The 1980 United States Senate election in Nevada was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent
Republican U.S. Senator
Paul Laxalt won re-election to a second term. As of 2024, this is the last time that the Republicans have won the Class 3 Senate seat from Nevada. 42 years later Laxalt's grandson and former
Nevada Attorney GeneralAdam Laxalt would run to take this senate seat in
2022, but narrowly lost to incumbent Democrat
Catherine Cortez Masto.
Major candidates
Democratic
Mary Gojack, former State Senator (1974–1978) and former State Assemblywoman (1972–1974)[1]
Republican
Paul Laxalt, incumbent U.S. Senator since 1974 and former
Governor (1967–1971)