1980 United States Senate election in California

The 1980 United States Senate election in California took place on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Alan Cranston easily won re-election to a third term, even as the state's former Republican governor, Ronald Reagan, won a landslide victory in the concurrent presidential election, and a target of the National Conservative Political Action Committee.

1980 United States Senate election in California

← 1974 November 3, 1980 (1980-11-03) 1986 →
 
Nominee Alan Cranston Paul Gann
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 4,705,399 3,093,426
Percentage 56.51% 37.15%

County results
Cranston:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Gann:      40–50%      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Alan Cranston
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Alan Cranston
Democratic

Primary elections

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Primary elections were held on June 3, 1980.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Cranston (incumbent) 2,608,746 79.91%
Democratic Richard Morgan 350,394 10.73%
Democratic Frank L. Thomas 195,351 5.98%
Democratic David Rees 110,125 3.37%
Independent Write-ins 26 0.00%
Total votes 3,264,642 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Paul Gann 934,433 40.00%
Republican Sam Yorty 668,583 28.62%
Republican John G. Schmitz 442,839 18.96%
Republican James A. Ware 95,155 4.07%
Republican Rayburn Hanzlik 76,268 3.27%
Republican Philip Schwartz 68,790 2.95%
Republican Brian Hyndman 50,122 2.15%
Total votes 2,336,190 100.00

Results

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1980 United States Senate election, California[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Cranston (incumbent) 4,705,399 56.51%
Republican Paul Gann 3,093,426 37.15%
Libertarian David Bergland 202,481 2.43%
Peace and Freedom David Wald 196,354 2.36%
American Independent James C. Griffin 129,648 1.56%
Democratic hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - CA US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980".