The 1980 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the
United States House of Representatives in 1980 which coincided with the
election of
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
as
President, defeating
Democratic
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
incumbent President
Jimmy Carter. Reagan's victory also allowed many
Republican House candidates to secure elections. The Republicans gained a net of 35 seats from the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
. The Democrats nonetheless retained a significant majority, unlike the
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
elections, where Republicans gained control of the chamber. However, many Democratic congressmen from the south (known as "
Boll weevils") frequently took conservative stances on issues, allowing Republicans to have a working ideological majority for some of President Reagan's proposals during his first two years in office.
This election marked the first time since Reconstruction era of the United States, Reconstruction that Republicans won a sizable majority of Representatives from a Deep South state (South Carolina). It was also the first time that the new Libertarian Party (United States), Libertarian Party received the third-largest share of the Direct election, popular vote in both chambers of Congress. As of 2022, this is the last time that Republicans won a majority of seats in the Minnesota delegation. This is the earliest House election with a currently serving member, that being Chris Smith (New Jersey politician), Chris Smith and Hal Rogers.
Overall results
Summary of the November 4, 1980, United States House of Representatives election results
Source
Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk
Special elections
In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1980 or before January 3, 1981; ordered by election date.
Alabama
Alaska
American Samoa
See #Non-voting delegates, Non-voting delegates, below.
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
See #Non-voting delegates, Non-voting delegates, below.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Guam
See #Non-voting delegates, Non-voting delegates, below.
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
As of 2021, this is the last time the Republican Party held a majority of congressional districts from Minnesota.
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
See #Non-voting delegates, Non-voting delegates, below.
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
U.S. Virgin Islands
See #Non-voting delegates, Non-voting delegates, below.
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Non-voting delegates
, -
!
, -
!
, Walter Fauntroy
, , Democratic
, 1971 United States House of Representatives election in the District of Columbia, 1971
, Incumbent re-elected.
, nowrap ,
, -
!
, -
!
, -
!
, Melvin H. Evans
, , Republican
, 1978 United States House of Representatives election in the United States Virgin Islands, 1978
, New member elected.
, nowrap ,
See also
* 1980 United States elections
** 1980 United States gubernatorial elections
** 1980 United States presidential election
** 1980 United States Senate elections
* 96th United States Congress
* 97th United States Congress
Notes
References
{{Al Gore
1980 United States House of Representatives elections,
November 1980 events in the United States