1980 United States Senate election in Georgia

The 1980 United States Senate election in Georgia was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and former Governor of Georgia Herman Talmadge ran for reelection to a fifth term, but lost narrowly to Mack Mattingly, Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. Mattingly became the first ever Republican popularly elected to the Senate in Georgia. This race was part of a landslide national election for Republicans that would come to be known as the Reagan Revolution.[1]

1980 United States Senate election in Georgia

November 4, 1980

Nominee Mack Mattingly Herman Talmadge Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 803,686 776,143 Percentage 50.87% 49.13%

County Results Mattingly:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80% Talmadge:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Herman Talmadge Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Mack Mattingly Republican

Democratic primary

Declared

• John Francis Collins
• Dawson Mathis, U.S. Representative from Georgia's 2nd congressional district
• Zell Miller, Lieutenant Governor
• J.B. Stoner, white supremacist and terrorist
• Herman Talmadge, incumbent Senator since 1957
• Norman Underwood, Judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals

Campaign

Talmadge's ethical issues made him uniquely vulnerable. Because Georgia was seen as a strongly Democratic state, five primary opponents declared their candidacies for the Democratic nomination. Strongest among these candidates was Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller. Miller launched his campaign with support from black voters, organized labor, and the liberal wing of the Georgia Democratic Party. He campaigned against Talmadge on the argument that Talmadge had "disgraced" Georgia. Miller also attacked Talmadge's history as a segregationist and boasted of support from black leaders including Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson and State Senator Julian Bond.[2]

In the six-man primary held August 5, Miller and Talmadge advanced to a run-off election. Talmadge won the run-off election with 58.6% of the vote.

Results

Democratic primary results[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Herman Talmadge (incumbent)	432,215	41.99%
	Democratic	Zell Miller	247,766	24.07%
	Democratic	Norman Underwood	183,683	17.85%
	Democratic	Dawson Mathis	133,729	12.99%
	Democratic	J.B. Stoner	19,664	1.91%
	Democratic	John F. Collins	12,243	1.19%

Democratic primary runoff results[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Herman Talmadge (incumbent)	559,615	58.58%
	Democratic	Zell Miller	395,773	41.43%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mack Mattingly, businessman and Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party

Mattingly was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

General election

Results

1980 United States Senate election, Georgia[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Mack Mattingly	803,686	50.87%	+22.63%
	Democratic	Herman Talmadge (incumbent)	776,143	49.13%	-22.63%
Majority			27,543	1.74%	-41.78%
Turnout			1,579,829
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing	22.63%

See also

• 1980 United States Senate elections

References

1. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1980election.pdf
2. Harris, Art (23 Aug 1980). "Drawlin' and Brawlin'". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
3. "GA US Senate – D Primary, 1980". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
4. "GA US Senate – D Runoff, 1980". OurCampaigns. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
5. "United States Senator". Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 1, 2009.