1980 United States Senate election in Washington
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1980 United States Senate election in Washington
| country = Washington
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1974 United States Senate election in Washington
| previous_year = 1974
| next_election = 1986 United States Senate election in Washington
| next_year = 1986
| election_date = November 4, 1980
| image_size = x150px
| image1 = File:Slade Gorton.jpg
| nominee1 = Slade Gorton
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 936,317
| percentage1 = 54.17%
| image2 = Elder Warren Magnuson (Cropped).png
| nominee2 = Warren Magnuson
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 792,052
| percentage2 = 45.83%
| map_image = 1980 United States Senate election in Washington results map by county.svg
| map_size = 275px
| map_caption = County results
Gorton: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
Magnuson: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}}
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = Warren Magnuson
| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)
| after_election = Slade Gorton
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{ElectionsWA}}
The 1980 United States Senate election in Washington was held on November 4, 1980. Longtime incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson, the Senate President pro tempore, ran for a seventh term in office but lost re-election to Republican State Attorney General Slade Gorton. Magnuson was the most senior U.S. senator{{citation|url=https://www.senate.gov/senators/longest_serving_senators.htm|title=Longest serving U.S. Senators}} to lose re-election until Ted Stevens' defeat in 2008. Gorton was one of the dozen Republicans who beat Democrats to seize control of the Senate fueled by Ronald Reagan's landslide victory. This was the only time since 1926 that Republicans won Washington's Class 3 Senate seat and after losing re-election to this seat in 1986, Gorton later won Washington's other Senate seat in 1988 and 1994 before losing re-election again in 2000. This was the first time since 1926 that Republicans won the Class 3 Senate seat in Washington.
Background
Heading into the 1980 election cycle, Magnuson entered the campaign with certain advantages. One such advantage was his seniority, a theme he ran heavily on in his 1974 campaign.{{Cite book |last=Harper |first=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fHlUAAAAIBAJ&dq=magnuson+appropriations+chair&pg=PA6&article_id=6962,3748544 |title=Magnuson Plans Career Based on Senate Career |publisher=Ellensburg Daily Record |date=July 3, 1974 |location=Spokane, Washington |pages=6 |language=en}} In the following years, his status grew, with him becoming head of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee upon the death of its chairman John L. McClellan. Furthermore, Magnuson had not faced a close contest since 1962, and heading into the election, Magnuson was largely seen as the favorite.{{Cite book |last=Broder |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JvZNAAAAIBAJ&dq=magnuson+re-election+1980+favorite&pg=PA3&article_id=4994,799103 |title=Clouds of Doubt Hang Over Northwest States |publisher=The Free Lance Star |date=November 6, 1979 |location=Bellingham, Washington |pages=4 |language=en}} However, the national environment of 1980 heavily favored Republicans, meaning many seats were set to be vulnerable.{{Cite book |last=Hart |first=Jeffrey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zgxdAAAAIBAJ&dq=republicans+senate+1980&pg=PA6&article_id=2701,1199304 |title=Dramatic Senate shift possible |publisher=St. Joseph Gazette |date=March 14, 1979 |location=St. Joseph, Missouri |pages=6 |language=en}}
Magnuson's challenger was Slade Gorton, the three-term incumbent Attorney General of Washington. Before that, he was a State Representative who rose to become Majority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives. Gorton was Magnuson's first challenger to hold a statewide office since 1956 when he faced former Governor Arthur B. Langlie. However, Magnuson was still a fixture of Washington state politics, and Gorton faced long odds.
Blanket primary
= Candidates =
== Democratic ==
- Warren Magnuson, incumbent U.S. Senator
- James Sherwood Stokes
- John "Hugo Frye" Patric, writer
== Republican ==
- Slade Gorton, State Attorney General
- Lloyd E. Cooney, former KIRO-TV commentator
- William McCallum
== Libertarian ==
- Richard K. Kenney
While Magnuson only faced token Democratic opposition, Gorton was met with shock resistance from a last-minute primary challenge from TV commentator Lloyd E. Cooney. Cooney was a more conservative candidate, and challenged Gorton for his moderate stances, questioning his support for Ronald Reagan and claiming he wouldn't be able to defeat Magnuson. Gorton shook off these claims and believed Cooney's challenge could only help him.{{Cite book |last=Bonino |first=Rick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I1VOAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+cooney+1980&pg=PA30&article_id=7242,1732607 |title=Cooney slams Magnuson, Gorton |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=June 20, 1980 |location=Spokane, Washington |pages=9 |language=en}} However, Cooney was seen by many in Washington state as a formidable challenger, who could have beaten Gorton, owing to recognition from TV.{{Cite book |last=Forrester |first=Steve |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1PdVAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+odds&pg=PA8&article_id=4577,3468246 |title=Mt. St. Helen gives 'Maggie' boost |publisher=Eugene Register-Guard |date=June 13, 1980 |pages=13A |language=en}} Despite this, Gorton beat Cooney and received his endorsement against Magnuson.{{Cite book |last=Sallquist |first=Bill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sUFYAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+primary&pg=PA34&article_id=5330,5686360 |title=Gorton 'figures' to beat Maggie |publisher=Spokane Daily Chronicle |date=September 19, 1980 |location=Spokane, Washington |pages=5 |language=en}}
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Blanket primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Warren Magnuson (incumbent)
| votes = 348,471
| percentage = 36.58%
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Slade Gorton
| votes = 313,560
| percentage = 32.91%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Lloyd E. Cooney
| votes = 229,178
| percentage = 24.05%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = James Sherwood Stokes
| votes = 18,348
| percentage = 1.93%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = William McCallum
| votes = 13,736
| percentage = 1.44%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = John Patric
| votes = 10,157
| percentage = 1.07%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate = Richard K. Kenney
| votes = 7,951
| percentage = 0.84%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 941,401
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
= Candidates =
- Warren Magnuson (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
- Slade Gorton (R), State Attorney General
= Campaign =
Magnuson's showing in the primary had been considered by some to be weak, with Gorton pointing out that he failed to get a majority. It had become increasingly clear that the election was not going to be an easy one for Magnuson. Nevertheless, he was still the favorite by virtue of leading in polls, sometimes by as much as 11 points, and leading heavily in fundraising.{{Cite book |last=Klass |first=Tim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4UFYAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+poll&pg=PA4&article_id=3896,2635181 |title=Maggie still ahead in close campaign |publisher=Spokane Daily Chronicle |date=October 24, 1980 |pages=6 |language=en}} Magnuson generally tried to avoid mentioning Gorton, refusing to debate him, and centered his campaign on the theme of his seniority and power.{{Cite book |last=Schultz |first=Gordon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JKErAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+poll&pg=PA12&article_id=7070,2292106 |title=Magnuson fights to keep Senate seat |publisher=The Telegraph |date=October 11, 1980 |pages=23 |language=en}} An example of this was when the Mount St. Helens eruption happened, which gave Magnuson an opportunity to display his appropriations prowess in constructing a bill.{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Robert L. |date=1980-07-08 |title=Gorton: volcano helped Maggie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AfhLAAAAIBAJ&dq=warren+magnuson+mount+st+helen&pg=PA5&article_id=5032,2833455 |access-date=2024-03-03 |work=The Spokesman-Review |pages=8}}
Gorton tried to counteract this by focusing his campaign on the issues of inflation and energy. Notably, he took the issues to turn Magnuson's seniority against him, blaming the nation's inflation on him.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5UFYAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+primary&pg=PA21&article_id=6938,4085199 |title=Senate: Age vs. experience |publisher=Spokane Daily Chronicle |date=October 30, 1980 |pages=41 |language=en}} Moreover, Gorton ran a vigorous and aggressive campaign, which stood in contrast to the more senior Magnuson.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IbcyAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+victory+magnuson&pg=PA6&article_id=6707,3438599 |title=The man who toppled Maggie |publisher=Ellensburg Daily Record |date=November 6, 1980 |language=en}} Age, while not a major campaign issue, became a subtle undercurrent, with Gorton ads and newspaper stories about Magnuson's health drawing attention to the age difference between the two candidates.{{Cite book |last=Dewar |first=Helen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RHtfAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+challenge+magnuson&pg=PA86&article_id=2880,4763162 |title=The age question |publisher=Lewiston Morning Tribune |date=October 27, 1980 |pages=20 |language=en}}
Despite Magnuson's advantages at the start of the race, the closing days of the race saw it grow closer. A late poll showed Gorton leading Magnuson, a reversal of trends showing Gorton far behind.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BE9OAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton++magnuson+underdog&pg=PA19&article_id=5160,1882842 |title=Poll predicts turnaround |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=November 4, 1980 |location=Spokane, Washington |pages=6 |language=en}} Gorton defeated Magnuson in an upset, for which a large factor was due Ronald Reagan's sizable victory over Jimmy Carter in that year's presidential race.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W61fAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+victory+magnuson&pg=PA33&article_id=5255,2620966 |title=Reagan leads Republicans to impressive lead in Washington |publisher=Lewiston Morning Tribune |date=November 6, 1980 |pages=7c |language=en}} The coattails of Reagan's victory, in general, allowed strong Republican performances in Washington and other states nationwide.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wq1fAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+victory+magnuson&pg=PA1&article_id=4879,1840444 |title=Reagan leads GOP landslide Symms, Gorton, Spellman win |publisher=Lewiston Morning Tribune |date=November 5, 1980 |pages=1 |language=en}}
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change | title=General election results{{Cite web|url=http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=33&c=&c2=&t=&t2=&p=&p2=&y=|title = Election Search Results - Elections & Voting - WA Secretary of State}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Washington Republican Party
| candidate = Slade Gorton
| votes = 936,317
| percentage = 54.17%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Washington Democratic Party
| candidate = Warren Magnuson (incumbent)
| votes = 792,052
| percentage = 45.83%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,728,369
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| loser = Democratic Party (United States)
| swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{United States elections, 1980}}
{{Washington elections}}