Pennsylvania — 1980 U.S. Senate election
Recent presidential results
Akashicstate1980 Senate electionPennsylvania · U.S. SenateSpecterR+2.4
How it voted
Share of the 1980 vote
| Arlen Specter ✓Republican | 50.5% | 2,230,404 |
|---|---|---|
| Pete FlahertyDemocrat | 48.0% | 2,122,391 |
| Linda MohrbacherSocialist Workers | 0.6% | 27,229 |
1980Senate margin
D+60R+60
67 counties, each filled by 1980 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
County-level results (67 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| ADAMS, PA | Republican | R+23.8 |
| ALLEGHENY, PA | Democratic | D+25.1 |
| ARMSTRONG, PA | Democratic | D+26.5 |
| BEAVER, PA | Democratic | D+46.4 |
| BEDFORD, PA | Republican | R+18.4 |
| BERKS, PA | Republican | R+14.2 |
| BLAIR, PA | Republican | R+3.0 |
| BRADFORD, PA | Republican | R+29.2 |
| BUCKS, PA | Republican | R+26.1 |
| BUTLER, PA | Democratic | D+21.1 |
| CAMBRIA, PA | Democratic | D+30.8 |
| CAMERON, PA | Republican | R+8.3 |
| CARBON, PA | Republican | R+1.5 |
| CENTRE, PA | Republican | R+4.4 |
| CHESTER, PA | Republican | R+38.8 |
| CLARION, PA | Democratic | D+14.1 |
| CLEARFIELD, PA | Democratic | D+6.9 |
| CLINTON, PA | Republican | R+9.7 |
| COLUMBIA, PA | Republican | R+8.0 |
| CRAWFORD, PA | Republican | R+4.4 |
| CUMBERLAND, PA | Republican | R+33.4 |
| DAUPHIN, PA | Republican | R+27.8 |
| DELAWARE, PA | Republican | R+25.8 |
| ELK, PA | Democratic | D+22.3 |
| ERIE, PA | Democratic | D+19.0 |
| FAYETTE, PA | Democratic | D+43.9 |
| FOREST, PA | Democratic | D+0.4 |
| FRANKLIN, PA | Republican | R+22.6 |
| FULTON, PA | Republican | R+7.7 |
| GREENE, PA | Democratic | D+39.7 |
| HUNTINGDON, PA | Republican | R+17.4 |
| INDIANA, PA | Democratic | D+10.5 |
| JEFFERSON, PA | Democratic | D+7.3 |
| JUNIATA, PA | Republican | R+28.0 |
| LACKAWANNA, PA | Democratic | D+10.8 |
| LANCASTER, PA | Republican | R+44.0 |
| LAWRENCE, PA | Democratic | D+31.1 |
| LEBANON, PA | Republican | R+41.6 |
| LEHIGH, PA | Republican | R+12.7 |
| LUZERNE, PA | Democratic | D+3.4 |
| LYCOMING, PA | Republican | R+13.6 |
| MCKEAN, PA | Republican | R+22.3 |
| MERCER, PA | Democratic | D+9.6 |
| MIFFLIN, PA | Republican | R+13.5 |
| MONROE, PA | Republican | R+18.1 |
| MONTGOMERY, PA | Republican | R+36.0 |
| MONTOUR, PA | Republican | R+13.3 |
| NORTHAMPTON, PA | Democratic | D+0.1 |
| NORTHUMBERLAND, PA | Republican | R+8.2 |
| PERRY, PA | Republican | R+32.4 |
| PHILADELPHIA, PA | Republican | R+1.8 |
| PIKE, PA | Republican | R+27.6 |
| POTTER, PA | Republican | R+25.0 |
| SCHUYLKILL, PA | Republican | R+13.9 |
| SNYDER, PA | Republican | R+40.9 |
| SOMERSET, PA | Democratic | D+15.2 |
| SULLIVAN, PA | Republican | R+18.6 |
| SUSQUEHANNA, PA | Republican | R+30.2 |
| TIOGA, PA | Republican | R+31.6 |
| UNION, PA | Republican | R+32.9 |
| VENANGO, PA | Democratic | D+0.7 |
| WARREN, PA | Republican | R+17.0 |
| WASHINGTON, PA | Democratic | D+43.4 |
| WAYNE, PA | Republican | R+32.7 |
| WESTMORELAND, PA | Democratic | D+38.1 |
| WYOMING, PA | Republican | R+32.6 |
| YORK, PA | Republican | R+23.5 |
presidential baselinePresident 1980R+7.1Senate 1980R+2.4vs. baselineD+4.7
Pennsylvania's 1980 Senate race ran 4.7 points more Democratic than the presidential race on the same ballot.
Pennsylvania's Senate margins
Every comparable D–R contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | −5.6% |
| 1980 | −2.4% |
| 1982 | −20.1% |
| 1986 | −13.6% |
| 1988 | −34.0% |
| 1992 | −2.8% |
| 1994 | −2.5% |
| 1998 | −26.6% |
| 2000 | −6.9% |
| 2004 | −10.6% |
| 2006 | +17.4% |
| 2010 | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +9.1% |
| 2016 | −1.4% |
| 2018 | +12.9% |
| 2022 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | −0.2% |
Same ballot, 1980PA
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1980 US Senate returns, party-classified by literal ballot party · county returns aggregated from precinct-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.