Elections / 1980 · President · VA
Virginia — 1980 presidential election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1980 presidential electionVirginia · PresidentReaganR+12.7
How it voted
Share of the 1980 vote
| Ronald Reagan ✓Republican | 53.0% | 989,609 |
|---|---|---|
| Jimmy CarterDemocratic | 40.3% | 752,174 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 6.7% | 124,249 |
1980presidential margin
D+60R+60
133 counties, each filled by 1980 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Virginia cast 12 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (133 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Accomack County, VA | Republican | R+4.7 |
| Albemarle County, VA | Republican | R+16.0 |
| Alexandria city, VA | Republican | R+1.8 |
| Alleghany County, VA | Republican | R+5.6 |
| Amelia County, VA | Republican | R+8.8 |
| Amherst County, VA | Republican | R+18.2 |
| Appomattox County, VA | Republican | R+25.0 |
| Arlington County, VA | Republican | R+6.5 |
| Augusta County, VA | Republican | R+33.9 |
| Bath County, VA | Democratic | D+3.9 |
| Bedford County, VA | Republican | R+13.2 |
| Bland County, VA | Republican | R+11.8 |
| Botetourt County, VA | Republican | R+8.3 |
| Bristol city, VA | Republican | R+8.3 |
| Brunswick County, VA | Democratic | D+19.1 |
| Buchanan County, VA | Democratic | D+11.4 |
| Buckingham County, VA | Democratic | D+1.8 |
| Buena Vista city, VA | Democratic | D+4.3 |
| Campbell County, VA | Republican | R+34.8 |
| Caroline County, VA | Democratic | D+16.6 |
| Carroll County, VA | Republican | R+25.6 |
| Charles City County, VA | Democratic | D+49.6 |
| Charlotte County, VA | Republican | R+4.7 |
| Charlottesville city, VA | Democratic | D+6.6 |
| Chesapeake city, VA | Republican | R+2.0 |
| Chesterfield County, VA | Republican | R+46.3 |
| Clarke County, VA | Republican | R+22.0 |
| Colonial Heights city, VA | Republican | R+47.0 |
| Covington city, VA | Democratic | D+19.9 |
| Craig County, VA | Democratic | D+10.0 |
| Culpeper County, VA | Republican | R+24.7 |
| Cumberland County, VA | Republican | R+5.3 |
| Danville city, VA | Republican | R+26.1 |
| Dickenson County, VA | Democratic | D+6.1 |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | Democratic | D+1.5 |
| Emporia city, VA | Republican | R+7.0 |
| Essex County, VA | Republican | R+10.1 |
| Fairfax city, VA | Republican | R+23.3 |
| Fairfax County, VA | Republican | R+26.7 |
| Falls Church city, VA | Republican | R+16.4 |
| Fauquier County, VA | Republican | R+22.8 |
| Floyd County, VA | Republican | R+18.6 |
| Fluvanna County, VA | Republican | R+5.7 |
| Franklin city, VA | Democratic | D+11.4 |
| Franklin County, VA | Democratic | D+6.2 |
| Frederick County, VA | Republican | R+40.3 |
| Fredericksburg city, VA | Republican | R+6.6 |
| Galax city, VA | Republican | R+5.5 |
| Giles County, VA | Democratic | D+9.4 |
| Gloucester County, VA | Republican | R+14.2 |
| Goochland County, VA | Republican | R+2.7 |
| Grayson County, VA | Republican | R+9.5 |
| Greene County, VA | Republican | R+27.6 |
| Greensville County, VA | Democratic | D+14.7 |
| Halifax County, VA | Republican | R+2.3 |
| Hampton city, VA | Democratic | D+4.0 |
| Hanover County, VA | Republican | R+43.6 |
| Harrisonburg city, VA | Republican | R+25.7 |
| Henrico County, VA | Republican | R+39.0 |
| Henry County, VA | Democratic | D+3.0 |
| Highland County, VA | Republican | R+20.7 |
| Hopewell city, VA | Republican | R+16.8 |
| Isle of Wight County, VA | Democratic | D+5.5 |
| James City County, VA | Republican | R+15.2 |
| King and Queen County, VA | Democratic | D+8.3 |
| King George County, VA | Republican | R+14.0 |
| King William County, VA | Republican | R+16.4 |
| Lancaster County, VA | Republican | R+26.6 |
| Lee County, VA | Democratic | D+3.6 |
| Lexington city, VA | Democratic | D+0.3 |
| Loudoun County, VA | Republican | R+26.3 |
| Louisa County, VA | Democratic | D+3.1 |
| Lunenburg County, VA | Republican | R+2.1 |
| Lynchburg city, VA | Republican | R+30.6 |
| Madison County, VA | Republican | R+17.3 |
| Manassas city, VA | Republican | R+29.2 |
| Manassas Park city, VA | Republican | R+22.5 |
| Martinsville city, VA | Republican | R+1.4 |
| Mathews County, VA | Republican | R+24.3 |
| Mecklenburg County, VA | Republican | R+11.9 |
| Middlesex County, VA | Republican | R+12.4 |
| Montgomery County, VA | Republican | R+4.4 |
| Nelson County, VA | Democratic | D+12.1 |
| New Kent County, VA | Republican | R+17.6 |
| Newport News city, VA | Republican | R+0.8 |
| Norfolk city, VA | Democratic | D+11.3 |
| Northampton County, VA | Democratic | D+4.2 |
| Northumberland County, VA | Republican | R+24.2 |
| Norton city, VA | Democratic | D+13.6 |
| Nottoway County, VA | Republican | R+3.9 |
| Orange County, VA | Republican | R+15.6 |
| Page County, VA | Republican | R+23.7 |
| Patrick County, VA | Republican | R+17.2 |
| Petersburg city, VA | Democratic | D+22.1 |
| Pittsylvania County, VA | Republican | R+21.5 |
| Poquoson city, VA | Republican | R+43.0 |
| Portsmouth city, VA | Democratic | D+20.1 |
| Powhatan County, VA | Republican | R+31.7 |
| Prince Edward County, VA | Republican | R+3.9 |
| Prince George County, VA | Republican | R+18.3 |
| Prince William County, VA | Republican | R+26.3 |
| Pulaski County, VA | Democratic | D+0.2 |
| Radford city, VA | Democratic | D+5.8 |
| Rappahannock County, VA | Republican | R+5.2 |
| Richmond city, VA | Democratic | D+15.3 |
| Richmond County, VA | Republican | R+28.6 |
| Roanoke city, VA | Democratic | D+8.5 |
| Roanoke County, VA | Republican | R+16.4 |
| Rockbridge County, VA | Republican | R+5.4 |
| Rockingham County, VA | Republican | R+34.2 |
| Russell County, VA | Democratic | D+9.1 |
| Salem city, VA | Republican | R+8.2 |
| Scott County, VA | Republican | R+4.6 |
| Shenandoah County, VA | Republican | R+39.1 |
| Smyth County, VA | Republican | R+5.9 |
| Southampton County, VA | Democratic | D+5.3 |
| Spotsylvania County, VA | Republican | R+13.5 |
| Stafford County, VA | Republican | R+24.0 |
| Staunton city, VA | Republican | R+27.3 |
| Suffolk city, VA | Democratic | D+11.2 |
| Surry County, VA | Democratic | D+28.1 |
| Sussex County, VA | Democratic | D+18.3 |
| Tazewell County, VA | Republican | R+0.1 |
| Virginia Beach city, VA | Republican | R+29.1 |
| Warren County, VA | Republican | R+18.3 |
| Washington County, VA | Republican | R+12.9 |
| Waynesboro city, VA | Republican | R+29.6 |
| Westmoreland County, VA | Republican | R+4.8 |
| Williamsburg city, VA | Republican | R+4.9 |
| Winchester city, VA | Republican | R+33.7 |
| Wise County, VA | Democratic | D+7.7 |
| Wythe County, VA | Republican | R+12.3 |
| York County, VA | Republican | R+18.2 |
complete certified result
Virginia candidate results
Top three shown first · expand for every reported candidate and write-in category
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab — U.S. President 1976–2024 state candidate returns
Nominees: Jimmy Carter (D) · Ronald Reagan (R)
Virginia's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1980 contest in context
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | +17.5% |
| 1896 | +6.6% |
| 1900 | +11.5% |
| 1904 | +24.8% |
| 1908 | +22.2% |
| 1912 | +48.9% |
| 1916 | +34.7% |
| 1920 | +23.5% |
| 1924 | +29.7% |
| 1928 | −8.0% |
| 1932 | +38.4% |
| 1936 | +40.8% |
| 1940 | +36.5% |
| 1944 | +25.0% |
| 1948 | +6.8% |
| 1952 | −13.0% |
| 1956 | −17.0% |
| 1960 | −5.4% |
| 1964 | +7.1% |
| 1968 | −10.9% |
| 1972 | −37.7% |
| 1976 | −1.3% |
| 1980 | −12.7% |
| 1984 | −25.2% |
| 1988 | −20.5% |
| 1992 | −4.4% |
| 1996 | −2.0% |
| 2000 | −8.1% |
| 2004 | −8.2% |
| 2008 | +6.3% |
| 2012 | +3.9% |
| 2016 | +5.3% |
| 2020 | +10.1% |
| 2024 | +5.8% |
County-by-county results — 133 counties
| County | Won | Margin | Democratic | Republican | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accomack County | R | 4,872 | 5,371 | 10,698 | |
| Albemarle County | R | 7,293 | 10,424 | 19,582 | |
| Alexandria city | R | 17,134 | 17,865 | 40,388 | |
| Alleghany County | R | 3,382 | 3,800 | 7,405 | |
| Amelia County | R | 1,643 | 1,969 | 3,701 | |
| Amherst County | R | 3,476 | 5,088 | 8,840 | |
| Appomattox County | R | 1,492 | 2,548 | 4,217 | |
| Arlington County | R | 26,502 | 30,854 | 66,861 | |
| Augusta County | R | 5,202 | 11,011 | 17,120 | |
| Bath County | D | 999 | 921 | 2,007 | |
| Bedford County | R | 5,870 | 7,753 | 14,263 | |
| Bland County | R | 1,002 | 1,278 | 2,345 | |
| Botetourt County | R | 3,698 | 4,408 | 8,602 | |
| Bristol city | R | 2,889 | 3,432 | 6,515 | |
| Brunswick County | D | 3,430 | 2,310 | 5,864 | |
| Buchanan County | D | 5,768 | 4,554 | 10,629 | |
| Buckingham County | D | 1,933 | 1,864 | 3,923 | |
| Buena Vista city | D | 1,031 | 942 | 2,089 | |
| Campbell County | R | 4,473 | 9,592 | 14,721 | |
| Caroline County | D | 2,924 | 2,071 | 5,154 | |
| Carroll County | R | 3,437 | 5,905 | 9,634 | |
| Charles City County | D | 1,564 | 506 | 2,131 | |
| Charlotte County | R | 2,108 | 2,322 | 4,530 | |
| Charlottesville city | D | 6,866 | 5,907 | 14,562 | |
| Chesapeake city | R | 17,155 | 17,888 | 36,904 | |
| Chesterfield County | R | 13,060 | 37,908 | 53,613 | |
| Clarke County | R | 1,156 | 1,876 | 3,266 | |
| Colonial Heights city | R | 1,692 | 5,012 | 7,063 | |
| Covington city | D | 1,813 | 1,187 | 3,150 | |
| Craig County | D | 946 | 768 | 1,779 | |
| Culpeper County | R | 2,519 | 4,312 | 7,255 | |
| Cumberland County | R | 1,355 | 1,515 | 3,024 | |
| Danville city | R | 6,138 | 10,665 | 17,362 | |
| Dickenson County | D | 4,177 | 3,687 | 7,995 | |
| Dinwiddie County | D | 3,475 | 3,369 | 7,018 | |
| Emporia city | R | 855 | 988 | 1,902 | |
| Essex County | R | 1,280 | 1,581 | 2,987 | |
| Fairfax city | R | 2,614 | 4,475 | 8,004 | |
| Fairfax County | R | 73,734 | 137,620 | 239,705 | |
| Falls Church city | R | 1,703 | 2,485 | 4,758 | |
| Fauquier County | R | 4,119 | 6,782 | 11,670 | |
| Floyd County | R | 1,642 | 2,447 | 4,323 | |
| Fluvanna County | R | 1,424 | 1,605 | 3,184 | |
| Franklin city | D | 1,324 | 1,045 | 2,456 | |
| Franklin County | D | 5,685 | 4,993 | 11,090 | |
| Frederick County | R | 2,948 | 7,293 | 10,787 | |
| Fredericksburg city | R | 2,174 | 2,502 | 4,968 | |
| Galax city | R | 1,061 | 1,188 | 2,293 | |
| Giles County | D | 3,627 | 2,978 | 6,940 | |
| Gloucester County | R | 3,138 | 4,261 | 7,897 | |
| Goochland County | R | 2,290 | 2,423 | 4,877 | |
| Grayson County | R | 2,875 | 3,494 | 6,547 | |
| Greene County | R | 925 | 1,702 | 2,811 | |
| Greensville County | D | 2,142 | 1,583 | 3,800 | |
| Halifax County | R | 5,540 | 5,804 | 11,661 | |
| Hampton city | D | 18,517 | 17,023 | 37,765 | |
| Hanover County | R | 5,383 | 14,262 | 20,368 | |
| Harrisonburg city | R | 1,896 | 3,388 | 5,796 | |
| Henrico County | R | 21,023 | 50,505 | 75,551 | |
| Henry County | D | 8,800 | 8,258 | 17,783 | |
| Highland County | R | 487 | 751 | 1,278 | |
| Hopewell city | R | 3,102 | 4,423 | 7,872 | |
| Isle of Wight County | D | 3,951 | 3,526 | 7,784 | |
| James City County | R | 3,068 | 4,289 | 8,048 | |
| King and Queen County | D | 1,128 | 949 | 2,150 | |
| King George County | R | 1,318 | 1,784 | 3,332 | |
| King William County | R | 1,446 | 2,036 | 3,601 | |
| Lancaster County | R | 1,567 | 2,780 | 4,557 | |
| Lee County | D | 4,758 | 4,417 | 9,377 | |
| Lexington city | D | 963 | 956 | 2,083 | |
| Loudoun County | R | 6,694 | 12,076 | 20,492 | |
| Louisa County | D | 2,809 | 2,633 | 5,706 | |
| Lunenburg County | R | 1,958 | 2,045 | 4,136 | |
| Lynchburg city | R | 7,783 | 15,245 | 24,417 | |
| Madison County | R | 1,351 | 1,959 | 3,521 | |
| Manassas city | R | 1,565 | 3,009 | 4,952 | |
| Manassas Park city | R | 447 | 729 | 1,254 | |
| Martinsville city | R | 3,337 | 3,433 | 7,032 | |
| Mathews County | R | 1,300 | 2,204 | 3,716 | |
| Mecklenburg County | R | 3,790 | 4,853 | 8,913 | |
| Middlesex County | R | 1,395 | 1,810 | 3,344 | |
| Montgomery County | R | 7,455 | 8,222 | 17,344 | |
| Nelson County | D | 2,410 | 1,866 | 4,496 | |
| New Kent County | R | 1,204 | 1,739 | 3,035 | |
| Newport News city | R | 22,066 | 22,423 | 46,982 | |
| Norfolk city | D | 35,118 | 27,506 | 67,200 | |
| Northampton County | D | 2,363 | 2,165 | 4,743 | |
| Northumberland County | R | 1,551 | 2,598 | 4,330 | |
| Norton city | D | 762 | 572 | 1,400 | |
| Nottoway County | R | 2,593 | 2,813 | 5,611 | |
| Orange County | R | 2,420 | 3,381 | 6,158 | |
| Page County | R | 2,607 | 4,297 | 7,138 | |
| Patrick County | R | 2,382 | 3,436 | 6,123 | |
| Petersburg city | D | 7,931 | 5,001 | 13,277 | |
| Pittsylvania County | R | 7,653 | 12,022 | 20,280 | |
| Poquoson city | R | 877 | 2,338 | 3,399 | |
| Portsmouth city | D | 20,900 | 13,660 | 35,949 | |
| Powhatan County | R | 1,484 | 2,933 | 4,570 | |
| Prince Edward County | R | 2,553 | 2,774 | 5,598 | |
| Prince George County | R | 2,310 | 3,389 | 5,888 | |
| Prince William County | R | 12,787 | 23,061 | 39,119 | |
| Pulaski County | D | 5,769 | 5,747 | 12,040 | |
| Radford city | D | 2,225 | 1,964 | 4,463 | |
| Rappahannock County | R | 1,055 | 1,179 | 2,367 | |
| Richmond city | D | 47,975 | 34,629 | 87,106 | |
| Richmond County | R | 854 | 1,567 | 2,495 | |
| Roanoke city | D | 18,139 | 15,164 | 34,946 | |
| Roanoke County | R | 12,114 | 17,182 | 30,814 | |
| Rockbridge County | R | 2,475 | 2,784 | 5,677 | |
| Rockingham County | R | 5,294 | 11,397 | 17,859 | |
| Russell County | D | 5,764 | 4,778 | 10,874 | |
| Salem city | R | 4,091 | 4,862 | 9,389 | |
| Scott County | R | 4,314 | 4,744 | 9,387 | |
| Shenandoah County | R | 3,137 | 7,517 | 11,203 | |
| Smyth County | R | 5,335 | 6,033 | 11,861 | |
| Southampton County | D | 3,347 | 2,997 | 6,587 | |
| Spotsylvania County | R | 4,039 | 5,385 | 10,005 | |
| Stafford County | R | 4,211 | 7,106 | 12,075 | |
| Staunton city | R | 2,658 | 4,819 | 7,927 | |
| Suffolk city | D | 9,064 | 7,179 | 16,765 | |
| Surry County | D | 1,756 | 962 | 2,821 | |
| Sussex County | D | 2,447 | 1,664 | 4,273 | |
| Tazewell County | R | 7,003 | 7,021 | 14,425 | |
| Virginia Beach city | R | 24,895 | 47,936 | 79,235 | |
| Warren County | R | 2,597 | 3,861 | 6,920 | |
| Washington County | R | 6,390 | 8,402 | 15,597 | |
| Waynesboro city | R | 1,926 | 3,697 | 5,978 | |
| Westmoreland County | R | 2,271 | 2,510 | 4,989 | |
| Williamsburg city | R | 1,199 | 1,344 | 2,953 | |
| Winchester city | R | 2,006 | 4,240 | 6,623 | |
| Wise County | D | 6,779 | 5,767 | 13,141 | |
| Wythe County | R | 3,677 | 4,758 | 8,766 | |
| York County | R | 4,532 | 6,744 | 12,133 |
Same ballot, 1980VA
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1980 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.