1980 United States Senate election in Colorado

1980 United States Senate election in Colorado

November 4, 1980

Nominee Gary Hart Mary Estill Buchanan Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 590,501 571,295 Percentage 50.33% 48.70%

County results Hart:      50–60%      60–70% Bunchanan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election Gary Hart Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Gary Hart Democratic

The 1980 United States Senate election in Colorado was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Gary Hart won re-election to a second term despite Republican nominee Ronald Reagan winning the state over Democratic President Jimmy Carter in the concurrent presidential election. This election was the first time since 1948 that an incumbent Democratic Senator from Colorado was re-elected or won re-election and the first time since 1938 that an incumbent Democratic Senator from Colorado was re-elected or won re-election for this seat.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mary Estill Buchanan, Colorado Secretary of State^[1]
• Bo Callaway, former Secretary of the Army and former U.S. Representative from Georgia^[1]
• John Cogswell, attorney^[1]
• Sam H. Zakhem, former State Senator^[1]

General election

Candidates

• Mary Estill Buchanan, Colorado Secretary of State^[1] (Republican)
• Gary Hart, incumbent Senator since 1975 (Democratic)
• Earl Higgerson (Statesman)
• Henry John Olshaw (Independent American)

General election results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Gary Hart (inc.)	590,501	50.33%	−6.90%
	Republican	Mary Estill Buchanan	571,295	48.70%	+9.20%
	Statesman	Earl Higgerson	7,265	0.62%
	Independent American	Henry John Olshaw	4,081	0.35%
Majority			19,206	1.64%	−16.10%
Turnout			1,173,142
	Democratic hold		Swing

See also

• 1980 United States Senate elections

References

1. Luning, Ernest (September 19, 2015). "Buchanan gives 'em hell, wins Senate primary; Romer blasts Allott vote on anti-billboard bill". Colorado Politics. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
2. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1980" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2022.