1980 United States Senate election in Alabama

1980 United States Senate election in Alabama

November 4, 1980

Nominee Jeremiah Denton Jim Folsom Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 650,363 610,175 Percentage 50.2% 47.1%

County results Denton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Folsom:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Donald Stewart Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Jeremiah Denton Republican

The 1980 United States Senate election in Alabama took place on November 4, 1980, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Donald Stewart decided to run for his second term, but was defeated in the primary by Jim Folsom. In November, Folsom lost the general election to Republican Jeremiah Denton.

Candidates

Democratic

• Jim Folsom, Public Service Commissioner
• Donald Stewart, incumbent U.S. Senator

Republican

• Jeremiah Denton, U.S. Navy veteran
• Armistead I. Selden Jr., former Democratic Representative and Ambassador

Results

1980 United States Senate election in Alabama

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jeremiah Denton	650,362	50.15%
	Democratic	Jim Folsom	610,175	47.05%
	Conservative	Michael R. A. Erdey	15,989	1.23%
	Libertarian	William A. Crew	13,098	1.01%
	National Democrat	Sallie M. Hadnott	2,973	0.23%
	Statesman Party	Jim Partain	2,649	0.20%
	Socialist Workers	Mohammed Oliver	1,511	0.12%
Majority			40,187	3.10%
Turnout			1,296,757
	Republican gain from Democratic

See also

• 1980 United States Senate elections
• Reagan's coattails