1980 Election

The 1980 Presidential Election was a clear decision by American voters that the economic problems and foreign policy woes of the nation required new leadership. Most voters had lost faith in the Carter Administration's handling of financial matters, with high inflation at the center of most Americans' troubles.

A Hollywood star turned politician offered to "make America great again" and promised to restore economic growth and strength internationally. In this article, we examine the major candidates and the issues that were central to their campaigns. The results of the 1980 presidential election are explored in addition to the key demographics and significance of this election in U.S. History.

1980 Presidential Election Candidates

The 1980 Presidential contest came down to the incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter running for re-election against Republican Ronald Reagan. The party primaries resulted in two starkly different choices. Carter ran on his record, unfavorable to many citizens, especially when examining political opinion polls. Reagan asked the voters a profound question: "Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?" which became a compelling and reused political message.

1980 Presidential Election campaign bumper stickers. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Jimmy Carter: The 1980 Democratic Candidate

Jimmy Carter grew up in rural Georgia, where he was a peanut farmer before becoming a naval officer right after World War Two. Carter's career would span Georgia politics from lawmaker to Governor before being elected U.S. President in 1976. His presidency faced Cold War tension with the Soviet Union and the worst economic period since the Great Depression.

Ronald Reagan: The 1980 Republican Candidate

Ronald Reagan grew up in Illinois before starting an acting career in Hollywood. Reagan's film career was punctuated by military service before and throughout World War Two, during which he made two hundred films for the government. After his Army career, Reagan worked for General Electric and was President of the Screen Actors Guild. The former Democrat switched to the Republican Party and was elected Governor of California. After six years in office, Reagan ran unsuccessfully for the 1976 Republican Party nomination for President.

1980 Vice Presidential Candidates

Carter maintained his Vice President, Walter Mondale, on the ticket billed as "A Tested and Trustworthy Team." Reagan chose his rival primary opponent, George H. W. Bush as his running mate and ran under the banner "Let's Make America Great Again" for his 1980 campaign.

1980 Election Issues

The presidential election of 1980 was decided by the growing criticism of the challenges presented in the previous administration, mainly complaints about Carter's foreign policy and economic issues like high inflation and unemployment.

The Economy

The big issue weighing on voters in 1980 was economic stagflation. Double-digit annual inflation and unemployment of 7.5%¹ overshadowed Carter's plans to conserve energy and reduce nuclear weapon stockpiles.

The Cold War

The continued tensions during the Cold War did not help Carter as the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. President Carter joined an international boycott by 65 nations that refused to send athletes to the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, the capital of the U.S.S.R. A continued military build-up and a renewed space race renewed the focus on military hardware, nuclear weapons, and the potential for war.

The Iran Hostage Crisis

The crisis in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran further dragged down Carter's approval after the Americans held by the Iranians continued captive for months. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage by Islamic fundamentalists protesting the U.S.-supported Shah of Iran. The hostages were subsequently released after 444 days on the exact day of Reagans' inauguration. The Carter Administration was widely criticized for mishandling the situation and projecting weakness internationally.

Foreign and Domestic policies

Many questioned Carter's leadership and inability to solve the nation's problems. Meanwhile, Carter continued to focus on Reagan's unconventional approach to government which Carter saw as dangerous on the world stage. Reagan addressed the threat of Soviet Communism globally and pushed forward an economic and political realignment in America. A central theme of Reagan's conservative agenda was a reduction in the size of the federal government and massive tax cuts.

1980 Election Results

This chart illustrates the difference between candidates after the 1980 election, making Regan the clear winner in the electoral and popular vote.

1980 Presidential Election Results. Source: StudySmarter Original.

1980 Presidential Election Electoral Map

The following map shows the electoral landscape–Regan's dominance–of the 1980 presidential election outcome.

1980 Election Demographics

Even though the election was not tight, there were a few close states: Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Arkansas had less than 5,200 votes setting the candidates apart. Reagan's support among traditional Democratic voters was striking, as 28% of liberals and 49% of moderates voted for the Republican candidate. Reagan easily won the Republican and Independent voters. In addition, he edged out Carter in both the male and female vote with clear victories in the white, 30, and older and middle-income demographics.

Carter received strong support from blacks, Hispanics, lower-income, and union voters. This wasn't enough to make a significant difference. Overall, Reagan won all regions of the nation and a broad national mandate to tackle big government, increase military spending and reduce taxes.

The Reagan victory in 1980 was a landslide. Carter won only Washington, D.C., and six out of 50 states. The margin of 489 to 49 electoral votes was nothing short of dramatic. In addition, Ronald Reagan won over 50% of the popular vote and made substantial gains in traditionally-Democratic areas around the country. Not since 1932 had an incumbent President lost to a challenger. Moreover, Reagan (aged 69) became the oldest President elected in history until that time.

The New Deal coalition begun by Franklin Roosevelt had been weakened as more voters looked to conservativism as the solution. The Republican victory also included the U.S. Senate, which became controlled by Republicans for the first time in 25 years. The new period in Presidential politics became known as the Reagan Era, which lasted until the 2008 election of Barack Obama. Historians have debated whether the Trump Presidency was a continuation of the Reagan Era or a distinct style of presidential authority.

Notes:

1. 7.5% annual inflation, according to the 1980 Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
2. Investopedia, "Stagflation," 2022.