1980Flipped from DemocraticFinal results
1980 election for Connecticut's 3rd District
U.S. House · Connecticut
Lawrence J. Denardis (R) won with 52.3% of the vote, defeating Joseph I. Lieberman (D) by 5.9 points, a seat Democrats won last time.
Lawrence J. DenardisRepublican · winner
52.3%117,024
Joseph I. LiebermanDemocrat
46.5%103,903
Joelle R. FishmanOther party
1.2%2,711
223,648 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.
Joseph I. LiebermanLawrence J. Denardis
$302.1K
Raised by the campaign
$152.6K
$302.1K
Spent by the campaign
$158.1K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Other candidates' campaigns: Joelle R. Fishman $10.3K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Nov 24, 1980; FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Lawrence J. Denardis (R)Joseph I. Lieberman (D)
Also on the ballot: Joelle R. Fishman (Other party), 1.2%