1980Final results
1980 election for California's 11th District
U.S. House · California
Tom Lantos (D) won with 46.4% of the vote, defeating Bill Royer (R) by 3.1 points.
Tom LantosDemocrat · winner
46.4%85,823
Bill RoyerRepublican
43.3%80,100
Wilson BranchPeace and Freedom
7.4%13,723
William S. Wade Jr.Libertarian
2.1%3,816
Nicholas W. KudrovzeffAmerican Independent
0.8%1,550
185,012 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1980
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Tom LantosBill Royer
$528.7K
Raised by the campaign
$654.4K
$526.1K
Spent by the campaign
$642K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Other candidates' campaigns: Wilson Branch $1.5K · Nicholas W. Kudrovzeff $1.2K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Tom Lantos (D)Bill Royer (R)Wilson Branch (PF)
Also on the ballot: William S. Wade Jr. (Libertarian), 2.1%; Nicholas W. Kudrovzeff (American Independent), 0.8%