United States Senate elections, 1980

United States Senate elections, 1980

← 1978 November 4, 1980 1982 →
34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate 51 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Howard Baker Robert Byrd Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat Tennessee West Virginia Last election 41 seats 58 seats Seats won 53 46 Seat change 12 12 Popular vote 26,597,169 30,699,463 Percentage 44.7% 51.6% Swing 2.9% 1.0% Seats up 10 24   Third party   Party Independent Last election 1 seat Seats before 1* Seats won 1* Seat change Seats up 0
Democratic hold   Republican hold   Republican gain *The Independent caucused with the Democrats and was not up for election.
Majority Leader before election Robert Byrd Democratic Elected Majority Leader Howard Baker Republican

Robert Byrd
Democratic

Howard Baker
Republican

The United States Senate elections, 1980 coincided with Ronald Reagan's victory in the presidential election. Reagan's large margin of victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter pulled in many Democratic voters and gave a huge boost to Republican Senate candidates.

The Republicans gained a net of 12 seats from the Democrats and gained control of the Senate, 53–46–1. Majority and minority leaders Robert Byrd and Howard Baker exchanged places. This election marked the first time since 1954 that the Republican Party controlled either house of Congress. Despite large gains, Republican Senate candidates actually lost the popular vote.

This was the largest Senate swing since 1958, and was the largest Republican gain since 1946, when Republicans also picked up 12 seats.

Without losing any seats, the Republicans took open seats in Alabama, Alaska, and Florida, and unseated nine incumbents: Herman Talmadge (D-GA), Frank Church (D-ID), Birch E. Bayh II (D-IN), John Culver (D-IA), John A. Durkin (D-NH), Robert Morgan (D-NC), 1972 presidential nominee George S. McGovern (D-SD), Warren Magnuson (D-WA), and Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) (see Reagan's coattails).