Elections / 1980 · Senate · WI
The Republican candidate won Wisconsin's Senate seat R+1.9.
Wisconsin, 1980. Candidate results and statewide totals below. The presidential race shared this ballot.
Wisconsin — 1980 Senate result
Source: MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1976–2024 Senate returns (party-classified by literal ballot party).
Democratic (D)
1,065,487
48.3%
Republican (R)
1,106,311
50.2%
All others
32,337
1.5%
Margin
R+1.9
Candidates
Statewide candidate totals — MIT Election Data + Science Lab, 1980 Senate returns.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert W. Kasten JR. | RRepublican | 1,106,311 | 50.2% |
| Gaylord A. Nelson | DDemocrat | 1,065,487 | 48.3% |
| James P. Wickstrom | OAmerican Independent | 16,156 | 0.7% |
| Bervin J. Larson | OLibertarian | 9,679 | 0.4% |
| Susan L. Hagen | OSocialist Workers | 6,502 | 0.3% |
Wisconsin's Senate margins
Every contest in our store, 1976–2024
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1976 | +45.6% |
| 1980 | −1.9% |
| 1982 | +29.5% |
| 1986 | −3.5% |
| 1988 | +4.5% |
| 1992 | +6.6% |
| 1994 | +17.6% |
| 1998 | +2.1% |
| 2000 | +24.5% |
| 2004 | +11.2% |
| 2006 | +37.8% |
| 2010 | −4.8% |
| 2012 | +5.5% |
| 2016 | −3.4% |
| 2018 | +10.8% |
| 2022 | −1.0% |
| 2024 | +0.8% |