Wisconsin — 1980 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1980 Senate electionWisconsin · U.S. SenateJr.R+1.9
How it voted
Share of the 1980 vote
| Robert W. Kasten Jr. ✓Republican | 50.2% | 1,106,311 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaylord A. NelsonDemocrat | 48.3% | 1,065,487 |
| James P. WickstromAmerican Independent | 0.7% | 16,156 |
1980Senate margin
D+60R+60
72 counties, each filled by 1980 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (72 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ADAMS, WI | Republican | R+1.3 |
| ASHLAND, WI | Democratic | D+15.9 |
| BARRON, WI | Democratic | D+6.4 |
| BAYFIELD, WI | Democratic | D+20.7 |
| BROWN, WI | Republican | R+9.6 |
| BUFFALO, WI | Democratic | D+3.6 |
| BURNETT, WI | Democratic | D+23.1 |
| CALUMET, WI | Republican | R+15.5 |
| CHIPPEWA, WI | Democratic | D+7.3 |
| CLARK, WI | Republican | R+12.3 |
| COLUMBIA, WI | Republican | R+6.3 |
| CRAWFORD, WI | Republican | R+0.1 |
| DANE, WI | Democratic | D+34.1 |
| DODGE, WI | Republican | R+29.0 |
| DOOR, WI | Republican | R+15.4 |
| DOUGLAS, WI | Democratic | D+44.1 |
| DUNN, WI | Democratic | D+14.0 |
| EAU CLAIRE, WI | Democratic | D+7.4 |
| FLORENCE, WI | Republican | R+9.8 |
| FOND DU LAC, WI | Republican | R+20.3 |
| FOREST, WI | Democratic | D+7.9 |
| GRANT, WI | Republican | R+16.0 |
| GREEN, WI | Republican | R+11.0 |
| GREEN LAKE, WI | Republican | R+37.6 |
| IOWA, WI | Democratic | D+2.2 |
| IRON, WI | Democratic | D+21.3 |
| JACKSON, WI | Republican | R+6.0 |
| JEFFERSON, WI | Republican | R+20.8 |
| JUNEAU, WI | Republican | R+16.4 |
| KENOSHA, WI | Democratic | D+16.6 |
| KEWAUNEE, WI | Republican | R+13.6 |
| LA CROSSE, WI | Republican | R+7.5 |
| LAFAYETTE, WI | Republican | R+4.5 |
| LANGLADE, WI | Republican | R+18.4 |
| LINCOLN, WI | Republican | R+16.0 |
| MANITOWOC, WI | Republican | R+5.6 |
| MARATHON, WI | Republican | R+14.0 |
| MARINETTE, WI | Republican | R+15.3 |
| MARQUETTE, WI | Republican | R+16.1 |
| MENOMINEE, WI | Democratic | D+47.0 |
| MILWAUKEE, WI | Democratic | D+12.7 |
| MONROE, WI | Republican | R+18.1 |
| OCONTO, WI | Republican | R+18.2 |
| ONEIDA, WI | Republican | R+15.2 |
| OUTAGAMIE, WI | Republican | R+20.5 |
| OZAUKEE, WI | Republican | R+35.2 |
| PEPIN, WI | Democratic | D+13.0 |
| PIERCE, WI | Democratic | D+18.1 |
| POLK, WI | Democratic | D+22.7 |
| PORTAGE, WI | Democratic | D+11.7 |
| PRICE, WI | Republican | R+14.2 |
| RACINE, WI | Republican | R+4.1 |
| RICHLAND, WI | Republican | R+22.8 |
| ROCK, WI | Republican | R+0.9 |
| RUSK, WI | Democratic | D+3.1 |
| SAUK, WI | Republican | R+5.1 |
| SAWYER, WI | Democratic | D+0.5 |
| SHAWANO, WI | Republican | R+26.9 |
| SHEBOYGAN, WI | Republican | R+2.4 |
| ST. CROIX, WI | Democratic | D+20.4 |
| TAYLOR, WI | Republican | R+12.6 |
| TREMPEALEAU, WI | Democratic | D+1.5 |
| VERNON, WI | Republican | R+17.4 |
| VILAS, WI | Republican | R+26.3 |
| WALWORTH, WI | Republican | R+23.2 |
| WASHBURN, WI | Democratic | D+15.3 |
| WASHINGTON, WI | Republican | R+33.9 |
| WAUKESHA, WI | Republican | R+27.9 |
| WAUPACA, WI | Republican | R+32.7 |
| WAUSHARA, WI | Republican | R+32.5 |
| WINNEBAGO, WI | Republican | R+13.5 |
| WOOD, WI | Republican | R+12.6 |
presidential baselinePresident 1980R+4.7Senate 1980R+1.9vs. baselineD+2.9
Wisconsin's 1980 Senate race ran 2.9 points more Democratic than the presidential race on the same ballot.
Wisconsin's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +45.6% |
| 1980 | −1.9% |
| 1982 | +29.5% |
| 1986 | −3.5% |
| 1988 | +4.5% |
| 1992 | +6.6% |
| 1994 | +17.6% |
| 1998 | +2.1% |
| 2000 | +24.5% |
| 2004 | +11.2% |
| 2006 | +37.8% |
| 2010 | −4.8% |
| 2012 | +5.5% |
| 2016 | −3.4% |
| 2018 | +10.8% |
| 2022 | −1.0% |
| 2024 | +0.8% |
Same ballot, 1980WI
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.