1980Final results
1980 election for Michigan's 2nd District
U.S. House · Michigan
Carl Pursell (R) won with 57.3% of the vote, defeating Kathleen F. O'Reilly (D) by 15.9 points.
Carl PursellRepublican · winner
57.3%115,562
Kathleen F. O'ReillyDemocrat
41.4%83,550
James Lewis HudlerLibertarian
0.7%1,464
John L. WagnerAmerican Independent
0.6%1,214
201,801 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.
Kathleen F. O'ReillyCarl Pursell
$64.5K
Raised by the campaign
$102.3K
$69.3K
Spent by the campaign
$74.8K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Carl Pursell (R)Kathleen F. O'Reilly (D)
Also on the ballot: James Lewis Hudler (Libertarian), 0.7%; John L. Wagner (American Independent), 0.6%