United States Senate elections, 1980

Infobox Election
election_name = United States Senate elections, 1980
country = United States
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election = United States Senate elections, 1978
previous_year = 1978
next_election = United States Senate elections, 1982
next_year = 1982
seats_for_election = 35 seats in the United States Senate
election_date = November 2, 1980

leader1 = Howard Baker
party1 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = Tennessee
last_election1 = 41 seats
seats1 = 53
seat_change1 = +12
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Robert Byrd
party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = West Virginia
last_election2 = 58 seats
seats2 = 46
seat_change2 = -12
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

leader1 = Howard Baker
party1 = Republican Party (United States)
leaders_seat1 = Tennessee
last_election1 = 41 seats
seats1 = 53
seat_change1 = +12
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =
swing1 =

leader2 = Robert Byrd
party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
leaders_seat2 = West Virginia
last_election2 = 58 seats
seats2 = 46
seat_change2 = -12
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =
swing2 =

map_

---

map_size = 300px
map_caption = legend|#800|Republican holds

title = Majority Leader
before_election = Robert Byrd
before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
after_election = Howard Baker
after_party = Republican Party (United States)

The 1980 U.S. Senate elections coincided with Ronald Reagan's election to the Presidency. 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 twelve seats from the Democrats, the largest swing since 1958, and gained control of the Senate, 53-46. Majority and minority leaders Robert Byrd and Howard Baker exchanged places. This marked the first time since 1954 that the Republican Party controlled one of the Houses of Congress.

Without losing any seats, the Republicans took open seats in Alabama, Alaska, and Florida, and defeated 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).

Notable new senators included future Vice-President J. Danforth Quayle (R-IN). Alfonse M. D'Amato (R-NY) defeated incumbent liberal Republican icon Jacob Javits in a primary, demonstrating the ascendancy of conservative Republicans.

In 1982, Harrison A. Williams (D-NJ) resigned from the Senate rather than face a vote on his expulsion over the Abscam scandal. He was replaced by Republican Nicholas F. Brady. This is not reflected in the party totals.

enate contests in 1980

A bolded state name indicates an article about that state's election.

See also

*United States presidential election, 1980
*United States House elections, 1980
*United States gubernatorial elections, 1980
*United States Senate elections, 1982
*United States Senate elections, 1978