California — 1980 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1980 Senate electionCalifornia · U.S. SenateCranstonD+19.4
How it voted
Share of the 1980 vote
| Alan Cranston ✓Democrat | 56.5% | 4,704,098 |
|---|---|---|
| Paul GannRepublican | 37.1% | 3,091,671 |
| David BerglandLibertarian | 2.4% | 202,410 |
1980Senate margin
D+60R+60
58 counties, each filled by 1980 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (58 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ALAMEDA, CA | Democratic | D+40.2 |
| ALPINE, CA | Democratic | D+16.1 |
| AMADOR, CA | Democratic | D+5.1 |
| BUTTE, CA | Democratic | D+5.2 |
| CALAVERAS, CA | Democratic | D+2.3 |
| COLUSA, CA | Democratic | D+22.2 |
| CONTRA COSTA, CA | Democratic | D+26.4 |
| DEL NORTE, CA | Democratic | D+13.6 |
| EL DORADO, CA | Republican | R+0.1 |
| FRESNO, CA | Democratic | D+25.7 |
| GLENN, CA | Democratic | D+5.6 |
| HUMBOLDT, CA | Democratic | D+25.3 |
| IMPERIAL, CA | Democratic | D+25.6 |
| INYO, CA | Republican | R+12.6 |
| KERN, CA | Democratic | D+18.2 |
| KINGS, CA | Democratic | D+23.8 |
| LAKE, CA | Democratic | D+13.2 |
| LASSEN, CA | Democratic | D+17.3 |
| LOS ANGELES, CA | Democratic | D+19.2 |
| MADERA, CA | Democratic | D+22.3 |
| MARIN, CA | Democratic | D+35.3 |
| MARIPOSA, CA | Democratic | D+12.9 |
| MENDOCINO, CA | Democratic | D+24.3 |
| MERCED, CA | Democratic | D+28.1 |
| MODOC, CA | Republican | R+1.6 |
| MONO, CA | Republican | R+4.5 |
| MONTEREY, CA | Democratic | D+29.9 |
| NAPA, CA | Democratic | D+19.6 |
| NEVADA, CA | Republican | R+7.3 |
| ORANGE, CA | Republican | R+5.9 |
| PLACER, CA | Democratic | D+6.9 |
| PLUMAS, CA | Democratic | D+9.0 |
| RIVERSIDE, CA | Democratic | D+7.4 |
| SACRAMENTO, CA | Democratic | D+21.5 |
| SAN BENITO, CA | Democratic | D+37.9 |
| SAN BERNARDINO, CA | Democratic | D+7.4 |
| SAN DIEGO, CA | Democratic | D+14.2 |
| SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Democratic | D+56.9 |
| SAN JOAQUIN, CA | Democratic | D+14.9 |
| SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | Democratic | D+22.3 |
| SAN MATEO, CA | Democratic | D+36.5 |
| SANTA BARBARA, CA | Democratic | D+23.2 |
| SANTA CLARA, CA | Democratic | D+28.2 |
| SANTA CRUZ, CA | Democratic | D+36.8 |
| SHASTA, CA | Democratic | D+22.1 |
| SIERRA, CA | Democratic | D+18.5 |
| SISKIYOU, CA | Democratic | D+16.9 |
| SOLANO, CA | Democratic | D+24.0 |
| SONOMA, CA | Democratic | D+29.6 |
| STANISLAUS, CA | Democratic | D+19.6 |
| SUTTER, CA | Republican | R+0.9 |
| TEHAMA, CA | Democratic | D+16.6 |
| TRINITY, CA | Democratic | D+17.0 |
| TULARE, CA | Democratic | D+16.0 |
| TUOLUMNE, CA | Democratic | D+11.6 |
| VENTURA, CA | Democratic | D+3.6 |
| YOLO, CA | Democratic | D+36.1 |
| YUBA, CA | Democratic | D+6.2 |
presidential baselinePresident 1980R+16.8Senate 1980D+19.4vs. baselineD+36.2
California's 1980 Senate race ran 36.2 points more Democratic than the presidential race on the same ballot.
California's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | −3.3% |
| 1980 | +19.4% |
| 1982 | −6.8% |
| 1986 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | −8.8% |
| 1992 | +4.9% |
| 1994 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | +10.0% |
| 2000 | +19.3% |
| 2004 | +19.9% |
| 2006 | +24.4% |
| 2010 | +10.0% |
| 2012 | +25.0% |
| 2016 | +100.0% |
| 2018 | +100.0% |
| 2022 | +22.1% |
| 2024 | +17.7% |
Same ballot, 1980CA
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1980 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.