1980 United States Senate election in North Carolina

← 1974 November 4, 1980 1986 →

Nominee John East Robert Morgan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 898,064 887,653 Percentage 49.96% 49.38%

County results Congressional district results East:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Morgan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Robert Morgan Democratic Elected U.S. Senator John East Republican

Elections in North Carolina
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State executive Gubernatorial elections 1866 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Lieutenant Governor elections 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Attorney General elections 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Council of State elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Secretary of State elections 1940 1944 2024
State legislature State Senate elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 State House elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
State judiciary Judicial elections 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
Ballot measures 2012 Amendment 1
Mayoral elections Charlotte mayoral elections 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 Cary mayoral elections 2011 2015 2019 Durham mayoral elections 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 Fayetteville mayoral elections 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 Greensboro mayoral elections 2011 2013 2015 2017 Raleigh mayoral elections 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2022 2024 Winston-Salem mayoral elections 1997 2001 2005 2009 2013 2016 2020

The 1980 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 4, 1980, as part of the nationwide elections to the Senate. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Robert Morgan ran for reelection to a second term, but narrowly lost to Republican John East.

This was the first time Republicans won this seat since 1897, and the inauguration of John East marked the first time since 1871 that they held both Senate seats simultaneously.

Primaries[edit]

Democratic[edit]

Robert Morgan was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Republican[edit]

John East was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

General election[edit]

Candidates[edit]

• John East (R), Professor at East Carolina University
• Robert Morgan (D), incumbent U.S. Senator

Results[edit]

See also[edit]

• 1980 United States Senate elections

References[edit]