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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.
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
Candidates
Declared
- John Francis Collins
- Dawson Mathis, U.S. Representative from Albany
- Zell Miller, Lieutenant Governor
- J. B. Stoner, white supremacist and terrorist
- Herman Talmadge, incumbent Senator since 1957
- Norman Underwood, Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals
Campaign
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
| 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% | ||
| 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
Candidates
- Mack Mattingly, businessman and Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party
Mattingly was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
General election
Results
| 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
Notes
- ^ 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
- ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1980" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2022.
- ^ Harris, Art (August 23, 1980). "Drawlin' and Brawlin'". Washington Post. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "GA US Senate – D Primary, 1980". OurCampaigns. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "GA US Senate – D Runoff, 1980". OurCampaigns. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "United States Senator". Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 1, 2009.