The 1979 United States elections were held on November 6, 1979. This off-year election primarily involved local, state, and congressional elections.
| ← 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 → Off-year elections | |
| Election day | November 6 |
|---|---|
| Congressional special elections | |
| Seats contested | 2 |
| Net seat change | Republican +1 |
| Gubernatorial elections | |
| Seats contested | 3 |
| Net seat change | Republican +1 |
 | |
| 1979 gubernatorial election results map | |
| Legend | |
Democratic hold Republican gain No election | |
Background
editThe 1979 elections occurred in the final year of President Jimmy Carter's first and only term. Minor gains occurred for the Republican party as a result of increasing stagflation.
Congressional Elections
editTwo special elections were held to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives. The most notable race was that for California's eleventh district, whose previous representative had been shot and killed by members of the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana.[1]
| District | Incumbent | This race | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First elected | Results | Candidates | |
| California 11 | Leo Ryan | Democratic | 1972 | Incumbent member-elect was murdered November 18, 1978. New member elected April 3, 1979. Republican gain. |
|
| Wisconsin 6 | William A. Steiger | Republican | 1966 | Incumbent member-elect died December 4, 1978. New member elected April 3, 1979. Republican hold.[3] |
|
Gubernatorial Elections
editThree states held gubernatorial elections in 1979.
| State | Incumbent | First elected | Result | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky[4] | Julian Carroll (Democratic) | 1974[a] | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
|
| Louisiana | Edwin Edwards (Democratic) | 1972 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Republican gain. |
|
| Mississippi | Cliff Finch (Democratic) | 1975 | Incumbent term-limited. New governor elected. Democratic hold. |
|
State Legislative Elections
editState legislative elections were also held in various states across the country. These elections determined the control of state legislatures, which would play a crucial role in the redistricting process following the 1980 census.
Local Elections
editIn addition to state and congressional races, numerous local elections were held. These elections included mayoral races, city council elections, and referenda on key issues such as taxation and public services.
- San Francisco: Incumbent mayor Dianne Feinstein was reëlected with 53.96 percent of the second round vote.[5]
- Boston: Incumbent mayor Kevin White was reëlected to a fourth term in a rematch, receiving 54.82% of the vote.[6]
Notes
edit- ^ Carroll took office after his predecessor (Wendell Ford) resigned.
References
edit- ^ United States Congress. "Ryan, Leo Joseph, (1925–1978)". United States Congress. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
- ^
- "Galen Holsinger (2004) Obituary". Legacy.com. Sacramento, CA: The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- "Holsinger, Galen Wright "Joe"". Alternative Considerations of Jonestown & Peoples Temple. jonestown.sdsu.edu. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
Published in The Sacramento Bee on 9/15/2004.
- Remmé, Richard. "Galen Wright Holsinger (1921-2004)". Genealogie Online (in Dutch). The Hague, Netherlands. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
- ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1979). "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 901, 919. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 21, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Mayor Feinstein Apparent Winner In San Francisco Runoff Election". The New York Times. December 12, 1979. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ Annual Report of the Election Department. Boston [Election Dept.] 1980. p. 82.
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