1980 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

none March 2026 September 2023 1980 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania presidential no 1974 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania 1974 1986 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania 1986 November 4, 1980 140x140px Arlen Specter 1960.jpg Arlen Specter Republican Party (United States) 2,230,404 50.48% File:Peter F. Flaherty (PA mayor) (cropped).png Peter Flaherty Democratic Party (United States) 2,122,391 48.04% 1980 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania results map by county.svg 260px County results Specter: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Flaherty: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #3933e5 70–80% U.S. Senator Richard Schweiker Republican Party (United States) Arlen Specter Republican Party (United States) The 1980 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Richard Schweiker decided to retire, instead of seeking a third term. Republican nominee Arlen Specter won the open seat, defeating Democratic nominee Peter F. Flaherty. As of 2026, this 1980 election was the last time Philadelphia voted for a Republican statewide candidate. This is also the last Senate election in which Butler County, Clarion County, Venango County, and Jefferson County voted Democratic. Republican primary Candidates Norman W. Bertasavage, candidate for U.S. House in 1976 from Pottsville Bud Haabestad, Delaware County Councilman Edward L. Howard, State Senator from Doylestown Arlen Specter, former District Attorney of Philadelphia and candidate for Senate in 1976 and Governor in 1978 Andrew J. Watson, perennial candidate and chair of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Party Warren R. Williams Lewis C. Richards Francis Worley, former State Representative from Adams County and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1976 and Lt. Governor in 1978 Campaign Arlen Specter, formerly a member of the Democratic Party, had served as legal counsel to the Warren Commission, which investigated the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, after which he became District Attorney of Philadelphia. After Specter was defeated in a 1967 run for Mayor of Philadelphia, he was then also defeated in his bid for a third term as district attorney. He then ran in the Republican primary in the 1976 Senate election, but was defeated by John Heinz and also ran in the 1978 gubernatorial election, but was defeated by Dick Thornburgh in the primary. Shortly after Specter opened a law practice in Atlantic City, New Jersey, incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Richard Schweiker unexpectedly announced his decision not to seek re-election to his seat. Specter, believing his reputation as a political moderate would help him in the general election, decided to run. During the Republican primary, Specter faced state senator Edward Howard, as well as Delaware County councilman Bud Haabestad, who was endorsed by Schweiker, then-governor Thornburgh and John Heinz. Results Specter ultimately defeated Haabestad, his most prominent challenger, by approximately 37,000 votes. Republican primary resultshttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6973 Our Campaigns - PA Senate - R Primary Race - April 22, 1980 Republican Party (United States) Arlen Specter 419,372 36.40 Republican Party (United States) Bud Haabestad 382,281 33.18 Republican Party (United States) Edward L. Howard 148,200 12.86 Republican Party (United States) Norman W. Bertasavage 52,408 4.55 Republican Party (United States) Andrew J. Watson 43,992 3.82 Republican Party (United States) Warren R. Williams 38,153 3.31 Republican Party (United States) Lewis C. Richards 36,982 3.21 Republican Party (United States) Francis Worley 30,660 2.66 Democratic primary Candidates Pete Flaherty, former Mayor of Pittsburgh H. Craig Lewis, State Senator from Feasterville-Trevose Peter J. Liacouras, Dean of Temple University Law School Edward Mezvinsky, former U.S. Representative from Penn Valley Joseph Rhodes Jr., State Representative from Pittsburgh C. Delores Tucker, former Pennsylvania Secretary of State John J. Logue, former Democratic candidate for PA-07 Tom Anderson Campaign During the Democratic primary, former Pittsburgh mayor Peter Flaherty contended with State Representative Joseph Rhodes, Jr., former U.S. Representative Edward Mezvinsky, State Senator H. Craig Lewis and Dean of Temple University Law School Peter J. Liacouras.Kennedy John J. Pennsylvania elections : statewide contests from 1950-2004 2006 University Press of America Lanham, Md. 0761832793 61–63 https://books.google.com/books?id=1J_9q-lIWRkC&q=1980+specter+flaherty&pg=PA61 Results Flaherty's name recognition enabled him to defeat his primary opponents, winning every county and thus winning the Democratic nomination. Democratic primary resultshttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=46378 Our Campaigns - PA Senate - D Primary Race - April 22, 1980 Democratic Party (United States) Pete Flaherty 771,119 53.23 Democratic Party (United States) Joseph Rhodes Jr. 179,107 12.36 Democratic Party (United States) Peter J. Liacouras 116,975 8.08 Democratic Party (United States) C. Delores Tucker 107,483 7.42 Democratic Party (United States) Edward Mezvinsky 100,841 6.96 Democratic Party (United States) Tom Anderson 89,656 6.19 Democratic Party (United States) H. Craig Lewis 69,701 4.81 Democratic Party (United States) John J. Logue 13,752 0.95 General election Candidates Lee Frissell (Consumer) Peter F. Flaherty, former Mayor of Pittsburgh (Democratic) Frank Kinces (Communist) Linda Mohrbacher (Socialist Workers) Arlen Specter, former District Attorney of Philadelphia (Republican) David K. Walter (Libertarian) Campaign Flaherty employed a general election strategy he had used in two previous statewide office campaigns: win by a wide margin in the southwestern part of the state and narrowly win Philadelphia. He also hoped to carry several swing towns, based on his support from several labor unions. Specter hoped to carry his hometown of Philadelphia, despite the Democrats' 7-2 voter registration advantage there. To this end, Specter sought endorsements among city Democratic leadership, including future mayor John F. Street. Specter hoped that, with wins in suburban areas and the heavily Republican central portion of the state in addition to winning Philadelphia, he would be able to win the election. Specter distanced himself from Governor Dick Thornburgh, who had become unpopular due to his proposals to decrease welfare program spending. Results 1980 U.S. Senate election in PennsylvaniaStatistics of the Congressional and Presidential Election of November 4, 1980 http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1980election.pdf Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House July 8, 2014 Republican Party (United States) Arlen Specter 2,230,404 50.48% Democratic Party (United States) Peter F. Flaherty 2,122,391 48.04% Socialist Workers Party (United States) Linda Mohrbacher 27,229 0.62% Libertarian Party (United States) David K. Walter 18,595 0.42% Consumer Lee Frissell 16,089 0.36% Communist Party USA Frank Kinces 3,334 0.08% 108,013 2.44% 4,418,042 100.00% Republican Party (United States) In the end, Specter defeated Flaherty by approximately 108,000 votes, carrying Philadelphia and its suburbs as well as the central and northeastern portions of the state. Flaherty performed strongest in the western portion of the state, including Cambria, Clarion, Erie and Mercer counties. See also 1980 United States Senate elections References Category:1980 Pennsylvania elections Pennsylvania 1980