1980 United States Senate election in Idaho

United States Senate election in Idaho, 1980

November 4, 1980

Nominee Steve Symms Frank Church Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 218,701 214,439 Percentage 49.7% 48.8%

U.S. senator before election Frank Church Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Steve Symms Republican

The 1980 United States Senate election in Idaho 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 Frank Church ran for re-election to a fifth term, but was defeated by Republican Steve Symms.

Major candidates

Democratic

• Frank Church, incumbent U.S. Senator

Republican

• Steve Symms, U.S. Congressman

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Steve Symms	218,701	49.74%	+7.61%
	Democratic	Frank Church (inc.)	214,439	48.78%	-7.30%
	Libertarian	Larry Fullmer	6,507	1.48%
Majority			4,262	0.97%	-12.96%
Turnout			439,647
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing