1980 United States Senate election in Georgia

The 1980 United States Senate election in Georgia was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and former Governor of Georgia Herman Talmadge ran for reelection to a fifth term, but lost narrowly to Mack Mattingly, Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party.

1980 United States Senate election in Georgia

← 1974 November 4, 1980 1986 →
 
Nominee Mack Mattingly Herman Talmadge
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 803,686 776,143
Percentage 50.87% 49.13%

County results

Mattingly:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Talmadge:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election

Herman Talmadge
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Mack Mattingly
Republican

Mattingly became the first Republican Senator from the state since Reconstruction in 1873. This marked the first time that a Republican served a full term in the state's history. This race was part of a landslide national election for Republicans that would come to be known as the Reagan Revolution.[1]

As of 2024, this is the last time an incumbent Democratic Senator lost a bid for re-election while the Democratic nominee for president simultaneously carried that same state's electoral votes.[a] This is also the only U.S. Senate election (as of 2024) in which the Republican nominee carried Fulton County in its current form.

This election was the first time ever that a Republican was elected to the United States Senate from Georgia by popular vote.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Campaign

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Talmadge's ethical issues made him uniquely vulnerable, especially after being censured in 1979. Because Georgia was seen as a strongly Democratic state, five primary opponents declared their candidacies for the Democratic nomination. Strongest among these candidates was Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller. Miller launched his campaign with support from black voters, organized labor, and the liberal wing of the Georgia Democratic Party. He campaigned against Talmadge on the argument that Talmadge had "disgraced" Georgia. Miller also attacked Talmadge's history as a segregationist and boasted of support from black leaders including Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson and State Senator Julian Bond.[2]

In the six-man primary held August 5, Miller and Talmadge advanced to a run-off election. Talmadge won the run-off election with 58.6% of the vote.

Results

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Democratic primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Herman Talmadge (incumbent) 432,215 41.99%
Democratic Zell Miller 247,766 24.07%
Democratic Norman Underwood 183,683 17.85%
Democratic Dawson Mathis 133,729 12.99%
Democratic J. B. Stoner 19,664 1.91%
Democratic John F. Collins 12,243 1.19%
Total votes 1,029,300 100.00%
Democratic primary runoff results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Herman Talmadge (incumbent) 559,615 58.58%
Democratic Zell Miller 395,773 41.43%
Total votes 955,388 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Mattingly was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

General election

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Results

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1980 United States Senate election, Georgia[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mack Mattingly 803,686 50.87% +22.63%
Democratic Herman Talmadge (incumbent) 776,143 49.13% −22.63%
Majority 27,543 1.74% −41.78%
Turnout 1,579,829
Republican gain from Democratic Swing 22.63%

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ In 1992, Bill Clinton carried the electoral votes of Georgia, but incumbent Democratic Senator Wyche Fowler lost re-election. However, this did not occur on the same day as the presidential election. In fact, Fowler won the popular vote by a margin of 49% to 48% in the first round, which was simultaneous with the presidential election. However, because no candidate achieved >50% of the vote, a runoff was required, which the Democrat lost 51% to 49% on November 24, three weeks later.

References

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  1. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1980" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Harris, Art (August 23, 1980). "Drawlin' and Brawlin'". Washington Post. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  3. ^ "GA US Senate – D Primary, 1980". OurCampaigns. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "GA US Senate – D Runoff, 1980". OurCampaigns. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  5. ^ "United States Senator". Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 1, 2009.