akashic
1876–2024
Elections / 1980 · President · MA

Ronald Reagan carried Massachusetts R+0.2.

Jimmy Carter (D) vs Ronald Reagan (R) in Massachusetts, 1980. The state ran 9.6 points more Democratic than the nation (R+9.7 nationally).

Nominees: Jimmy Carter (D) · Ronald Reagan (R)

Massachusetts result
2,524,298 votes counted
Carter (D)
1,053,802
41.7%
Reagan (R)
1,057,631
41.9%
All others
412,865
16.4%
Margin
R+0.2
1980 presidential election
Massachusetts, 1980
1980 presidential margin by county for Massachusetts — 1980 presidential electionA map of the constituent counties of Massachusetts — 1980 presidential election, each outlined and filled by its 1980 presidential margin from deep red (Republican) through neutral to deep blue (Democratic), seated within the faint outlines of the surrounding states.Barnstable County, MA · R+21.3Berkshire County, MA · D+3.5Bristol County, MA · D+3.1Dukes County, MA · D+10.4Essex County, MA · R+4.7Franklin County, MA · R+2.3Hampden County, MA · D+4.4Hampshire County, MA · D+10.8Middlesex County, MA · D+2.2Nantucket County, MA · R+3.8Norfolk County, MA · R+6.2Plymouth County, MA · R+15.5Suffolk County, MA · D+18.6Worcester County, MA · R+1.0
How it voted
Share of the 1980 vote
Ronald Reagan ✓Republican41.9%1,057,631
Jimmy CarterDemocratic41.7%1,053,802
John B. AndersonIndependent16.4%412,865
D+60
R+60
14 counties, each filled by 1980 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Massachusetts's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1980 contest in context
Massachusetts's presidential marginsDemocratic-minus-Republican presidential margin from 1892 to 2024. Most recent: +25.2% in 2024.flipped D · 1988+25.2%DR18922024
Massachusetts's presidential margins
YearMargin (D minus R)
1892−6.6%
1896−43.1%
1900−19.7%
1904−20.7%
1908−24.2%
1912+3.6%
1916−3.9%
1920−40.7%
1924−37.3%
1928+1.1%
1932+4.0%
1936+9.5%
1940+6.7%
1944+5.8%
1948+11.5%
1952−8.8%
1956−18.9%
1960+20.7%
1964+52.7%
1968+30.1%
1972+9.0%
1976+15.7%
1980−0.2%
1984−2.8%
1988+7.9%
1992+18.5%
1996+33.4%
2000+27.3%
2004+25.2%
2008+25.8%
2012+23.1%
2016+26.8%
2020+33.2%
2024+25.2%
County results — 1980
14 counties; every row links to the county's full page.
CountyWonMarginDemocraticRepublicanTotal
Barnstable CountyR
−21.3%
23,95241,49382,273
Berkshire CountyD
+3.5%
29,45827,06368,031
Bristol CountyD
+3.1%
83,46077,545188,605
Dukes CountyD
+10.4%
2,3701,8095,397
Essex CountyR
−4.7%
116,173130,252297,533
Franklin CountyR
−2.3%
11,83012,52830,122
Hampden CountyD
+4.4%
80,36972,528179,720
Hampshire CountyD
+10.8%
27,61121,11760,355
Middlesex CountyD
+2.2%
270,751256,999637,679
Nantucket CountyR
−3.8%
1,0401,1492,838
Norfolk CountyR
−6.2%
117,274136,184303,729
Plymouth CountyR
−15.5%
58,77285,593173,248
Suffolk CountyD
+18.6%
113,41673,271216,207
Worcester CountyR
−1.0%
117,326120,100278,561