The 1980 United States Senate election in Vermont took place on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy narrowly won reelection to a second term, defeating Republican Stewart Ledbetter, the former Vermont Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.
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Leahy: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Ledbetter: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Background
editThe state of Vermont was a Republican stronghold, albeit one with independent leanings. For many years, the state had a predisposition for electing moderate Republicans to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.[1] Even on the presidential level, due to a strong third party candidacy from John Anderson, who performed well in the state's presidential primary, the state became close though ultimately favoring Ronald Reagan.[2]
Under this background, freshman Democrat Patrick Leahy, the first Democrat ever elected to represent Vermont in the United States Senate, entered his re-election campaign as one of the most vulnerable incumbents up that cycle.[3] Leahy himself knew this would be a tough race, and even though early polls showed him up, he noticed a much more sour tone among voters while campaigning.[4]
Democratic primary
editLeahy declared his bid for re-election on May 9, 1980, and was unopposed in the state's primary.[5]
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Patrick Leahy (incumbent) | 27,548 | 97.54% | |
| Democratic | Other | 696 | 2.46% | |
| Total votes | 28,244 | 100.0% | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- T. Garry Buckley, former Lieutenant Governor of Vermont[7]
- Anthony Doria, founder of Vermont Law School[8]
- Tom Evslin, computer consultant[7]
- Stewart Ledbetter, former Vermont Banking and Insurance Commissioner[9]
- James Mullin, former Chair of the Republican Party of Vermont[10]
- Robert Schuettinger, former advisor to the Republican Study Committee[11]
Campaign
editThe majority of the candidates in the Republican primary field were conservative Republicans, with Ledbetter being seen as the only moderate.
Over the course of the campaign, a dispute broke out between T. Garry Buckley, a former Lieutenant Governor, and James Mullin, the former Vermont GOP Chair. Buckley vigorously attacked Mullin for being a Mormon, claiming that if elected, Mullin would be the "third Senator from Utah."[12] Mullin in turned accused Buckley of bigotry, stating, "I thought this nonsense went out when Jack Kennedy was elected President."[12] The amount of spending in this primary was a record for the time.[13]
Ledbetter, who had resigned his position to run for Senate, ran a different campaign, notably walking 450 miles across the state to gain attention for his candidacy, and to draw a contrast between Mullin's high spending campaign.[14][9] He also emphasized his moderate credentials, claiming they would make him the best candidate to win the election.[9]
Endorsements
editNewspapers and publications
Newspapers and publications
Statewide officials
- Deane Davis, former Governor of Vermont[18]
- F. Ray Keyser, former Governor of Vermont[19]
State officials
- Arthur Gibb, state senator[20]
Results
editLedbetter would end up the victor, due in part to his appeal to the Vermont Republican establishment. On election night, he was joined by Mullins, Evslin, and Schuettinger as a sign of unity against Leahy.[21]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Stewart M. Ledbetter | 16,518 | 35.28% | |
| Republican | James E. Mullin | 12,256 | 26.18% | |
| Republican | Tom Evslin | 8,575 | 18.31% | |
| Republican | T. Garry Buckley | 5,209 | 11.1% | |
| Republican | Robert Schuettinger | 3,450 | 7.39% | |
| Republican | Anthony N. Doria | 496 | 1.06% | |
| Republican | Other | 316 | 0.68% | |
| Total votes | 46,820 | 100.0% | ||
Liberty Union primary
editResults
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Union | Earl S. Gardner | 135 | 80.36% | |
| Liberty Union | Other | 33 | 19.64% | |
| Total votes | 168 | 100.0% | ||
General election
editCampaign
editAs the environment of 1980 became increasingly Republican leaning, Leahy faced a tough battle. Ledbetter focused on his calls for a balanced budget, and criticized Leahy for votes against spending for the B1 Bomber. In turn, Leahy criticized Ledbetter for dirty campaign tactics, which he contended went against how Vermont politics went.[22]
There was also a large amount of attention from special interest groups targeting Leahy and other vulnerable Democrats.[23] Owing to the successful efforts by these groups to oust Iowa Senator Dick Clark in 1978, these groups took an increasing role this cycle, adding pressure to assailable Democrats.[24]
Per public polling, Leahy held a comfortable lead, and was the favorite to beat Ledbetter.[25] However, he later acknowledged in his memoirs that he had seen a different mood among voters, and his internal polls, conducted late in the campaign, showed him trailing.[4]
Results
editEven though Republicans performed strongly in Vermont, winning the Presidential, Gubernatorial, and House elections, Leahy pulled ahead by a narrow margin. However, due to how close the outcome was, neither candidate claimed victory or defeat that night.[26] In the following weeks, recounts were conducted by the state's courts to see if Leahy's victory would hold up.[27] Ultimately, the recounts showed Leahy's victory would stand, and it would be certified. Despite protestation, Ledbetter would concede the race on December 22.[28] This would be Patrick Leahy's closest race during his 48-year tenure in the U.S. Senate.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Patrick Leahy (incumbent) | 104,089 | 49.76% | |
| Republican | Stewart M. Ledbetter | 101,647 | 48.59% | |
| Independent | Anthony N. Doria | 1,764 | 0.84% | |
| Liberty Union | Earl S. Gardner | 1,578 | 0.75% | |
| Write-in | 110 | 0.06% | ||
| Total votes | 209,188 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Childs, Marquis (October 17, 1980). Carter May Carry Vermont. Daytona Beach Morning Journal. pp. 4A.
- ^ Riechman, Ron (November 3, 1980). Thirty seven electoral votes at stake in New England. The Telegraph. p. 21.
- ^ Witt, Evans (November 8, 1979). 13 Candidates Already in Presidential Race. The Virgin Islands Daily News. p. 29.
- ^ a b Leahy, Patrick (2022). The Road Taken: A Memoir. Simon & Schuster. p. 130. ISBN 978-1982157357.
- ^ Norton, Kathleen M. (May 9, 1980). Leahy announces re-election bid. The Lewiston Journal. p. 9.
- ^ a b c "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- ^ a b Vita, Matthew (September 10, 1980). "It's Buckley's 'last hurrah', but Mullin, Evslin may be back". Bennington Banner. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "Warped Sense of Issues". Rutland Herald. August 4, 1980. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Stewart Ledbetter bets $170,000 voters want Middle-of-Road Senator". Barre-Montpelier Times Argus. August 27, 1980. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ Baumann, Steve (March 14, 1980). "Remark about Ellsworth Bunker Shadows James Mullin". Rutland Daily Herald. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Page, Candace (August 16, 1980). "Candidate Schuettinger sticks to the far right". The Brattleboro Reformer. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Vita, Matthew (August 18, 1980). "Mullin, the top spender, sees Buckley as threat". Bennington Banner. Miller Group. Associated Press. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ Cash Doesn't Carry For Primary Losers. Lakeland Ledger. September 14, 1980. pp. 2C.
- ^ Assosciated Press (September 10, 1980). 'Ronald Reagn Clone' Loses Badly In Senate GOP Primary In Vermont. Montpelier, Vermont: Ocala Star-Banner. pp. 5D.
- ^ "Evslin for the GOP nod". Bennington Banner. September 4, 1980. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ "How We Picked Candidates". The Burlington Free Press. September 1, 1980. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Evslin backed by 4th paper". Bennington Banner. Associated Press. September 6, 1980. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ "Davis Endorses Mullin". The Times Argus. Vermont Press Bureau. June 6, 1980. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ Graff, Christopher (August 18, 1980). "'Tis the season for the endorsement". Bennington Banner. Associated Press. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ "Sen. Gibb Supporting Ledbetter". The Burlington Free Press. Associated Press. May 10, 1980. Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Vita, Matthew (September 12, 1980). Leahy Will Find the Going Tougher. The Lewiston Daily Sun. p. 17.
- ^ Lyons, Richard L. (October 28, 1980). "GOP Battling for Senate Seats in New Hampshire and Vermont". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ UPI (January 2, 1979). Proxmire, Clark say Republicans can win majority by 1983. Bulletin Journal. p. 11.
- ^ Roberts, Steven V. (April 22, 1979). "Democratic Senators Showing Fears on '80". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Miller, Judith (October 17, 1980). "Senator Leahy Expected to be Re-Elected in Vermont". The New York Times. pp. A20. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Vita, Matthew (November 5, 1980). Leahy apparent winner in Vermont. The Lewiston Journal. p. 22.
- ^ Associated Press (December 2, 1980). Vt. Ballots Set for a Recount. Montpelier, Vermont: The Lewiston Daily Sun. p. 16.
- ^ Associated Press (December 23, 1980). Ledbetter ends his challenge to Sen. Leahy. The Lewiston Daily Sun. p. 22.
- ^ "General Election Results - U.S. Senator - 1914-2014" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2015.