1980 United States Senate election in Washington

none March 2026 September 2023 1980 United States Senate election in Washington Washington presidential no 1974 United States Senate election in Washington 1974 1986 United States Senate election in Washington 1986 November 4, 1980 150x150px File:Slade Gorton.jpg Slade Gorton Republican Party (United States) 936,317 54.17% Elder Warren Magnuson (Cropped).png Warren Magnuson Democratic Party (United States) 792,052 45.83% 1980 United States Senate election in Washington results map by county.svg 275px County resultsGorton: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Magnuson: #7996e2 50–60% U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson Democratic Party (United States) Slade Gorton Republican Party (United States) 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. senatorhttps://www.senate.gov/senators/longest_serving_senators.htm 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. As of 2026, 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. 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.Harper Robert https://books.google.com/books?id=fHlUAAAAIBAJ&dq=magnuson+appropriations+chair&pg=PA6&article_id=6962,3748544 Magnuson Plans Career Based on Senate Career Ellensburg Daily Record July 3, 1974 Spokane, Washington 6 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.Broder David https://books.google.com/books?id=JvZNAAAAIBAJ&dq=magnuson+re-election+1980+favorite&pg=PA3&article_id=4994,799103 Clouds of Doubt Hang Over Northwest States The Free Lance Star November 6, 1979 Bellingham, Washington 4 en However, the national environment of 1980 heavily favored Republicans, meaning many seats were set to be vulnerable.Hart Jeffrey https://books.google.com/books?id=zgxdAAAAIBAJ&dq=republicans+senate+1980&pg=PA6&article_id=2701,1199304 Dramatic Senate shift possible St. Joseph Gazette March 14, 1979 St. Joseph, Missouri 6 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.Bonino Rick https://books.google.com/books?id=I1VOAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+cooney+1980&pg=PA30&article_id=7242,1732607 Cooney slams Magnuson, Gorton The Spokesman-Review June 20, 1980 Spokane, Washington 9 en However, Cooney was seen by many in Washington state as a formidable challenger, who could have beaten Gorton, owing to recognition from TV.Forrester Steve https://books.google.com/books?id=1PdVAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+odds&pg=PA8&article_id=4577,3468246 Mt. St. Helen gives 'Maggie' boost Eugene Register-Guard June 13, 1980 13A en Despite this, Gorton beat Cooney and received his endorsement against Magnuson.Sallquist Bill https://books.google.com/books?id=sUFYAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+primary&pg=PA34&article_id=5330,5686360 Gorton 'figures' to beat Maggie Spokane Daily Chronicle September 19, 1980 Spokane, Washington 5 en Results Blanket primary results Democratic Party (United States) Warren Magnuson (incumbent) 348,471 36.58% Republican Party (United States) Slade Gorton 313,560 32.91% Republican Party (United States) Lloyd E. Cooney 229,178 24.05% Democratic Party (United States) James Sherwood Stokes 18,348 1.93% Republican Party (United States) William McCallum 13,736 1.44% Democratic Party (United States) John Patric 10,157 1.07% Libertarian Party (United States) Richard K. Kenney 7,951 0.84% 941,401 100.00% 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.Klass Tim https://books.google.com/books?id=4UFYAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+poll&pg=PA4&article_id=3896,2635181 Maggie still ahead in close campaign Spokane Daily Chronicle October 24, 1980 6 en Magnuson generally tried to avoid mentioning Gorton, refusing to debate him, and centered his campaign on the theme of his seniority and power.Schultz Gordon https://books.google.com/books?id=JKErAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+poll&pg=PA12&article_id=7070,2292106 Magnuson fights to keep Senate seat The Telegraph October 11, 1980 23 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.Rose Robert L. 1980-07-08 Gorton: volcano helped Maggie https://books.google.com/books?id=AfhLAAAAIBAJ&dq=warren+magnuson+mount+st+helen&pg=PA5&article_id=5032,2833455 2024-03-03 The Spokesman-Review 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.https://books.google.com/books?id=5UFYAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+magnuson+primary&pg=PA21&article_id=6938,4085199 Senate: Age vs. experience Spokane Daily Chronicle October 30, 1980 41 en Moreover, Gorton ran a vigorous and aggressive campaign, which stood in contrast to the more senior Magnuson.https://books.google.com/books?id=IbcyAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+victory+magnuson&pg=PA6&article_id=6707,3438599 The man who toppled Maggie Ellensburg Daily Record November 6, 1980 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.Dewar Helen https://books.google.com/books?id=RHtfAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+challenge+magnuson&pg=PA86&article_id=2880,4763162 The age question Lewiston Morning Tribune October 27, 1980 20 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.https://books.google.com/books?id=BE9OAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton++magnuson+underdog&pg=PA19&article_id=5160,1882842 Poll predicts turnaround The Spokesman-Review November 4, 1980 Spokane, Washington 6 en Gorton defeated Magnuson in an upset, for which a large factor was due to Ronald Reagan's sizable victory over Jimmy Carter in that year's presidential race.https://books.google.com/books?id=W61fAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+victory+magnuson&pg=PA33&article_id=5255,2620966 Reagan leads Republicans to impressive lead in Washington Lewiston Morning Tribune November 6, 1980 7c en The coattails of Reagan's victory, in general, allowed strong Republican performances in Washington and other states nationwide.https://books.google.com/books?id=Wq1fAAAAIBAJ&dq=gorton+victory+magnuson&pg=PA1&article_id=4879,1840444 Reagan leads GOP landslide Symms, Gorton, Spellman win Lewiston Morning Tribune November 5, 1980 1 en Results 1980 United States Senate election in Washingtonhttps://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=33&c=&c2=&t=985&t2=&p=&p2=&y= Elections Search Results November 1980 General U. S. Senator Chapman Bruce Bruce K. Chapman November 4, 1980 Secretary of State of Washington January 26, 2026 Washington Republican Party Slade Gorton 936,317 54.17% Washington Democratic Party Warren Magnuson (incumbent) 792,052 45.83% 1,728,369 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) By county +County resultsCountyWarren Magnuson DemocraticSlade Gorton RepublicanMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams1,51131.59%3,27268.41%1,76136.82%4,783Asotin3,21748.32%3,44151.68%2243.36%6,658Benton19,65544.18%24,83755.82%5,18211.65%44,492Chelan7,18337.34%12,05462.66%4,87125.32%19,237Clallam9,57343.03%12,67656.97%3,10313.95%22,249Clark34,88848.81%36,59351.19%1,7052.39%71,481Columbia73136.37%1,27963.63%54827.26%2,010Cowlitz15,33355.57%12,26144.43%-3,072-11.13%27,594Douglas3,18336.40%5,56263.60%2,37927.20%8,745Ferry97048.62%1,02551.38%552.76%1,995Franklin5,17644.03%6,57955.97%1,40311.94%11,755Garfield55538.07%90361.93%34823.87%1,458Grant6,90538.97%10,81261.03%3,90722.05%17,717Grays Harbor14,19654.48%11,86145.52%-2,335-8.96%26,057Island7,24840.00%10,87160.00%3,62320.00%18,119Jefferson4,16851.95%3,85548.05%-313-3.90%8,023King286,09648.15%308,05051.85%21,9543.70%594,146Kitsap32,91654.22%27,79745.78%-5,119-8.43%60,713Kittitas4,38141.71%6,12258.29%1,74116.58%10,503Klickitat2,85047.92%3,09752.08%2474.15%5,947Lewis7,80934.21%15,02065.79%7,21131.59%22,829Lincoln1,92435.80%3,45164.20%1,52728.41%5,375Mason6,21245.22%7,52554.78%1,3139.56%13,737Okanogan5,29842.53%7,16057.47%1,86214.95%12,458Pacific4,33654.00%3,69446.00%-642-8.00%8,030Pend Oreille1,51740.85%2,19759.15%68018.31%3,714Pierce83,89148.44%89,28651.56%5,3953.12%173,177San Juan1,90339.49%2,91660.51%1,01321.02%4,819Skagit13,63744.29%17,15055.71%3,51311.41%30,787Skamania1,55253.01%1,37646.99%-176-6.01%2,928Snohomish61,25545.00%74,86255.00%13,60710.00%136,117Spokane55,58739.20%86,21060.80%30,62321.60%141,797Stevens3,88633.71%7,64366.29%3,75732.59%11,529Thurston23,99643.71%30,90056.29%6,90412.58%54,896Wahkiakum85651.20%81648.80%-40-2.39%1,672Walla Walla6,91336.66%11,94463.34%5,03126.68%18,857Whatcom20,71545.17%25,14854.83%4,4339.67%45,863Whitman7,11941.84%9,89658.16%2,77716.32%17,015Yakima22,91138.78%36,17661.22%13,26522.45%59,087Totals792,05245.83%936,31754.17%144,2658.35%1,728,369 See also 1980 United States Senate elections References 1980 Category:1980 Washington (state) elections Washington