1980Final results
1980 election for Wisconsin's 6th District
U.S. House · Wisconsin
Thomas E. Petri (R) won with 59.3% of the vote, defeating Gary R. Goyke (D) by 18.7 points.
Thomas E. PetriRepublican · winner
59.3%143,980
Gary R. GoykeDemocrat
40.7%98,628
242,611 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.
Gary R. GoykeThomas E. Petri
$232.4K
Raised by the campaign
$516K
$234.6K
Spent by the campaign
$514.1K
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980