1980Final results
1980 election for Massachusetts's 8th District
U.S. House · Massachusetts
Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. (D) won with 78.4% of the vote, defeating William A. Barnstead (R) by 56.8 points.
Thomas P. O'Neill Jr.Democrat · winner
78.4%128,689
William A. BarnsteadRepublican
21.6%35,477
164,183 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.
Thomas P. O'Neill Jr.William A. Barnstead
$67.8K
Raised by the campaign
$5.4K
$43.8K
Spent by the campaign
$4.8K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980