clark|{{Libertarian Party (US)/meta/color}}|1.06}} {{bar percent|Clark|{{party color|Libertarian Party (US)}}|1.06}}
{{bar percent|Commoner|{{Citizens Party (United States)/meta/color}}|0.27}} {{bar percent|Commoner|{{party color|Citizens Party (United States)}}|0.27}}
{{bar percent|Others|#777777|0.30}} {{bar percent|Others|#777777|0.30}}
}} }}
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|barwidth=410px |barwidth=410px
|bars= |bars=
{{bar percent|'''Reagan'''|{{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}|90.89}} {{bar percent|'''Reagan'''|{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}|90.89}}
{{bar percent|Carter|{{Democratic Party (US)/meta/color}}|9.11}} {{bar percent|Carter|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}|9.11}}
}} }}
]
<gallery perrow="3" widths="500px" heights="317px"> <gallery perrow="3" widths="500px" heights="317px">
File:1980 United States presidential election results map by county.svg|Results by county, shaded according to winning candidate's percentage of the vote File:1980 United States presidential election results map by county.svg|Results by county, shaded according to winning candidate's percentage of the vote
File:1980 United States Presidential election by congressional districts.svg|Results by congressional district, shaded according to winning candidate's percentage of the vote
Image:1976-1980 United States Presidential swing by county margin.svg|Change in vote margins at the county level from the 1976 election to the 1980 election.
</gallery> </gallery>


===Results by state=== ===Results by state===
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1980&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0|title=1980 Presidential General Election Data - National|website=Uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> Source:<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1980&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0|title=1980 Presidential General Election Data - National|website=Uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 18, 2013|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029153844/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1980&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0|url-status=live}}</ref>


{|class="wikitable" {|class="wikitable"
Line 568: Line 1,208:
|- |-
! colspan=2 | ! colspan=2 |
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Ronald Reagan<br/>Republican ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Ronald Reagan<br />Republican
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Jimmy Carter<br/>Democratic ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Jimmy Carter<br />Democratic
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| John Anderson<br/>Independent ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| John Anderson<br />Independent
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Ed Clark<br/>Libertarian ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Ed Clark<br />Libertarian
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Margin ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Margin
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| State Total ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| State Total
|- |-
! align=center | State ! align=center | State
! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br/>votes ! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br />votes
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| # ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| % ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br/>votes ! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br />votes
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| # ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| % ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br/>votes ! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br />votes
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| # ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| % ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br/>votes ! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br />votes
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| # ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| % ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br/>votes ! style="text-align:center; font-size: 60%" data-sort-type="number" | electoral<br />votes
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| # ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| % ! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
Line 955: Line 1,595:
| style="text-align:center;" | LA | style="text-align:center;" | LA
|-{{Party shading/Republican}} |-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| style="text-align:center;" | ] | style="text-align:center;" | ]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | 2
| 238,522 | 238,522
Line 982: Line 1,622:
| ''42.80'' | ''42.80''
| – | –
| ''30.889'' | ''30,889''
| ''11.24'' | ''11.24''
| – | –
Line 1,620: Line 2,260:
| style="text-align:center;" | US | style="text-align:center;" | US
|} |}
Maine allowed its electoral votes to be split between candidates. Two electoral votes were awarded to the winner of the statewide race and one electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district. Reagan won all four votes.<ref name="MaineDistrict">{{cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |last2=Ujifusa |first2=Grant|title=The Almanac of American Politics, 1982 |date=1981}}</ref>


====States that flipped from Democratic to Republican====
Maine allowed its electoral votes to be split between candidates. Two electoral votes were awarded to the winner of the statewide race and one electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district. Reagan won all four votes. <ref name="MaineDistrict">{{cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |last2=Ujifusa |first2=Grant|title=The Almanac of American Politics, 1982 |date=1981 |publisher=National Journal}}</ref>
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]


===Close states=== ===Close states===
Margin of victory less than 1% (30 electoral votes): Margin of victory less than 1% (30 electoral votes):
# <span style="color:red;">'''Massachusetts''', 0.15% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Massachusetts, 0.15% (3,829 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Tennessee''', 0.29% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Tennessee, 0.29% (4,710 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Arkansas''', 0.61% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Arkansas, 0.61% (5,123 votes)'''</span>


Margin of victory less than 5% (135 electoral votes): Margin of victory less than 5% (135 electoral votes):
# <span style="color:red;">'''Alabama''', 1.30% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Alabama, 1.30% (17,462 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Mississippi''', 1.32% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Mississippi, 1.32% (11,808 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Kentucky''', 1.46% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Kentucky, 1.46% (18,857 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''South Carolina''', 1.53% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''South Carolina, 1.53% (13,647 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:blue;">'''Hawaii''', 1.90% </span> # <span style="color:blue;">'''Hawaii, 1.90% (5,767 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''North Carolina''', 2.12% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''North Carolina, 2.12% (39,383 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Delaware''', 2.33% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Delaware, 2.33% (5,498 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''New York''', 2.67% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''New York, 2.67% (165,459 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:blue;">'''Maryland''', 2.96% </span> # <span style="color:blue;">'''Maryland, 2.96% (45,555 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Maine's 1st Congressional District''', 3.15% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Maine's 1st Congressional District, 3.15% (8,661 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Maine''', 3.36% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Maine, 3.36% (17,548 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Maine's 2nd Congressional District''', 3.73% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Maine's 2nd Congressional District, 3.73% (8,887 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:blue;">'''Minnesota''', 3.94% </span> # <span style="color:blue;">'''Minnesota, 3.94% (80,933 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:blue;">'''West Virginia''', 4.51% </span> # <span style="color:blue;">'''West Virginia, 4.51% (33,256 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Wisconsin''', 4.72% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Wisconsin, 4.72% (107,261 votes)'''</span>


Margin of victory more than 5%, but less than 10% (113 electoral votes): Margin of victory more than 5%, but less than 10% (113 electoral votes):
# <span style="color:red;">'''Louisiana''', 5.45% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Louisiana, 5.45% (84,400 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Vermont''', 5.96% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Vermont, 5.96% (12,707 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Michigan''', 6.49% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Michigan, 6.49% (253,693 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Missouri''', 6.81% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Missouri, 6.81% (142,999 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Pennsylvania''', 7.11% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Pennsylvania, 7.11% (324,332 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Illinois''', 7.93%</span> (]) # <span style="color:red;">'''''Illinois, 7.93% (376,636 votes)'''''</span> ''(])''
# <span style="color:red;">'''Connecticut''', 9.64% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Connecticut, 9.64% (135,478 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:red;">'''Oregon''', 9.66% </span> # <span style="color:red;">'''Oregon, 9.66% (114,154 votes)'''</span>


==== Statistics ==== ==== Statistics ====
<ref name="auto3"/>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1980&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0|title=1980 Presidential General Election Data - National|website=Uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref>


Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Republican) Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Republican)
Line 1,674: Line 2,332:


Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Other) Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Other)
# '''<span style="color:green;">] 27.76%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:green;">] 21.63%</span>''' # '''<span style="color:green;">] 21.63%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:green;">] 21.50%</span>''' # '''<span style="color:green;">] 21.50%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:green;">] 20.88%</span>''' # '''<span style="color:green;">] 20.88%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:green;">] 20.82%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:green;">] 19.41%</span>''' # '''<span style="color:green;">] 19.41%</span>'''


Line 1,688: Line 2,346:
! {{party shading/Democratic}}|Carter ! {{party shading/Democratic}}|Carter
! {{party shading/Republican}}|Reagan ! {{party shading/Republican}}|Reagan
! {{party shading/Independent (United States)}}|Anderson ! {{party shading/Independent}}|Anderson
! % of<br/>total vote ! % of<br />total vote
|- |-
| Total vote | Total vote
Line 1,875: Line 2,533:
| style="text-align:right;" | 62 | style="text-align:right;" | 62
|} |}
'''Source:''' ] and '']'' exit poll from the ] (<small>15,201 surveyed</small>)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/polls/us-elections/how-groups-voted/how-groups-voted-1980/|title=How Groups Voted in 1980|website=ropercenter.cornell.edu|access-date=February 1, 2018}}</ref> '''Source:''' ] and '']'' exit poll from the ] (<small>15,201 surveyed</small>)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/how-groups-voted-1980|title=How Groups Voted in 1980|website=ropercenter.cornell.edu|access-date=December 11, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625160507/https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/how-groups-voted-1980|archive-date=June 25, 2022}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
In 1986, it was revealed that Philippine leader ] had allegedly donated money to both Carter's and Reagan's campaigns.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mr. Marcos' Money? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1986/07/30/mr-marcos-money/310a0cb9-780a-43d5-ab66-6e26047c4641/ |work=The Washington Post |date=July 29, 1986|access-date=January 18, 2025}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ] {{Portal|United States|Politics|1980s|Conservatism}}
* ] * ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* '']'' * '']''
* ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ] per allegations of Carter's briefing books being leaked to Reagan campaign prior to their debate * ] per allegations of Carter's briefing books being leaked to Reagan campaign prior to their debate

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}


==References== ==References==
Line 1,895: Line 2,558:


===Books=== ===Books===
* {{Cite book |last=Shirley |first=Craig |author-link= Craig Shirley |title=Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America |year=2009 |publisher=Intercollegiate Studies Institute |location=Wilmington, Delaware|isbn=978-1-933859-55-2 }}.
* {{Cite book |last=Busch |first=Andrew E. |title=Reagan's Victory: The Presidential Election of 1980 and the Rise of the Right |year=2005 |publisher=University Press of Kansas |location=Lawrence |isbn=0-7006-1407-9 }}. * {{Cite book |last=Busch |first=Andrew E. |title=Reagan's Victory: The Presidential Election of 1980 and the Rise of the Right |year=2005 |publisher=University Press of Kansas |location=Lawrence |isbn=0-7006-1407-9 }}.
* Davies, Gareth, and Julian E. Zelizer, eds. ''America at the Ballot Box: Elections and Political History'' (2015) pp.&nbsp;196–218. * Davies, Gareth, and ], eds. ''America at the Ballot Box: Elections and Political History'' (2015) pp.&nbsp;196–218.
* {{Cite book |last=Ehrman |first=John |title=The Eighties: American in the Age of Reagan |year=2005 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven |isbn=0-300-10662-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/eightiesamericai00ehrm }} * {{Cite book |last=Ehrman |first=John |title=The Eighties: American in the Age of Reagan |year=2005 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven |isbn=0-300-10662-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/eightiesamericai00ehrm }}
* {{cite book| last=Ferguson| first=Thomas| author2=Joel Rogers| year=1986| title=Right Turn: The Decline of the Democrats and the Future of American Politics| publisher=Hill and Wang| location=New York| isbn=0-8090-8191-1| url=https://archive.org/details/rightturndecline00ferg_0}} * {{cite book| last1=Ferguson| first1=Thomas|author-link1=Thomas Ferguson (academic)| first2=Joel |last2= Rogers| author-link2=Joel Rogers| year=1986| title=Right Turn: The Decline of the Democrats and the Future of American Politics| publisher=Hill and Wang| location=New York| isbn=0-8090-8191-1| url=https://archive.org/details/rightturndecline00ferg_0}}
* {{cite book| last=Germond| first=Jack W.|author2=Jules Witcover| year=1981| title=Blue Smoke & Mirrors: How Reagan Won & Why Carter Lost the Election of 1980 | url=https://archive.org/details/bluesmokemirrors00germ| url-access=registration|publisher=Viking |location=New York |isbn=0-670-51383-0 }} * {{cite book| last1=Germond| first1=Jack W.|author-link1=Jack Germond|first2=Jules|last2= Witcover|author-link2=Jules Witcover| year=1981| title=Blue Smoke & Mirrors: How Reagan Won & Why Carter Lost the Election of 1980 | url=https://archive.org/details/bluesmokemirrors00germ| url-access=registration|publisher=Viking |location=New York |isbn=0-670-51383-0 }}
* Hogue, Andrew P. ''Stumping God: Reagan, Carter, and the Invention of a Political Faith'' (Baylor University Press; 2012) 343 pages; A study of religious rhetoric in the campaign * Hogue, Andrew P. ''Stumping God: Reagan, Carter, and the Invention of a Political Faith'' (Baylor University Press; 2012) 343 pages; A study of religious rhetoric in the campaign
* Johnstone, Andrew, and Andrew Priest, eds. ''US Presidential Elections and Foreign Policy: Candidates, Campaigns, and Global Politics from FDR to Bill Clinton'' (2017) pp 250–270.
* Mason, Jim (2011). . Lanham, MD: University Press of America. {{ISBN|0761852263}}. * Mason, Jim (2011). . Lanham, MD: University Press of America. {{ISBN|0761852263}}.
* {{cite book | editor=Gerald M. Pomper | year=1981 | title=The Election of 1980: Reports and Interpretations | publisher=Chatham House | location=Chatham | isbn=0-934540-10-1 | url=https://archive.org/details/electionof1980re0000unse }} * {{Cite book |last1=Pomper |first1=Gerald M. |author1-link=Gerald M. Pomper |first2=Ross K.|last2= Baker|first3= Kathleen A.|last3= Frankovic|first4= Charles E.|last4= Jacob|first5= Wilson Carey |last5=McWilliams|first6= Henry A.|last6= Plotkin |editor1-last=Pomper |editor1-first=Marlene M. |year=1981 |title=The Election of 1980: Reports and Interpretations |location=Chatham, NJ |publisher=Chatham House|isbn=0-934540-10-1|url=https://archive.org/details/electionof1980re0000unse}}
* {{Cite book |last=Shirley |first=Craig |author-link= Craig Shirley |title=Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America |year=2009 |publisher=Intercollegiate Studies Institute |location=Wilmington, Del. |isbn=978-1-933859-55-2 }}.
* Stanley, Timothy. ''Kennedy vs. Carter: The 1980 Battle for the Democratic Party's Soul'' (University Press of Kansas, 2010) 298 pages. A revisionist history of the 1970s and their political aftermath that argues that Ted Kennedy's 1980 campaign was more popular than has been acknowledged; describes his defeat by Jimmy Carter in terms of a "historical accident" rather than perceived radicalism.
* ]. ''Kennedy vs. Carter: The 1980 Battle for the Democratic Party's Soul'' (University Press of Kansas, 2010) 298 pages. A revisionist history of the 1970s and their political aftermath that argues that Ted Kennedy's 1980 campaign was more popular than has been acknowledged; describes his defeat by Jimmy Carter in terms of a "historical accident" rather than perceived radicalism.
* {{Cite book |last=Troy |first=Gil |title=Morning in America: How Ronald Reagan Invented the 1980s |year=2005 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton |isbn=0-691-12166-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/morninginamerica00troy }}
* {{cite book| last=West| first=Darrell M.| year=1984| title=Making Campaigns Count: Leadership and Coalition-Building in 1980| publisher=Greenwood Press| location=Westport| isbn=0-313-24235-6| url=https://archive.org/details/makingcampaignsc00west}} * {{Cite book |last=Troy |first=Gil |author-link=Gil Troy |year=2005 |title=Morning in America: How Ronald Reagan Invented the 1980s |url=https://archive.org/details/morninginamerica00troy |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton |isbn=0-691-12166-4}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ward |first=Jon |year=2019 |title=Camelot's End: Kennedy vs. Carter and the Fight that Broke the Democratic Party |location=New York; Boston |publisher=Twelve |isbn=9781455591381 |oclc=1085989134}}
* {{Cite book |last=West |first=Darrell M. |year=1984 |title=Making Campaigns Count: Leadership and Coalition-Building in 1980 |url=https://archive.org/details/makingcampaignsc00west |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, Ct. |isbn=0-313-24235-6}}


===Journal articles=== ===Journal articles===
* {{cite journal| first1=Jerome |last1=Himmelstein |author2=J. A. McRae Jr.| title=Social Conservatism, New Republicans and the 1980 Election| journal=Public Opinion Quarterly| volume=48| year=1984| pages=595–605| doi=10.1086/268860| issue=3}} * {{cite journal| first1=Jerome |last1=Himmelstein |author2=J. A. McRae Jr.| title=Social Conservatism, New Republicans and the 1980 Election| journal=Public Opinion Quarterly| volume=48| year=1984| pages=595–605| doi=10.1086/268860| issue=3}}
* {{cite journal| first=Seymour M.| last=Lipset|author2=Earl Raab| title=Evangelicals and the Elections| journal=Commentary| volume=71| year=1981| pages=25–31}} * {{cite journal| first1=Seymour M.| last1=Lipset|author-link1=Seymour Martin Lipset|first2=Earl |last2= Raab| title=Evangelicals and the Elections| journal=Commentary| volume=71| year=1981| pages=25–31}}
* {{cite journal| first=Arthur H.| last=Miller|author2=Martin P. Wattenberg| title=Politics from the Pulpit: Religiosity and the 1980 Elections| journal=Public Opinion Quarterly| volume=48| year=1984| pages=300–12| doi=10.1086/268827}} * {{cite journal| first=Arthur H.| last=Miller|first2=Martin P. |last2=Wattenberg|author-link2=Martin Wattenberg (political scientist)| title=Politics from the Pulpit: Religiosity and the 1980 Elections| journal=Public Opinion Quarterly| volume=48| year=1984| pages=300–12| doi=10.1093/poq/48.1b.301 |s2cid=144534190}}


=== Newspaper articles === === Newspaper articles ===
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==External links== ==External links==
* {{Britannica|1576043|United States presidential election of 1980}}
* *
* *
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{{George H. W. Bush}} {{George H. W. Bush}}
{{Jimmy Carter}} {{Jimmy Carter}}
{{Walter Mondale}}
{{Ted Kennedy}} {{Ted Kennedy}}
{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}

Latest revision as of 04:14, 23 January 2025

For related races, see 1980 United States elections.

1980 United States presidential election
← 1976 November 4, 1980 1984 →
538 members of the Electoral College
270 electoral votes needed to win
Turnout54.2% Decrease 0.6 pp
 
Nominee Ronald Reagan Jimmy Carter John B. Anderson
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Home state California Georgia Illinois
Running mate George H. W. Bush Walter Mondale Patrick Lucey
Electoral vote 489 49 0
States carried 44 6 + DC 0
Popular vote 43,903,230 35,481,115 5,719,850
Percentage 50.7% 41.0% 6.6%
1980 United States presidential election in California1980 United States presidential election in Oregon1980 United States presidential election in Washington (state)1980 United States presidential election in Idaho1980 United States presidential election in Nevada1980 United States presidential election in Utah1980 United States presidential election in Arizona1980 United States presidential election in Montana1980 United States presidential election in Wyoming1980 United States presidential election in Colorado1980 United States presidential election in New Mexico1980 United States presidential election in North Dakota1980 United States presidential election in South Dakota1980 United States presidential election in Nebraska1980 United States presidential election in Kansas1980 United States presidential election in Oklahoma1980 United States presidential election in Texas1980 United States presidential election in Minnesota1980 United States presidential election in Iowa1980 United States presidential election in Missouri1980 United States presidential election in Arkansas1980 United States presidential election in Louisiana1980 United States presidential election in Wisconsin1980 United States presidential election in Illinois1980 United States presidential election in Michigan1980 United States presidential election in Indiana1980 United States presidential election in Ohio1980 United States presidential election in Kentucky1980 United States presidential election in Tennessee1980 United States presidential election in Mississippi1980 United States presidential election in Alabama1980 United States presidential election in Georgia1980 United States presidential election in Florida1980 United States presidential election in South Carolina1980 United States presidential election in North Carolina1980 United States presidential election in Virginia1980 United States presidential election in West Virginia1980 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia1980 United States presidential election in Maryland1980 United States presidential election in Delaware1980 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania1980 United States presidential election in New Jersey1980 United States presidential election in New York1980 United States presidential election in Connecticut1980 United States presidential election in Rhode Island1980 United States presidential election in Vermont1980 United States presidential election in New Hampshire1980 United States presidential election in Maine1980 United States presidential election in Massachusetts1980 United States presidential election in Hawaii1980 United States presidential election in Alaska1980 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia1980 United States presidential election in Maryland1980 United States presidential election in Delaware1980 United States presidential election in New Jersey1980 United States presidential election in Connecticut1980 United States presidential election in Rhode Island1980 United States presidential election in Massachusetts1980 United States presidential election in Vermont1980 United States presidential election in New Hampshire
Presidential election results map. Red denotes states won by Reagan/Bush and blue denotes those won by Carter/Mondale. Numbers indicate electoral votes cast by each state.
President before election

Jimmy Carter
Democratic

Elected President

Ronald Reagan
Republican

Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 4, 1980. Republican nominee, former California governor Ronald Reagan, defeated incumbent Democratic President Jimmy Carter in a landslide victory. This was the second consecutive election in which an incumbent president was defeated, although Gerald Ford assumed the presidency after President Richard Nixon resigned and was not elected, as well as the first election since 1888 that saw the defeat of an incumbent Democratic president.

Carter's unpopularity, his poor relations with Democratic leaders, and the poor economic conditions under his administration encouraged an unsuccessful intra-party challenge from Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. Meanwhile, the Republican primaries were contested between Reagan, former Central Intelligence Agency director George H. W. Bush, Illinois Representative John B. Anderson, and several other candidates. All of Reagan's opponents had dropped out by the end of the primaries, and the Republicans nominated a ticket consisting of Reagan and Bush. Anderson entered the general election as an independent candidate with Patrick Lucey, former Wisconsin governor, as his running mate.

Reagan campaigned for increased defense spending, supply-side economic policies, and a balanced budget. His campaign was aided by Democratic dissatisfaction with Carter, the Iran hostage crisis, and a worsening economy marred by stagflation. Carter attacked Reagan as a dangerous right-wing extremist, and warned that Reagan would cut Medicare and Social Security. The Carter campaign was aided early on by the rally 'round the flag effect from the hostage crisis; as the crisis lasted to election day, it became a detriment.

Reagan won the election in a landslide with 489 Electoral College votes to Carter's 49, and 50.7% of the popular vote to Carter's 41.0%. Anderson won 6.6% of the popular vote and no electoral votes. Due to the rise of conservatism following Reagan's victory, historians have considered the election a political realignment that began with Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign in 1964. This election began an ongoing pattern in which Rust Belt states Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin voted for the same presidential candidate, with the sole exception of 1988.

Background

Further information: Foreign policy of the Jimmy Carter administration

Throughout the 1970s, the United States underwent a wrenching period of stagflation (low economic growth, high inflation, and interest rates), and intermittent energy crises. By October 1978, Iran—a major oil supplier to the United States at the time—was experiencing a major uprising that severely damaged its oil infrastructure and greatly weakened its capability to produce oil. In January 1979, shortly after Iran's leader Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled the country, Iranian opposition figure Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ended his 14-year exile in France and returned to Iran to establish an Islamic Republic, largely hostile to American interests and influence in the country. In the spring and summer of 1979, inflation was on the rise and various parts of the United States were experiencing energy shortages.

Carter was widely blamed for the return of the long gas lines in the summer of 1979 that were last seen just after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. He planned on delivering his fifth major speech on energy, but he felt that the American people were no longer listening. Carter left for the presidential retreat of Camp David. "For more than a week, a veil of secrecy enveloped the proceedings. Dozens of prominent Democratic Party leaders—members of Congress, governors, labor leaders, academics and clergy—were summoned to the mountaintop retreat to confer with the beleaguered president." His pollster, Pat Caddell, told him that the American people simply faced a crisis of confidence because of the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.; the Vietnam War; and Watergate. On July 15, 1979, Carter gave a nationally televised address in which he identified what he believed to be a "crisis of confidence" among the American people. This came to be known as his "Malaise speech", although Carter never used the word in the speech.

Many expected Senator Ted Kennedy to successfully challenge Carter in the upcoming Democratic primary. Kennedy's official announcement was scheduled for early November. A television interview with Roger Mudd of CBS a few days before the announcement went badly, however. Kennedy gave an "incoherent and repetitive" answer to the question of why he was running, and the polls, which showed him leading Carter by 58–25 in August now had him ahead 49–39. Kennedy was also politically scarred by the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident; the controversy had been a major reason for Kennedy's decision to not run for president in 1972 and 1976.

Meanwhile, Carter was given an opportunity for political redemption when the Khomeini regime again gained public attention and allowed the taking of 52 American hostages by a group of Islamist students and militants at the U.S. embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979. Carter's calm approach towards the handling of this crisis resulted in his approval ratings jump in the 60-percent range in some polls, due to a "rally round the flag" effect.

By the beginning of the election campaign, the prolonged Iran hostage crisis had sharpened public perceptions of a national crisis. On April 25, 1980, Carter's ability to use the hostage crisis to regain public acceptance eroded when his high risk attempt to rescue the hostages ended in disaster when eight servicemen were killed. The unsuccessful rescue attempt drew further skepticism towards his leadership skills.

Following the failed rescue attempt, Carter took overwhelming blame for the Iran hostage crisis, in which the followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini burned American flags and chanted anti-American slogans, paraded the captured American hostages in public, and burned Carter in effigy. Carter's critics saw him as an inept leader who had failed to solve the worsening economic problems at home. His supporters defended the president as a decent, well-intentioned man being unfairly criticized for problems that had been escalating for years.

When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in late 1979, Carter seized international leadership in rallying opposition. He cut off American grain sales, which hurt Soviet consumers and annoyed American farmers. In terms of prestige, the Soviets were deeply hurt by the large-scale boycott of their 1980 Summer Olympics. Furthermore, Carter began secret support of the rebel forces in Afghanistan that successfully tied down the Soviet army for a decade. The effect was to end détente and reopen the Cold War.

Nominations

Republican Party

Main article: 1980 Republican Party presidential primaries
This article is part of
a series aboutRonald Reagan
Entertainment and personal
33rd Governor of California
40th President of the United States
Tenure
Policies
Appointments
Presidential campaigns
Ronald Reagan's signature

Seal of the President of the United States

This article is part of
a series aboutGeorge H. W. Bush
Personal
43rd Vice President of the United States
Vice presidential campaigns
41st President of the United States
Tenure
Policies
Appointments
Presidential campaigns
George H. W. Bush's signature Seal of the President of the United States
Republican Party (United States)
Republican Party (United States)
1980 Republican Party ticket
Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush
for President for Vice President
33rd
Governor of California
(1967–1975) 		11th
Director of Central Intelligence
(1976–1977)
Campaign

Other major candidates

The following candidates were frequently interviewed by major broadcast networks and cable news channels, were listed in publicly published national polls, or had held a public office. Reagan received 7,709,793 votes in the primaries.

Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawal from the nomination race
George H. W. Bush John B. Anderson Phil Crane Bob Dole
Director of
Central Intelligence
(1976–1977) 		Representative from
Illinois's 16th district
(1961–1981) 		Representative from
Illinois's 12th district
(1973–1993) 		Senator from Kansas
(1969–1996)
Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign
SC: May 26, 1980
ER: June 14, 1980
3,070,033 votes 		DI: April 24, 1980
1,572,174 votes 		W: April 17, 1980
ER: April 17, 1980
97,793 votes 		W: March 15, 1980
ER: March 30, 1980
7,204 votes
John Connally Howard Baker Larry Pressler Lowell P. Weicker Jr.
Secretary of
the Treasury from Texas
(1971–1972) 		Senator from Tennessee
(1967–1985) 		Senator from South Dakota
(1979–1997) 		Senator from Connecticut
(1971–1989)
[REDACTED]
Campaign Campaign Campaign Campaign
W: March 9, 1980
ER: March 25, 1980
82,625 votes 		W: March 5, 1980
ER: April 20, 1980
181,153 votes 		W: January 8, 1980
ER: March 21, 1980
0 votes 		W: May 16, 1979
0 votes

Former governor Ronald Reagan of California was the odds-on favorite to win his party's nomination for president after nearly beating incumbent President Gerald Ford just four years earlier. Reagan dominated the primaries early, driving from the field Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker from Tennessee, former governor John Connally of Texas, Senator Robert Dole from Kansas, Representative Phil Crane from Illinois, and Representative John Anderson from Illinois, who dropped out of the race to run as an Independent. George H. W. Bush from Texas posed the strongest challenge to Reagan with his victories in the Pennsylvania and Michigan primaries, but it was not enough to turn the tide. Reagan won the nomination on the first round at the 1980 Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan, in July, then chose Bush (his top rival) as his running mate. Reagan, Bush, and Dole would all go on to be the nominees in the next four elections. (Reagan in 1984, Bush in 1988 and 1992, and Dole in 1996).

Democratic Party

Main article: 1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries
This article is part of
a series aboutJimmy Carter
76th Governor of Georgia
39th President of the United States

Presidency

Electoral history
Post-presidency
Jimmy Carter's signature Seal of the President of the United States
Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party (United States)
1980 Democratic Party ticket
Jimmy Carter Walter Mondale
for President for Vice President
39th
President of the United States
(1977–1981) 		42nd
Vice President of the United States
(1977–1981)
Campaign
[REDACTED]

Other major candidates

The following candidates were frequently interviewed by major broadcast networks, were listed in published national polls, or had held public office. Carter received 10,043,016 votes in the primaries.

Candidates in this section are sorted by date of withdrawal from the nomination race
Ted Kennedy Jerry Brown
U.S. Senator
from Massachusetts
(1962–2009) 		Governor
of California
(1975–1983)
[REDACTED]
Campaign Campaign
W: August 11, 1980
7,381,693 votes 		W: April 2, 1980
575,296 votes

The three major Democratic candidates in early 1980 were incumbent President Jimmy Carter, Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, and Governor Jerry Brown of California. Brown withdrew on April 2. Carter and Kennedy faced off in 34 primaries. Not counting the 1968 election in which Lyndon Johnson withdrew his candidacy, this was the most tumultuous primary race that an elected incumbent president had encountered since President Taft, during the highly contentious election of 1912.

During the summer of 1980, there was a short-lived "Draft Muskie" movement; Secretary of State Edmund Muskie was seen as a favorable alternative to a deadlocked convention. One poll showed that Muskie would be a more popular alternative to Carter than Kennedy, implying that the attraction was not so much to Kennedy as to the fact that he was not Carter. Muskie was polling even with Ronald Reagan at the time, while Carter was seven points behind. Although the underground "Draft Muskie" campaign failed, it became a political legend.

After defeating Kennedy in 24 of 34 primaries, Carter entered the party's convention in New York in August with 60 percent of the delegates pledged to him on the first ballot. Still, Kennedy refused to drop out. At the convention, after a futile last-ditch attempt by Kennedy to alter the rules to free delegates from their first-ballot pledges, Carter was renominated with 2,129 votes to 1,146 for Kennedy. Vice President Walter Mondale was also renominated. In his acceptance speech, Carter warned that Reagan's conservatism posed a threat to world peace and progressive social welfare programs from the New Deal to the Great Society.

Other candidates

1980 Independent ticket 1980 Libertarian ticket
John B. Anderson Patrick Lucey Ed Clark David Koch
for President for Vice President for President for Vice President
U.S. Representative from Illinois
(1961–1981) 		U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
(1977–1979) 		Chair of the
Libertarian Party of California
(1973–1974) 		Co-owner of Koch, Inc.
Campaign Campaign

John B. Anderson was defeated in the Republican primaries, but entered the general election as an independent candidate. He campaigned as a liberal Republican alternative to Reagan's conservatism. Anderson's campaign appealed primarily to frustrated anti-Carter voters from Republican and Democratic backgrounds. Anderson's running mate was Patrick Lucey, a Democratic former Governor of Wisconsin and then ambassador to Mexico, appointed by President Carter.

The Libertarian Party nominated Ed Clark for president and David Koch for vice president. They were on the ballot in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C. The Libertarian Party platform was the only political party in 1980 to contain a plank advocating for the equal rights of homosexual men and women as well as the only party platform to advocate explicitly for "amnesty" for all illegal non-citizens.

The Citizens Party ran biologist Barry Commoner for president and Comanche Native American activist LaDonna Harris for vice president. The Commoner–Harris ticket was on the ballot in twenty-nine states and in the District of Columbia.

General election

Polling aggregation

The following graph depicts the standing of each candidate in the poll aggregators from July 1979 to November 1980.

  Ronald Reagan   Jimmy Carter   John B. Anderson

Polling

See also: Nationwide opinion polling for the 1980 United States presidential election
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Ronald
Reagan (R) 		Jimmy
Carter (D) 		John
Anderson (I) 		Other Undecided Margin
Election Results Nov. 4, 1980 50.75% 41.01% 6.61% 1.63% - 9.74
Gallup Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 1980 46% 43% 7% 1% 3% 3
CBS-New York Times Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 1980 44% 43% 8% - 5% 1
ABC-Harris Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 1980 45% 40% 10% 1% 4% 5
Newsweek-Gallup October 29–30, 1980 44% 43% 7% 1% 5% 4
Washington Post October 26–27, 1980 43% 39% 7% - 11% 4
ABC-Harris October 22–25, 1980 45% 42% 10% - 3% 3
Gallup October 17–20, 1980 40% 41% 10% - 9% 1
ABC-Harris October 14–16, 1980 42% 39% 12% - 7% 3
Gallup October 10–12, 1980 45% 42% 8% - 5% 3
ABC-Harris October 3–6, 1980 43% 39% 14% - 4% 4
ABC-Harris September 22, 1980 42% 36% 19% - 3% 6
48% 46% - - 6% 2
Gallup September 12–15, 1980 41% 37% 15% - 7% 4
ABC-Harris September 3–7, 1980 41% 37% 17% - 5% 4
Gallup August 15–18, 1980 38% 39% 13% - 10% 1
ABC-Harris August 14–18, 1980 42% 36% 17% - 5% 6
Gallup August 15–17, 1980 39% 38% 14% 1% 8% 1
40% 46% - - 14% 6
August 11–14: Democratic National Convention
ABC-Harris August 5–6, 1980 48% 28% 19% - 5% 20
57% 36% - - 7% 21
Gallup August 1–3, 1980 45% 31% 14% - 10% 14
ABC-Harris July 18–21, 1980 49% 23% 25% - 3% 24
61% 33% - - 6% 28
July 14–17: Republican National Convention
Gallup July 11–13, 1980 43% 34% 16% - 7% 9
Gallup July 11–14, 1980 37% 34% 21% - 8% 3
Gallup June 27–30, 1980 37% 32% 22% - 9% 5
47% 41% - - 12% 6
Gallup June 13–16, 1980 33% 35% 24% - 8% 2
45% 42% - - 13% 3
ABC-Harris June 5–9, 1980 39% 34% 24% - 3% 5
51% 44% - - 5% 7
Gallup May 30 – Jun. 2, 1980 32% 39% 21% - 8% 7
39% 50% - - 11% 11
Gallup May 16–18, 1980 32% 40% 21% - 7% 8
41% 49% - - 10% 8
Gallup May 2–5, 1980 33% 38% 21% - 7% 5
40% 47% - - 13% 7
ABC-Harris April 26–30, 1980 39% 33% 23% - 5% 6
Gallup April 26–27, 1980 35% 40% 19% - 6% 5
43% 47% - - 10% 4
ABC-Harris April 25, 1980 42% 33% 19% - 6% 9
Gallup April 11–13, 1980 34% 41% 18% 1% 6% 7
44% 49% - 1% 6% 5
ABC-Harris April 8, 1980 38% 38% 22% - 1% Tied
48% 45% - - 7% 3
Gallup March 28–30, 1980 34% 39% 21% 1% 5% 5
43% 48% - 2% 7% 5
ABC-Harris March 26–30, 1980 47% 50% - - 3% 3
ABC-Harris March 13–15, 1980 40% 55% - - 5% 15
ABC-Harris March 5–8, 1980 40% 58% - - 2% 18
Gallup Feb. 29 – Mar. 2, 1980 34% 57% - 3% 6% 23
ABC-Harris Jan. 31 – Feb. 4, 1980 32% 64% - - 4% 32
Gallup February 1–3, 1980 32% 59% - 3% 6% 27
ABC-Harris January 22, 1980 31% 65% - - 4% 34
Gallup January 4–6, 1980 32% 63% - 1% 4% 31
ABC-Harris December 14–16, 1979 36% 59% - - 5% 23
Gallup December 7–9, 1979 36% 60% - 1% 3% 24
Gallup November 16–19, 1979 41% 53% - 1% 5% 12
ABC-Harris November 7–10, 1979 42% 53% - - 5% 11
Gallup October 12–15, 1979 42% 48% - 3% 7% 6
ABC-Harris Sep. 26 – Oct. 1, 1979 45% 52% - - 3% 7
Gallup September 7–10, 1979 46% 47% - 2% 5% 1
ABC-Harris September 1–5, 1979 50% 45% - - 5% 5
Gallup August 3–6, 1979 42% 47% - 4% 7% 5
ABC-Harris July 28–29, 1979 51% 44% - - 5% 7
Gallup July 13–15, 1979 52% 42% - 2% 4% 10
Gallup June 22–25, 1979 49% 45% - 1% 5% 4
ABC-Harris June, 1979 51% 43% - - 6% 8
ABC-Harris May, 1979 45% 47% - - 8% 2
ABC-Harris March, 1979 46% 49% - - 5% 3
Gallup March 23–26, 1979 38% 52% - 3% 7% 14
ABC-Harris December 21–26, 1978 38% 55% - - 7% 17
Gallup December 8–11, 1978 35% 57% - 2% 5% 22
Gallup July 7–10, 1978 43% 52% - 1% 4% 9
ABC-Harris May 14–20, 1978 47% 46% - - 7% 1
Gallup Mar. 31 – Apr. 3, 1978 46% 50% - 1% 3% 4

Campaign

Reagan gained in former Democratic strongholds such as the South and white ethnics dubbed "Reagan Democrats", and exuded upbeat optimism. David Frum says Carter ran an attack-based campaign based on "despair and pessimism" which "cost him the election." Carter emphasized his record as a peacemaker, and said Reagan's election would threaten civil rights and social programs that stretched back to the New Deal. Reagan's platform also emphasized the importance of peace, as well as a prepared self-defense.

Immediately after the conclusion of the primaries, a Gallup poll held that Reagan was ahead, with 58% of voters upset by Carter's handling of the presidency. One analysis of the election has suggested that "Both Carter and Reagan were perceived negatively by a majority of the electorate." While the three leading candidates (Reagan, Anderson and Carter) were religious Christians, Carter had the most support of evangelical Christians according to a Gallup poll. However, in the end, Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority lobbying group is credited with giving Reagan two-thirds of the white evangelical vote. According to Carter: "that autumn a group headed by Jerry Falwell purchased $10 million in commercials on southern radio and TV to brand me as a traitor to the South and no longer a Christian."

The election of 1980 was a key turning point in American politics. It signaled the new electoral power of the suburbs and the Sun Belt. Reagan's success as a conservative would initiate a realigning of the parties, as Rockefeller-style Republicans and conservative Democrats would either leave politics or change party affiliations through the 1980s and 1990s to leave the parties much more ideologically polarized. While during Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign, many voters saw his warnings about a too-powerful government as hyperbolic and only 30% of the electorate agreed that government was too powerful, by 1980 a majority of Americans believed that government held too much power.

Promises

Reagan promised a restoration of the nation's military strength, at the same time 60% of Americans polled felt defense spending was too low. Reagan also promised an end to "trust me government" and to restore economic health by implementing a supply-side economic policy. Reagan promised a balanced budget within three years (which he said would be "the beginning of the end of inflation"), accompanied by a 30% reduction in tax rates over those same years. With respect to the economy, Reagan famously said, "A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his." Reagan also criticized the "windfall profit tax" that Carter and Congress enacted that year in regards to domestic oil production and promised to attempt to repeal it as president. The tax was not a tax on profits, but on the difference between the price control-mandated price and the market price.

On the issue of women's rights there was much division, with many feminists frustrated with Carter, the only major-party candidate who supported the Equal Rights Amendment. After a bitter Convention fight between Republican feminists and antifeminists the Republican Party dropped their forty-year endorsement of the ERA. Reagan, however, announced his dedication to women's rights and his intention to, if elected, appoint women to his cabinet and the first female justice to the Supreme Court. He also pledged to work with all 50 state governors to combat discrimination against women and to equalize federal laws as an alternative to the ERA. Reagan was convinced to give an endorsement of women's rights in his nomination acceptance speech.

Carter was criticized by his own aides for not having a "grand plan" for the recovery of the economy, nor did he ever make any campaign promises; he often criticized Reagan's economic recovery plan, but did not create one of his own in response.

Events

Ronald Reagan campaigning with his wife Nancy and Senator Strom Thurmond in Columbia, South Carolina, October 10, 1980
Ronald Reagan campaigning in Florida

In August, after the Republican National Convention, Ronald Reagan gave a campaign speech at the annual Neshoba County Fair on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Mississippi, where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964. He was the first presidential candidate ever to campaign at the fair. Reagan famously announced, "Programs like education and others should be turned back to the states and local communities with the tax sources to fund them. I believe in states' rights. I believe in people doing as much as they can at the community level and the private level." Reagan also stated, "I believe we have distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended to be given in the Constitution to that federal establishment." He went on to promise to "restore to states and local governments the power that properly belongs to them." President Carter criticized Reagan for injecting "hate and racism" by the "rebirth of code words like 'states' rights'".

Ronald Reagan shaking hands with supporters at a campaign stop in Indiana

Two days later, Reagan appeared at the Urban League convention in New York, where he said, "I am committed to the protection and enforcement of the civil rights of black Americans. This commitment is interwoven into every phase of the plans I will propose." He then said that he would develop "enterprise zones" to help with urban renewal.

The media's main criticism of Reagan centered on his gaffes. When Carter kicked off his general election campaign in Tuscumbia, Reagan—referring to the Southern U.S. as a whole—claimed that Carter had begun his campaign in the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan. In doing so, Reagan seemed to insinuate that the KKK represented the South, which caused many Southern governors to denounce Reagan's remarks. Additionally, Reagan was widely ridiculed by Democrats for saying that trees caused pollution; he later said that he meant only certain types of pollution and his remarks had been misquoted.

Meanwhile, Carter was burdened by a continued weak economy and the Iran hostage crisis. Inflation, high interest rates, and unemployment continued through the course of the campaign, and the ongoing hostage crisis in Iran became, according to David Frum in How We Got Here: The '70s, a symbol of American impotence during the Carter years. John Anderson's independent candidacy, aimed at eliciting support from liberals, especially former supporters of Ted Kennedy, was also seen as hurting Carter more than Reagan, especially in reliably Democratic states such as Massachusetts and New York.

Presidential debates

Main article: 1980 United States presidential debates
Debates among candidates for the 1980 U.S. presidential election
No. Date Host Location Panelists Moderator Participants Viewership
(millions)
P1 Sunday, September 21, 1980 Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, Maryland Carol Loomis
Daniel Greenberg
Charles Corddry
Lee May
Jane Bryant Quinn
Soma Golden 		Bill Moyers Former Governor Ronald Reagan
Congressman John Anderson 		n/a
P1a Tuesday, October 28, 1980 Public Auditorium Cleveland, Ohio Marvin Stone
Harry Ellis
William Hilliard
Barbara Walters 		Howard K. Smith Former Governor Ronald Reagan
President Jimmy Carter 		80.6
External videos
video icon Reagan-Carter presidential debate, October 28, 1980 on YouTube

The League of Women Voters, which had sponsored the 1976 Ford/Carter debate series, announced that it would do so again for the next cycle in the spring of 1979. Carter steadfastly refused to participate in a debate if Anderson was included, and Reagan refused to debate without him. A League-sponsored debate was held on September 21, 1980, in the Baltimore Convention Center. Of Carter's refusal to debate, Reagan said: "He knows that he couldn't win a debate even if it were held in the Rose Garden before an audience of Administration officials with the questions being asked by Jody Powell". Anderson, who many thought would handily dispatch Reagan, managed only a narrow win, according to many in the media at that time, with Reagan putting up a much stronger performance than expected. Despite the narrow win in the debate, Anderson, who had been as high as 20% in some polls, and at the time of the debate was over 10%, dropped to about 5% soon after. Anderson failed to substantively engage Reagan enough on their social issue differences and on Reagan's advocation of supply-side economics. Instead, Anderson started off by criticizing Carter: "Governor Reagan is not responsible for what has happened over the last four years, nor am I. The man who should be here tonight to respond to those charges chose not to attend," to which Reagan added: "It's a shame now that there are only two of us here debating, because the two that are here are in more agreement than disagreement." In one moment in the debate, Reagan commented on a rumor that Anderson had invited Senator Ted Kennedy to be his running mate by asking the candidate directly, "John, would you really prefer Teddy Kennedy to me?"

As September turned into October, the situation remained essentially the same. Reagan insisted Anderson be allowed to participate in a three-way debate, while Carter remained steadfastly opposed to this. As the standoff continued, the second debate was canceled, as was the vice presidential debate.

President Carter (left) and former Governor Reagan (right) at the presidential debate on October 28, 1980

With two weeks to go to the election, the Reagan campaign decided at that point that the best thing to do was to accede to all of President Carter's demands. The final debate, featuring only Carter and Reagan, was rescheduled for October 28 in Cleveland, Ohio. The showdown ranked among the highest ratings of any television program in the previous decade. Debate topics included the Iranian hostage crisis and nuclear arms. Carter's campaign sought to portray Reagan as a reckless "war hawk", as well as a "dangerous right-wing radical". But it was President Carter's reference to his consultation with 12-year-old daughter Amy concerning nuclear weapons policy that became the focus of post-debate analysis and fodder for late-night television jokes. President Carter said he had asked Amy what the most important issue in that election was and she said, "the control of nuclear arms." A famous political cartoon, published the day after Reagan's landslide victory, showed Amy Carter sitting in Jimmy's lap with her shoulders shrugged asking "the economy? the hostage crisis?"

When President Carter criticized Reagan's record, which included voting against Medicare and Social Security benefits, former Governor Reagan audibly sighed and replied: "There you go again".

In his closing remarks, Reagan asked viewers: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we're as strong as we were four years ago? And if you answer all of those questions 'yes', why then, I think your choice is very obvious as to whom you will vote for. If you don't agree, if you don't think that this course that we've been on for the last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have".

After trailing Carter by eight points among registered voters (and by three points among likely voters) right before their debate, Reagan moved into a three-point lead among likely voters immediately afterward.

Endorsements

In September 1980, former Watergate scandal prosecutor Leon Jaworski accepted a position as honorary chairman of Democrats for Reagan. Five months earlier, Jaworski had harshly criticized Reagan as an "extremist"; he said after accepting the chairmanship, "I would rather have a competent extremist than an incompetent moderate."

Former Democratic Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota (who in 1968 had challenged Lyndon B. Johnson from the left, causing the then-President to all but abdicate) endorsed Reagan.

Three days before the election, the National Rifle Association of America endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in its history, backing Reagan. Reagan had received the California Rifle and Pistol Association's Outstanding Public Service Award. Carter had appointed Abner J. Mikva, a fervent proponent of gun control, to a federal judgeship and had supported the Alaska Lands Bill, closing 40,000,000 acres (160,000 km) to hunting.

General election endorsements

List of John B. Anderson endorsements

Anderson had received endorsements from:

Former officeholders
Current and former state and local officials and party officeholders
Massachusetts
Celebrities, political activists, and political commentators
Newspapers
List of Jimmy Carter endorsements

Carter had received endorsements from:

Newspapers
List of Barry Commoner endorsements

Commoner had received endorsements from:

Celebrities, political activists, and political commentators
List of Clifton DeBerry endorsements

DeBerry had received endorsements from:

Celebrities, political activists and political commentators
List of Ronald Reagan endorsements

Reagan had received endorsements from:

United States Senate
United States House of Representatives
Governors and State Constitutional officers
Current and former state and local officials and party officeholders
Florida
New York
Celebrities, political activists and political commentators
Newspaper endorsements

Results

The election was held on November 4, 1980. Ronald Reagan and running mate George H. W. Bush defeated the Carter-Mondale ticket by almost 10 percentage points in the popular vote. The electoral college vote was a landslide, with 489 votes (representing 44 states) for Reagan and 49 for Carter (representing six states and Washington, D.C.). Republicans also gained control of the Senate for the first time since 1954.

NBC News projected Reagan as the winner at 8:15 pm EST (5:15 PST), before voting was finished in the West, based on exit polls; it was the first time a broadcast network used exit polling to project a winner, and it took the other broadcast networks by surprise. Carter conceded defeat at 9:50 pm EST. Some of Carter's advisors urged him to wait until 11:00 pm EST to allow poll results from the West Coast to come in, but Carter decided to concede earlier in order to avoid the impression that he was sulking. Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill angrily accused Carter of weakening the party's performance in the Senate elections by doing this.

John Anderson won 6.6% of the popular vote but no states. He had the most support in New England, fueled by liberal and moderate Republicans who felt Reagan was too far to the right, and with voters who normally leaned Democratic but were dissatisfied with the Carter administration's policies. His best showing was in Massachusetts, where he won 15% of the vote.

Anderson performed worst in the South, receiving under 2% of the vote in South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. He said he was accused of spoiling the election by receiving votes that might have otherwise been cast for Carter, but 37% of Anderson voters polled preferred Reagan as their second choice. Libertarian Party nominee Ed Clark received 921,299 popular votes (1.06%).

Carter's loss was the worst performance by an incumbent president since Herbert Hoover lost to Franklin Roosevelt by a margin of 18% in 1932, and his 49 Electoral College votes were the fewest won by an incumbent since William Howard Taft won eight in 1912. Carter was the first incumbent Democrat to serve only one full term since James Buchanan, and was also the last until Joe Biden. This was the third and most recent presidential election in which the incumbent Democrat lost reelection, after 1840 and 1888. This was the first time since 1840 that an incumbent Democrat lost the popular vote. Reagan had the most lopsided Electoral College victory for a first-time president-elect, with the exception of George Washington's unanimous victory in 1788.

This election was the last time a Republican won the presidency without winning Georgia. It was the first time Massachusetts voted for a Republican candidate since 1956. 1980 is one of only two occurrences of pairs of consecutive elections seeing the incumbent presidents defeated, the other happening in 1892. This is the first time since 1892 that a party was voted out after a single four-year term, and the first for Democrats since 1896. This did not occur again for either party until 2020, and for the Democrats until 2024.

Reagan won 53% of the vote in reliably Democratic South Boston, one example of the so-called Reagan Democrat. Although he won an even larger Electoral College majority in 1984, the 1980 election nonetheless stands as the last time some now very strongly Democratic counties gave a Republican a majority or plurality. Notable examples are Jefferson County in Washington State, Lane County, Oregon, Marin and Santa Cruz Counties in California, McKinley County, New Mexico, and Rock Island County, Illinois. Survey research and post-election polling indicated that the landslide result had been more a repudiation of Carter than an embrace of Reagan. But the public was aware that Reagan would move the nation in a more conservative direction, and was apparently willing to give it a chance to avoid four more years of Carter.

At age 69, Reagan was the oldest non-incumbent to win a presidential election. Thirty-six years later, in 2016, this record was surpassed by Donald Trump at age 70, and four years later by Joe Biden at age 77, and another four years after by Donald Trump again at age 78.

Results

Electoral results
Presidential candidate Party Home state Popular vote Electoral
vote 		Running mate
Count Percentage Vice-presidential candidate Home state Electoral vote
Ronald Reagan Republican California 43,903,230 50.75% 489 George H. W. Bush Texas 489
Jimmy Carter (incumbent) Democratic Georgia 35,481,115 41.01% 49 Walter Mondale (incumbent) Minnesota 49
John B. Anderson Independent Illinois 5,719,850 6.61% 0 Patrick Lucey Wisconsin 0
Ed Clark Libertarian California 921,128 1.06% 0 David Koch Kansas 0
Barry Commoner Citizens Missouri 233,052 0.27% 0 LaDonna Harris Oklahoma 0
Gus Hall Communist New York  44,933 0.05% 0 Angela Davis California  0
John Rarick American Independent Louisiana  40,906 0.05% 0 Eileen Shearer California  0
Clifton DeBerry Socialist Workers California  38,738 0.04% 0 Matilde Zimmermann New York  0
Ellen McCormack Right to Life New York  32,320 0.04% 0 Carroll Driscoll New Jersey  0
Maureen Smith Peace and Freedom California  18,116 0.02% 0 Elizabeth Cervantes Barron California  0
Other 77,290 0.09% — Other —
Total 86,509,678 100% 538 538
Needed to win 270 270

Source (popular vote): Leip, David. "1980 Presidential Election Results". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved August 7, 2005.

Source (electoral vote): "Electoral College Box Scores 1789–1996". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved August 7, 2005.

Popular vote
Reagan   50.75%
Carter   41.01%
Anderson   6.61%
Clark   1.06%
Commoner   0.27%
Others   0.30%
Electoral vote
Reagan   90.89%
Carter   9.11%
  • Results by county, shaded according to winning candidate's percentage of the vote Results by county, shaded according to winning candidate's percentage of the vote
  • Results by congressional district, shaded according to winning candidate's percentage of the vote Results by congressional district, shaded according to winning candidate's percentage of the vote
  • Change in vote margins at the county level from the 1976 election to the 1980 election. Change in vote margins at the county level from the 1976 election to the 1980 election.

Results by state

Source:

Legend
States/districts won by Reagan/Bush
States/districts won by Carter/Mondale
† At-large results (Maine used the Congressional District Method)
Ronald Reagan
Republican 		Jimmy Carter
Democratic 		John Anderson
Independent 		Ed Clark
Libertarian 		Margin State Total
State electoral
votes 		# % electoral
votes 		# % electoral
votes 		# % electoral
votes 		# % electoral
votes 		# % #
Alabama 9 654,192 48.75 9 636,730 47.45 - 16,481 1.23 - 13,318 0.99 - 17,462 1.30 1,341,929 AL
Alaska 3 86,112 54.35 3 41,842 26.41 - 11,155 7.04 - 18,479 11.66 - 44,270 27.94 158,445 AK
Arizona 6 529,688 60.61 6 246,843 28.24 - 76,952 8.81 - 18,784 2.15 - 282,845 32.36 873,945 AZ
Arkansas 6 403,164 48.13 6 398,041 47.52 - 22,468 2.68 - 8,970 1.07 - 5,123 0.61 837,582 AR
California 45 4,524,858 52.69 45 3,083,661 35.91 - 739,833 8.62 - 148,434 1.73 - 1,441,197 16.78 8,587,063 CA
Colorado 7 652,264 55.07 7 367,973 31.07 - 130,633 11.03 - 25,744 2.17 - 284,291 24.00 1,184,415 CO
Connecticut 8 677,210 48.16 8 541,732 38.52 - 171,807 12.22 - 8,570 0.61 - 135,478 9.63 1,406,285 CT
Delaware 3 111,252 47.21 3 105,754 44.87 - 16,288 6.91 - 1,974 0.84 - 5,498 2.33 235,668 DE
D.C. 3 23,313 13.41 - 130,231 74.89 3 16,131 9.28 - 1,104 0.63 - -106,918 -61.49 173,889 DC
Florida 17 2,046,951 55.52 17 1,419,475 38.50 - 189,692 5.14 - 30,524 0.83 - 627,476 17.02 3,687,026 FL
Georgia 12 654,168 40.95 - 890,733 55.76 12 36,055 2.26 - 15,627 0.98 - -236,565 -14.81 1,597,467 GA
Hawaii 4 130,112 42.90 - 135,879 44.80 4 32,021 10.56 - 3,269 1.08 - -5,767 -1.90 303,287 HI
Idaho 4 290,699 66.46 4 110,192 25.19 - 27,058 6.19 - 8,425 1.93 - 180,507 41.27 437,431 ID
Illinois 26 2,358,049 49.65 26 1,981,413 41.72 - 346,754 7.30 - 38,939 0.82 - 376,636 7.93 4,749,721 IL
Indiana 13 1,255,656 56.01 13 844,197 37.65 - 111,639 4.98 - 19,627 0.88 - 411,459 18.35 2,242,033 IN
Iowa 8 676,026 51.31 8 508,672 38.60 - 115,633 8.78 - 13,123 1.00 - 167,354 12.70 1,317,661 IA
Kansas 7 566,812 57.85 7 326,150 33.29 - 68,231 6.96 - 14,470 1.48 - 240,662 24.56 979,795 KS
Kentucky 9 635,274 49.07 9 616,417 47.61 - 31,127 2.40 - 5,531 0.43 - 18,857 1.46 1,294,627 KY
Louisiana 10 792,853 51.20 10 708,453 45.75 - 26,345 1.70 - 8,240 0.53 - 84,400 5.45 1,548,591 LA
Maine † 2 238,522 45.61 2 220,974 42.25 - 53,327 10.20 - 5,119 0.98 - 17,548 3.36 523,011 ME
Maine-1 1 126,274 45.96 1 117,613 42.80 – 30,889 11.24 – Unknown Unknown – 8,661 3.15 274,776 ME1
Maine-2 1 112,248 47.15 1 103,361 43.42 – 22,438 9.43 – Unknown Unknown – 8,887 3.73 238,047 ME2
Maryland 10 680,606 44.18 - 726,161 47.14 10 119,537 7.76 - 14,192 0.92 - -45,555 -2.96 1,540,496 MD
Massachusetts 14 1,057,631 41.90 14 1,053,802 41.75 - 382,539 15.15 - 22,038 0.87 - 3,829 0.15 2,524,298 MA
Michigan 21 1,915,225 48.99 21 1,661,532 42.50 - 275,223 7.04 - 41,597 1.06 - 253,693 6.49 3,909,725 MI
Minnesota 10 873,241 42.56 - 954,174 46.50 10 174,990 8.53 - 31,592 1.54 - -80,933 -3.94 2,051,953 MN
Mississippi 7 441,089 49.42 7 429,281 48.09 - 12,036 1.35 - 5,465 0.61 - 11,808 1.32 892,620 MS
Missouri 12 1,074,181 51.16 12 931,182 44.35 - 77,920 3.71 - 14,422 0.69 - 142,999 6.81 2,099,824 MO
Montana 4 206,814 56.82 4 118,032 32.43 - 29,281 8.05 - 9,825 2.70 - 88,782 24.39 363,952 MT
Nebraska 5 419,937 65.53 5 166,851 26.04 - 44,993 7.02 - 9,073 1.42 - 253,086 39.49 640,854 NE
Nevada 3 155,017 62.54 3 66,666 26.89 - 17,651 7.12 - 4,358 1.76 - 88,351 35.64 247,885 NV
New Hampshire 4 221,705 57.74 4 108,864 28.35 - 49,693 12.94 - 2,067 0.54 - 112,841 29.39 383,999 NH
New Jersey 17 1,546,557 51.97 17 1,147,364 38.56 - 234,632 7.88 - 20,652 0.69 - 399,193 13.42 2,975,684 NJ
New Mexico 4 250,779 54.97 4 167,826 36.78 - 29,459 6.46 - 4,365 0.96 - 82,953 18.18 456,237 NM
New York 41 2,893,831 46.66 41 2,728,372 43.99 - 467,801 7.54 - 52,648 0.85 - 165,459 2.67 6,201,959 NY
North Carolina 13 915,018 49.30 13 875,635 47.18 - 52,800 2.85 - 9,677 0.52 - 39,383 2.12 1,855,833 NC
North Dakota 3 193,695 64.23 3 79,189 26.26 - 23,640 7.84 - 3,743 1.24 - 114,506 37.97 301,545 ND
Ohio 25 2,206,545 51.51 25 1,752,414 40.91 - 254,472 5.94 - 49,033 1.14 - 454,131 10.60 4,283,603 OH
Oklahoma 8 695,570 60.50 8 402,026 34.97 - 38,284 3.33 - 13,828 1.20 - 293,544 25.53 1,149,708 OK
Oregon 6 571,044 48.33 6 456,890 38.67 - 112,389 9.51 - 25,838 2.19 - 114,154 9.66 1,181,516 OR
Pennsylvania 27 2,261,872 49.59 27 1,937,540 42.48 - 292,921 6.42 - 33,263 0.73 - 324,332 7.11 4,561,501 PA
Rhode Island 4 154,793 37.20 - 198,342 47.67 4 59,819 14.38 - 2,458 0.59 - -43,549 -10.47 416,072 RI
South Carolina 8 441,207 49.57 8 427,560 48.04 - 14,150 1.59 - 4,975 0.56 - 13,647 1.53 890,083 SC
South Dakota 4 198,343 60.53 4 103,855 31.69 - 21,431 6.54 - 3,824 1.17 - 94,488 28.83 327,703 SD
Tennessee 10 787,761 48.70 10 783,051 48.41 - 35,991 2.22 - 7,116 0.44 - 4,710 0.29 1,617,616 TN
Texas 26 2,510,705 55.28 26 1,881,147 41.42 - 111,613 2.46 - 37,643 0.83 - 629,558 13.86 4,541,637 TX
Utah 4 439,687 72.77 4 124,266 20.57 - 30,284 5.01 - 7,226 1.20 - 315,421 52.20 604,222 UT
Vermont 3 94,598 44.37 3 81,891 38.41 - 31,760 14.90 - 1,900 0.89 - 12,707 5.96 213,207 VT
Virginia 12 989,609 53.03 12 752,174 40.31 - 95,418 5.11 - 12,821 0.69 - 237,435 12.72 1,866,032 VA
Washington 9 865,244 49.66 9 650,193 37.32 - 185,073 10.62 - 29,213 1.68 - 215,051 12.34 1,742,394 WA
West Virginia 6 334,206 45.30 - 367,462 49.81 6 31,691 4.30 - 4,356 0.59 - -33,256 -4.51 737,715 WV
Wisconsin 11 1,088,845 47.90 11 981,584 43.18 - 160,657 7.07 - 29,135 1.28 - 107,261 4.72 2,273,221 WI
Wyoming 3 110,700 62.64 3 49,427 27.97 - 12,072 6.83 - 4,514 2.55 - 61,273 34.67 176,713 WY
TOTALS: 538 43,903,230 50.75 489 35,480,115 41.01 49 5,719,850 6.61 - 921,128 1.06 - 8,423,115 9.74 86,509,678 US

Maine allowed its electoral votes to be split between candidates. Two electoral votes were awarded to the winner of the statewide race and one electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district. Reagan won all four votes.

States that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Close states

Margin of victory less than 1% (30 electoral votes):

  1. Massachusetts, 0.15% (3,829 votes)
  2. Tennessee, 0.29% (4,710 votes)
  3. Arkansas, 0.61% (5,123 votes)

Margin of victory less than 5% (135 electoral votes):

  1. Alabama, 1.30% (17,462 votes)
  2. Mississippi, 1.32% (11,808 votes)
  3. Kentucky, 1.46% (18,857 votes)
  4. South Carolina, 1.53% (13,647 votes)
  5. Hawaii, 1.90% (5,767 votes)
  6. North Carolina, 2.12% (39,383 votes)
  7. Delaware, 2.33% (5,498 votes)
  8. New York, 2.67% (165,459 votes)
  9. Maryland, 2.96% (45,555 votes)
  10. Maine's 1st Congressional District, 3.15% (8,661 votes)
  11. Maine, 3.36% (17,548 votes)
  12. Maine's 2nd Congressional District, 3.73% (8,887 votes)
  13. Minnesota, 3.94% (80,933 votes)
  14. West Virginia, 4.51% (33,256 votes)
  15. Wisconsin, 4.72% (107,261 votes)

Margin of victory more than 5%, but less than 10% (113 electoral votes):

  1. Louisiana, 5.45% (84,400 votes)
  2. Vermont, 5.96% (12,707 votes)
  3. Michigan, 6.49% (253,693 votes)
  4. Missouri, 6.81% (142,999 votes)
  5. Pennsylvania, 7.11% (324,332 votes)
  6. Illinois, 7.93% (376,636 votes) (tipping-point state)
  7. Connecticut, 9.64% (135,478 votes)
  8. Oregon, 9.66% (114,154 votes)

Statistics

Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Republican)

  1. Banner County, Nebraska 90.41%
  2. Madison County, Idaho 88.41%
  3. McIntosh County, North Dakota 86.01%
  4. McPherson County, South Dakota 85.60%
  5. Franklin County, Idaho 85.31%

Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Democratic)

  1. Macon County, Alabama 80.10%
  2. Hancock County, Georgia 78.50%
  3. Duval County, Texas 77.91%
  4. Jefferson County, Mississippi 77.84%
  5. Greene County, Alabama 77.09%

Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Other)

  1. Pitkin County, Colorado 27.76%
  2. Nantucket, Massachusetts 21.63%
  3. Winnebago County, Illinois 21.50%
  4. Dukes County, Massachusetts 20.88%
  5. Story County, Iowa 19.41%

Voter demographics

The 1980 presidential vote by demographic subgroup
Demographic subgroup Carter Reagan Anderson % of
total vote
Total vote 41 51 7 100
Ideology
Liberals 60 28 11 17
Moderates 43 49 8 46
Conservatives 23 73 3 33
Party
Democrats 67 27 6 43
Republicans 11 85 4 28
Independents 31 55 12 23
Sex
Men 37 55 7 51
Women 46 47 7 49
Race
White 36 56 7 88
Black 83 14 3 10
Hispanic 56 37 7 2
Age
18–21 years old 45 44 11 6
22–29 years old 44 44 10 17
30–44 years old 38 55 7 31
45–59 years old 39 55 6 23
60 and older 41 55 4 18
Family income
Under $10,000 52 42 6 13
$10,000–15,000 48 43 8 14
$15,000–25,000 39 54 7 30
$25,000–50,000 33 59 7 24
Over $50,000 26 66 7 5
Region
East 43 48 8 32
Midwest 42 51 6 20
South 45 52 2 27
West 35 54 9 11
Union households
Union 48 45 7 26
Non-union 36 56 7 62

Source: CBS News and The New York Times exit poll from the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research (15,201 surveyed)

Aftermath

In 1986, it was revealed that Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos had allegedly donated money to both Carter's and Reagan's campaigns.

See also

Notes

  1. In some states labeled as National Unity, Anderson Coalition, Anderson Alternative or "Anderson for President". Was also the nominee of the Liberal Party of New York.
  2. With Walter Mondale
  3. With George Bush
  4. With Walter Mondale
  5. Date is approximate

References

  1. "National General Election VEP Turnout Rates, 1789-Present". United States Election Project. CQ Press. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  2. Callaghan, Karen J.; Virtanen, Simo (August 1993). "Revised Models of the "Rally Phenomenon": The Case of the Carter Presidency". The Journal of Politics. 55 (3): 756–764. doi:10.2307/2131999. ISSN 0022-3816. JSTOR 2131999. Archived from the original on January 2, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
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