1980 Democratic National Convention

U.S. political event held in Madison Square Garden in New York City February 2026 February 2026 1980 DNC logo mark 1.jpg 100px 1980 Democratic August 11–14, 1980 DP1980.png 125 DV1976.png 125 NomineesCarter and Mondale Madison Square Garden New York, New York Jimmy Carter of Georgia Walter Mondale of Minnesota 1 3,346 1,674 Ted KennedyAbe BeameGeraldine FerraroBruce SundlunRuth MessingerThomas AddisonEd KochRobert AbramsBella AbzugMario BiaggiSteve WestlyHoward Dean Carter (Georgia): 2,129.02 (63.63%)Kennedy (Massachusetts): 1,150.48 (34.38%)Carey (New York): 16 (0.48%)Proxmire (Wisconsin): 10 (0.30%)Others: 40.5 (1.21%) Mondale (Minnesota): 2,428.7 (72.91%)Not Voting: 723.3 (21.72%)Scattering: 179 (5.37%) 1976 1984 thumb|Madison Square Garden was the site of the 1980 Democratic National Convention thumb|Carter and Mondale stand together during the balloon drop at the end of the convention The 1980 Democratic National Convention nominated President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale for reelection. The convention was held in Madison Square Garden in New York City from August 11 to August 14, 1980. The 1980 convention was notable as it was the last time in the 20th century, for either major party, that a candidate tried to get delegates released from their voting commitments. This was done by Senator Ted Kennedy, Carter's chief rival for the nomination in the Democratic primaries, who sought the votes of delegates held by Carter. Notable speakers After losing his challenge for the nomination earlier that day, Ted Kennedy spoke on August 12 and delivered a speech in support of President Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Kennedy's famous speech eventually closed with the lines: "For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." His speech was written by Bob Shrum.Auletta, Ken. "Kerry's Brain." The New Yorker. 20 Sept. 2004. Various prominent delegates to this convention included Abe Beame, Geraldine Ferraro, Bruce Sundlun, Ruth Messinger, Thomas Addison, Ed Koch, Robert Abrams, Bella Abzug, Mario Biaggi, Steve Westly, and Howard Dean.November 2010 Voting Candidates President Delegate voting resultshttp://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=58484 US President - D Convention Race - Aug 11, 1980 Our Campaigns 2011-01-22 Democratic National Convention presidential vote, 1980CandidateVotesPercentage Jimmy Carter (inc.) 2,123 64.04% Ted Kennedy 1,151 34.72%William Proxmire 10 0.30%Koryne Kaneski Horbal 5 0.15%Scott M. Matheson 5 0.15%Ron Dellums 3 0.09%Robert Byrd 2 0.06%John Culver 2 0.06% Kent Hance 2 0.06%Jennings Randolph 2 0.06%Warren Spannaus 2 0.06%Alice Tripp 2 0.06%Jerry Brown 1 0.03%Dale Bumpers 1 0.03%Hugh L. Carey 1 0.03% Walter Mondale 1 0.03% Edmund Muskie 1 0.03% Thomas J. Steed 1 0.03% Totals 3,315 100.00% Vice president After Ted Kennedy lost the presidential nomination contest, over 700 of his delegates walked out of the convention, and the rest decided to scatter their votes. It took several roll calls to conclude the ballot. As of 2024, this is the last time that the Democratic Party has required a roll call for the vice presidential spot. Vice Presidential tally:Our Campaigns - US Vice President - D Convention Race - Aug 11, 1980 Democratic National Convention Vice presidential vote, 1980CandidateVotespercentage Walter Mondale (inc.) 2,429 72.90% Melvin Boozer 48 1.44% Ed Rendell 28 0.84% Roberto A. Mondragon 19 0.57% Patricia Stone Simon 11 0.33% Tom Daschle (under 35 years old) 10 0.30% Ted Kulongoski 8 0.24% Shirley Chisholm 6 0.18% Terry Chisholm 6 0.18% Barbara Jordan 4 0.12% Richard M. Nolan 4 0.12% Patrick Joseph Lucey 3 0.09% Jerry Brown 2 0.06% George McGovern 2 0.06% Eric Tovar 2 0.06% Mo Udall 2 0.06% Les Aspin 1 0.03% Mario Biaggi 1 0.03% George S. Broody 1 0.03% Michelle Kathleen Gray (under 35 years old) 1 0.03% Michael J. Harrington 1 0.03% Frank Johnson 1 0.03% Eunice Kennedy Shriver 1 0.03% Dennis Krumm 1 0.03% Mary Ann Kuharski 1 0.03% Jim McDermott 1 0.03% Barbara Mikulski 1 0.03% Gaylord Nelson 1 0.03% George Orwell (non-American, deceased) 1 0.03% Charles Prine Sr. 1 0.03% William A. Redmond 1 0.03% Jim Thomas 1 0.03% Elly Uharis 1 0.03% Jim Weaver 1 0.03% William Winpisinger 1 0.03% Abstained/absent 728 21.85% The President's acceptance speech President Carter gave his speech accepting the party's nomination on August 14. This was notable for his gaffe intended to be a tribute to Hubert Humphrey, whom he referred to as "Hubert Horatio Hornblower".Carter Blows the Horn Of the Wrong Horatio The New York Times August 15, 1980 https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/15/archives/carter-blows-the-horn-of-the-wrong-horatio.html On November 4, President Carter and Vice President Mondale lost to Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush in the general election, having lost both the popular election by 8,423,115 votes and the Electoral College by 440 votes.1980 Presidential General Election Results Platform Abortion In addition to its 1976 stance that merely opposed overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1980 platform for the first time explicitly supported the Roe decision as the law of the land. See also 1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries 1980 Republican National Convention 1980 United States presidential election History of the United States Democratic Party List of Democratic National Conventions United States presidential nominating convention Jimmy Carter 1980 presidential campaign References 30em External links Democratic Party Platform of 1980 at The American Presidency Project Carter Nomination Acceptance Speech for President at DNC (transcript) at The American Presidency Project Speech by Melvin Boozer Video of Carter nomination acceptance speech for President at DNC (via YouTube) Video of Mondale nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at DNC (via YouTube) 1976New York, New York Democratic National Conventions 1984San Francisco, California Category:1980 in New York City Category:1980s in Manhattan Democratic Category:August 1980 in the United States 1980 Category:New York State Democratic Committee 1980 Democatic Category:Events at Madison Square Garden Category:Jimmy Carter Category:Walter Mondale Category:Ted Kennedy