1980 United States gubernatorial elections


United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 4, 1980 in 13 states and two territories. The Republican party had a net gain of four seats in this election, with the Senate,
House elections and presidential election. This was the last election in which a Democrat won the gubernatorial contest in Utah and also the last election in which a Republican won the gubernatorial race in the state of Washington.

Election results

A bolded state name features an article about the specific election.
StateIncumbentPartyStatusOpposing candidates
ArkansasBill ClintonDemocraticDefeated, 48.1%Frank D. White 51.9%
DelawarePete du PontRepublicanRe-elected, 70.7%William J. Gordy 28.5%
Lawrence Levy 0.8%
IndianaOtis BowenRepublicanTerm-limited, Republican victoryRobert D. Orr 57.7%
John A. Hillenbrand 41.9%
Cletis Artist 0.4%
MissouriJoseph P. TeasdaleDemocraticDefeated, 47.0%Kit Bond 52.6%
Helen Savio 0.3%
MontanaThomas Lee JudgeDemocraticDefeated in primary, Democratic victoryTed Schwinden 55.4%
Jack Ramirez 44.6%
New HampshireHugh GallenDemocraticRe-elected, 59.0%Meldrim Thomson Jr. 40.7%
James Pinnaird 0.3%
North CarolinaJim HuntDemocraticRe-elected, 61.9%I. Beverly Lake Jr. 37.4%
Robert Y. Emory 0.5%
Douglas A. Cooper 0.2%
North DakotaArthur A. LinkDemocratic-NPLDefeated, 46.4%Allen I. Olson 53.6%
Rhode IslandJ. Joseph GarrahyDemocraticRe-elected, 73.7%Buddy Cianci 26.9%
UtahScott M. MathesonDemocraticRe-elected, 55.2%Bob Wright 44.4%
Lawrence Rey Topham 0.4%
VermontRichard A. SnellingRepublicanRe-elected, 58.7%M. Jerome Diamond 36.6%
Daniel E. Woodward 2.5%
Bruce Cullen 1.1%
John Potthast 0.9%
WashingtonDixy Lee RayDemocraticDefeated in primary, Republican victoryJohn Spellman 56.7%
Jim McDermott 43.3%
West VirginiaJay RockefellerDemocraticRe-elected, 54.1%Arch A. Moore Jr. 45.4%
Jack Kelley 0.4%