Election 1980 Results
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1980 presidential election results by state and county
Ronald Reagan defeated President Jimmy Carter by 489 electoral votes to 49, carrying 44 states as high inflation and the Iran hostage crisis sank Carter.
Ronald Reagan (Republican) beat Jimmy Carter in 1980, winning 489 electoral votes to 49. Jimmy Carter carried 7 states and Ronald Reagan 44. Across the states, the Democratic and Republican vote came to 35,481,997 and 43,901,300 (R+9.7 of all votes cast).
The closest states were Massachusetts (R+0.2), Tennessee (R+0.3) and Arkansas (R+0.6). 17 states changed party from 1976: Alabama to the Republicans, Arkansas to the Republicans, Delaware to the Republicans, Florida to the Republicans, Kentucky to the Republicans, Louisiana to the Republicans, Massachusetts to the Republicans, Mississippi to the Republicans, Missouri to the Republicans, New York to the Republicans, North Carolina to the Republicans, Ohio to the Republicans, Pennsylvania to the Republicans, South Carolina to the Republicans, Tennessee to the Republicans, Texas to the Republicans and Wisconsin to the Republicans.
Early projection, based on early and incomplete polling: the likely matchups, each weighted by the betting markets' odds of both nominations, not a result. Each county is its 2024 presidential margin moved by its state's projected swing; set a national vote and every state, district and county moves by the same amount from our projection. Colours run in 100 steps from a safe Republican to a safe Democratic margin. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.
About the 1980 presidential election
Carter entered 1980 with double-digit inflation, high interest rates, gas lines and the seizure of American hostages at the embassy in Tehran, who were still held on Election Day. He survived a primary challenge from Senator Edward Kennedy. Republicans nominated Ronald Reagan, the former governor of California, who promised tax cuts, a military buildup and smaller government. Representative John Anderson ran as an independent and took about 7 percent of the vote. Polls showed a tight race until late October, but Reagan won by close to 10 points. He flipped 17 states that Carter had won in 1976, including New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and nearly all of the South. Several Southern wins were narrow: Tennessee by 0.3 points, Arkansas by 0.6, South Carolina by 1.2 and Alabama by 1.3. He also took Massachusetts by about a tenth of a point. Carter held only six states, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Rhode Island and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia. Republicans also won control of the Senate for the first time since the 1950s. The result began the Reagan era and a long Republican advantage in presidential elections.
Every state
| State | Democrat | Votes | Republican | Votes | Others | Margin | EV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama flip | Jimmy Carter | 636,730 (47.4%) | Ronald Reagan | 654,192 (48.8%) | 51,007 | R+1.3 | 9 |
| Alaska | Jimmy Carter | 41,842 (26.4%) | Ronald Reagan | 86,112 (54.3%) | Ed Clark (Libertarian) 18,479 (11.7%) |
R+27.9 | 3 |
| Arizona | Jimmy Carter | 246,843 (28.2%) | Ronald Reagan | 529,688 (60.6%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 76,952 (8.8%) |
R+32.4 | 6 |
| Arkansas flip | Jimmy Carter | 398,041 (47.5%) | Ronald Reagan | 403,164 (48.1%) | 36,377 | R+0.6 | 6 |
| California | Jimmy Carter | 3,083,661 (35.9%) | Ronald Reagan | 4,524,858 (52.7%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 739,833 (8.6%) |
R+16.8 | 45 |
| Colorado | Jimmy Carter | 367,973 (31.1%) | Ronald Reagan | 652,264 (55.1%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 130,633 (11.0%) |
R+24.0 | 7 |
| Connecticut | Jimmy Carter | 541,732 (38.5%) | Ronald Reagan | 677,210 (48.2%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 171,807 (12.2%) |
R+9.6 | 8 |
| Delaware flip | Jimmy Carter | 105,754 (44.9%) | Ronald Reagan | 111,252 (47.2%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 16,288 (6.9%) |
R+2.3 | 3 |
| District of Columbia | Jimmy Carter | 130,231 (74.9%) | Ronald Reagan | 23,313 (13.4%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 16,131 (9.3%) |
D+61.5 | 3 |
| Florida flip | Jimmy Carter | 1,419,475 (38.5%) | Ronald Reagan | 2,046,951 (55.5%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 189,692 (5.1%) |
R+17.0 | 17 |
| Georgia | Jimmy Carter | 890,955 (55.8%) | Ronald Reagan | 654,168 (41.0%) | 51,682 | D+14.8 | 12 |
| Hawaii | Jimmy Carter | 135,879 (44.8%) | Ronald Reagan | 130,112 (42.9%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 32,021 (10.6%) |
D+1.9 | 4 |
| Idaho | Jimmy Carter | 110,192 (25.2%) | Ronald Reagan | 290,699 (66.5%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 27,058 (6.2%) |
R+41.3 | 4 |
| Illinois | Jimmy Carter | 1,981,413 (41.7%) | Ronald Reagan | 2,358,049 (49.6%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 346,754 (7.3%) |
R+7.9 | 26 |
| Indiana | Jimmy Carter | 844,197 (37.7%) | Ronald Reagan | 1,255,656 (56.0%) | 142,180 | R+18.4 | 13 |
| Iowa | Jimmy Carter | 508,672 (38.6%) | Ronald Reagan | 676,026 (51.3%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 115,633 (8.8%) |
R+12.7 | 8 |
| Kansas | Jimmy Carter | 326,150 (33.3%) | Ronald Reagan | 566,812 (57.9%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 68,231 (7.0%) |
R+24.6 | 7 |
| Kentucky flip | Jimmy Carter | 617,417 (47.7%) | Ronald Reagan | 635,274 (49.0%) | 42,936 | R+1.4 | 9 |
| Louisiana flip | Jimmy Carter | 708,453 (45.7%) | Ronald Reagan | 792,853 (51.2%) | 47,285 | R+5.5 | 10 |
| Maine | Jimmy Carter | 220,974 (42.3%) | Ronald Reagan | 238,522 (45.6%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 53,327 (10.2%) |
R+3.4 | 4 |
| Maryland | Jimmy Carter | 726,161 (47.1%) | Ronald Reagan | 680,606 (44.2%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 119,537 (7.8%) |
D+3.0 | 10 |
| Massachusetts flip | Jimmy Carter | 1,053,802 (41.7%) | Ronald Reagan | 1,057,631 (41.9%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 382,539 (15.2%) |
R+0.2 | 14 |
| Michigan | Jimmy Carter | 1,661,532 (42.5%) | Ronald Reagan | 1,915,225 (49.0%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 275,223 (7.0%) |
R+6.5 | 21 |
| Minnesota | Jimmy Carter | 954,174 (46.5%) | Ronald Reagan | 873,241 (42.6%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 174,990 (8.5%) |
D+3.9 | 10 |
| Mississippi flip | Jimmy Carter | 429,281 (48.1%) | Ronald Reagan | 441,089 (49.5%) | 21,380 | R+1.3 | 7 |
| Missouri flip | Jimmy Carter | 931,182 (44.3%) | Ronald Reagan | 1,074,181 (51.2%) | 94,461 | R+6.8 | 12 |
| Montana | Jimmy Carter | 118,032 (32.4%) | Ronald Reagan | 206,814 (56.8%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 29,281 (8.0%) |
R+24.4 | 4 |
| Nebraska | Jimmy Carter | 166,851 (26.0%) | Ronald Reagan | 419,937 (65.5%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 44,993 (7.0%) |
R+39.5 | 5 |
| Nevada | Jimmy Carter | 66,666 (26.9%) | Ronald Reagan | 155,017 (62.5%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 17,651 (7.1%) |
R+35.6 | 3 |
| New Hampshire | Jimmy Carter | 108,864 (28.4%) | Ronald Reagan | 221,705 (57.7%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 49,693 (12.9%) |
R+29.4 | 4 |
| New Jersey | Jimmy Carter | 1,147,364 (38.6%) | Ronald Reagan | 1,546,557 (52.0%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 234,632 (7.9%) |
R+13.4 | 17 |
| New Mexico | Jimmy Carter | 167,826 (36.8%) | Ronald Reagan | 250,779 (55.0%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 29,459 (6.5%) |
R+18.2 | 4 |
| New York flip | Jimmy Carter | 2,728,372 (44.0%) | Ronald Reagan | 2,893,831 (46.7%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 467,801 (7.5%) |
R+2.7 | 41 |
| North Carolina flip | Jimmy Carter | 875,635 (47.2%) | Ronald Reagan | 915,018 (49.3%) | 65,180 | R+2.1 | 13 |
| North Dakota | Jimmy Carter | 79,189 (26.3%) | Ronald Reagan | 193,695 (64.2%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 23,640 (7.8%) |
R+38.0 | 3 |
| Ohio flip | Jimmy Carter | 1,752,414 (40.9%) | Ronald Reagan | 2,206,545 (51.5%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 254,472 (5.9%) |
R+10.6 | 25 |
| Oklahoma | Jimmy Carter | 402,026 (35.0%) | Ronald Reagan | 695,570 (60.5%) | 52,112 | R+25.5 | 8 |
| Oregon | Jimmy Carter | 456,890 (38.7%) | Ronald Reagan | 571,044 (48.3%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 112,389 (9.5%) |
R+9.7 | 6 |
| Pennsylvania flip | Jimmy Carter | 1,937,540 (42.5%) | Ronald Reagan | 2,261,872 (49.6%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 292,921 (6.4%) |
R+7.1 | 27 |
| Rhode Island | Jimmy Carter | 198,342 (47.7%) | Ronald Reagan | 154,793 (37.2%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 59,819 (14.4%) |
D+10.5 | 4 |
| South Carolina flip | Jimmy Carter | 428,220 (48.2%) | Ronald Reagan | 439,277 (49.5%) | 20,761 | R+1.2 | 8 |
| South Dakota | Jimmy Carter | 103,855 (31.7%) | Ronald Reagan | 198,343 (60.5%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 21,431 (6.5%) |
R+28.8 | 4 |
| Tennessee flip | Jimmy Carter | 783,051 (48.4%) | Ronald Reagan | 787,761 (48.7%) | 46,804 | R+0.3 | 10 |
| Texas flip | Jimmy Carter | 1,881,147 (41.4%) | Ronald Reagan | 2,510,705 (55.3%) | 149,784 | R+13.9 | 26 |
| Utah | Jimmy Carter | 124,266 (20.6%) | Ronald Reagan | 439,687 (72.8%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 30,284 (5.0%) |
R+52.2 | 4 |
| Vermont | Jimmy Carter | 81,891 (38.4%) | Ronald Reagan | 94,598 (44.4%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 31,760 (14.9%) |
R+6.0 | 3 |
| Virginia | Jimmy Carter | 752,174 (40.3%) | Ronald Reagan | 989,609 (53.0%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 95,418 (5.1%) |
R+12.7 | 12 |
| Washington | Jimmy Carter | 650,193 (37.3%) | Ronald Reagan | 865,244 (49.7%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 185,073 (10.6%) |
R+12.3 | 9 |
| West Virginia | Jimmy Carter | 367,462 (49.8%) | Ronald Reagan | 334,206 (45.3%) | 36,047 | D+4.5 | 6 |
| Wisconsin flip | Jimmy Carter | 981,584 (43.2%) | Ronald Reagan | 1,088,845 (47.9%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 160,657 (7.1%) |
R+4.7 | 11 |
| Wyoming | Jimmy Carter | 49,427 (28.0%) | Ronald Reagan | 110,700 (62.6%) | John B. Anderson (Independent) 12,072 (6.8%) |
R+34.7 | 3 |
Margin: the Democrat's share of all votes minus the Republican's. Margins are Democrat minus Republican, of all votes. Certified results, from the states' own archives, the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, Heideman (2026) and Algara & Amlani (2021). Maine and Nebraska are shown whole, without their district votes. By county: "As they were" draws each county as it stood on election day; "Today's" shares the old votes among today's counties by area. County boundaries: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5). How these results were checked.