1980 United States gubernatorial elections
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15 governorships 13 states; 2 territories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Democratic hold
Republican hold
Republican gain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 4, 1980, in 13 states and two territories. The Republican party had a net gain of four seats in this election, coinciding with the Senate, House elections and presidential election. As of 2025, this was the last election in which a Democrat won the gubernatorial election in Utah and also the last election in which a Republican won the gubernatorial race in the state of Washington.
Election results
[edit]| State | Incumbent | Party | First elected |
Result | Candidates |
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| Arkansas | Bill Clinton | Democratic | 1978[1] | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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| Delaware | Pete du Pont | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Indiana | Otis Bowen | Republican | 1972 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican hold. |
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| Missouri | Joseph P. Teasdale | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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| Montana | Thomas Lee Judge | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent lost re-nomination. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
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| New Hampshire | Hugh Gallen | Democratic | 1978 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| North Carolina | Jim Hunt | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| North Dakota | Arthur A. Link | Democratic-NPL | 1972 | Incumbent lost re-election. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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| Rhode Island | J. Joseph Garrahy | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Utah | Scott M. Matheson | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Vermont | Richard A. Snelling | Republican | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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| Washington | Dixy Lee Ray | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent lost re-nomination. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
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| West Virginia | Jay Rockefeller | Democratic | 1976 | Incumbent re-elected. |
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Close states
[edit]States where the margin of victory was under 5%:
- Arkansas, 3.8%
States where the margin of victory was under 10%:
- Missouri, 5.6%
- North Dakota, 7.2%
- West Virginia, 8.7%
Arkansas
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 County results White: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Clinton: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Arkansas gubernatorial election was a biennial election for the governorship of Arkansas. One-term Democratic governor and future president Bill Clinton was narrowly defeated by Republican Frank D. White. It was only the third time since Reconstruction that a Republican candidate had won the state's governorship.
Clinton ran again two years later and regained the governorship, continuing to serve until he was elected to the presidency in 1992.
Delaware
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  du Pont: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Gordy: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Delaware gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1980. Popular incumbent Republican governor Pierre S. "Pete" du Pont IV was re-elected to a second term in office, defeating Democrat William Gordy. In doing so, du Pont became the first governor since J. Caleb Boggs to succeed in winning re-election.
Indiana
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 County results Orr: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hillenbrand: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Indiana gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980 in all 92 counties in the state of Indiana. Otis Bowen, the state's incumbent governor was ineligible for a third consecutive term due to term limits set forth in the Indiana Constitution. Robert D. Orr, the state's incumbent Republican lieutenant governor, was elected to his first term, defeating John A. Hillenbrand II, and a minor party challenger.
Missouri
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 County results Bond: 50-60% 60-70% Teasdale: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980 and resulted in a victory for the Republican nominee, former Governor Kit Bond, over the Democratic candidate, incumbent Governor Joseph P. Teasdale, and Socialist Workers candidate Helen Savio.
Montana
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| Turnout | 74.90% 0.30[2] | |||||||||||||||||||
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 County results Schwinden: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Ramirez: 50–60% 60–70% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Montana gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Governor of Montana Thomas Lee Judge, who was first elected in 1972 and was re-elected in 1976, ran for re-election. He faced a stiff challenge in the Democratic primary from his lieutenant governor, Ted Schwinden, and he ultimately lost renomination. Schwinden, advancing to the general election, faced Jack Ramirez, the Minority Leader of the Montana House of Representatives and the Republican nominee. Although Ronald Reagan, the Republican presidential nominee, won the state in a landslide that year, Schwinden comfortably defeated Ramirez to win his first of two terms as governor.
New Hampshire
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Gallen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Thomson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 50% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic governor Hugh Gallen was re-elected to a second term in office, in a landslide. once again defeating former governor Meldrim Thomson Jr., who defeated Lou D'Allesandro for the Republican nomination.
North Carolina
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 County results Hunt: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% Lake: 50-60% 60-70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. Despite North Carolina going to Ronald Reagan in the presidential race and the U.S. Senate race being won by a Republican (John P. East), popular Democratic Governor Jim Hunt won a second term in office in a landslide over Republican I. Beverly Lake. Hunt thus became the first governor of the state elected to a consecutive four-year term, following an amendment to the Constitution of North Carolina allowing such a run.[3]
North Dakota
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 County results Olson: 50–60% 60–70% Link: 50–60% 60–70% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 North Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. The election pitted Republican State Attorney General Allen I. Olson against incumbent Democratic-NPL governor Arthur A. Link. Olson Defeated Link 54% to 46%.
Rhode Island
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Garrahy: 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democrat J. Joseph Garrahy defeated Republican nominee Buddy Cianci with 73.71% of the vote.
Utah
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 County results Matheson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Wright: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Utah gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. Democratic incumbent Scott M. Matheson defeated Republican nominee Bob Wright with 55.16% of the vote. As of 2025[update], this is the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of Utah; since Matheson left office in 1985, all of Utah's governors have been Republican.[4] Matheson's victory was despite Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan and incumbent Republican Senator Jake Garn both winning over 70% of the vote in their respective races on the same ballot.[5][6]
Vermont
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Snelling: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90% Diamond: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% Woodward: 50-60% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Republican Richard A. Snelling ran successfully for a third term as Governor of Vermont, defeating Democratic candidate M. Jerome Diamond.
Washington
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 County results Spellman: 50–60% 60–70% McDermott: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 Washington gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic governor Dixy Lee Ray ran for a second term, but lost in the primary to State Representative Jim McDermott. McDermott was defeated in the general election by Republican candidate John Spellman, the King County Executive.
West Virginia
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 County results Rockefeller: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Moore: 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1980 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1980, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Incumbent Governor Jay Rockefeller defeated former Governor Arch Moore in a rematch of the 1972 contest. This election was the first time ever that a Democrat was re-elected Governor of West Virginia.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Bill Clinton (1946–)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ^ "Montana Voter Turnout". Montana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
- ^ NCpedia
- ^ Benjamin Wood (July 19, 2019). "Zachary Moses, a Democratic candidate for governor, wants to break up Republican control of Utah and build a space port". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "1980 Presidential Election Statistics". US Election Atlas. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "1980 General Election Abstract" (PDF). Utah Secretary of State. Retrieved September 19, 2023.