1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries

The 1980 Democratic presidential primaries were how voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 1980 U.S. presidential election.

1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries

← 1976 January 21 to June 3, 1980 1984 →

3,315 delegates to the Democratic National Convention
1,105 delegate votes needed to win
  JimmyCarterPortrait2.jpg Ted Kennedy, 1967 (cropped).jpg
Candidate Jimmy Carter Ted Kennedy
Home state Georgia Massachusetts
Contests won 36 12
Popular vote 10,043,016 7,381,693
Percentage 51.13% 37.58%

Democratic presidential primary map, 1980.svg
Results of the 1980 Democratic National Convention

Previous Democratic nominee

Jimmy Carter

Democratic nominee

Jimmy Carter

During the primary race, the country of Iran was going through trouble and unrest. This unrest caused it to make and sell less oil. In January 1979, the leader (or Shah) of Iran left the country. After that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini , who was against the Shah’s leadership, took over and made the country follow an extreme version of Islam.

Another problem during the time of this election was increased prices, especially for oil and gas. Many people blamed President Carter. Only 28% of people who were polled said they approved of Carter.

Background

Incumbent President Jimmy Carter was again selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses in the 1980 Democratic National Convention held from August 11 to August 14, 1980, in New York City.

Carter faced a major primary challenger in Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, who won 12 contests and received more than seven million votes nationwide. Therefore, Kennedy didn't withdraw from the primary until the second day of the convention. This is the most recent primary where the sitting president still had an opponent at the convention.

Candidates

Nominee

Candidate Most recent position Home state Campaign Popular

vote

Contests won Running mate
Jimmy Carter  
President of the United States
(1977-1981)

Incumbent
 
Georgia
(Campaign) 10,043,016
(51.13%)
36

IA, ME, NH, VT, AL, FL, GA, PR,

IL, KS, WI, LA, TX, IN, NC, TN,

NE, MD, OK, AR ID, KY, NV, MT,

OH, WV, MO, OR, WA

Walter Mondale

Withdrew during primaries or convention

Candidate Most recent position Home state Campaign

Withdrawal date

Popular Vote Contests Won
Ted Kennedy   U.S. Senator

from Massachusetts
(1962-2009)

 
Massachusetts
Withdrew at convention 7,381,693
(37.58%)
12

AZ, MA, CT, NY, PA, ND
DC, CA, NJ, NM, RI, SD
VT, AK, MI

Also withdrew during primaries