1980Final results
1980 election for President in Alabama
President · Alabama
Ronald Reagan (R) won with 48.8% of the vote, defeating Jimmy Carter (D) by 1.3 points.
Ronald ReaganRepublican · winner
48.8%654,192
Jimmy CarterDemocrat
47.4%636,730
John B. AndersonIndependent
1.2%16,481
John RarickConservative
1.1%15,010
Edward ""ed"" ClarkLibertarian
1.0%13,318
Benjamin ""ben"" BubarOther party
0.1%1,743
Gus HallCommunist
0.1%1,629
Clifton DeberrySocialist Workers
0.1%1,303
David McReynoldsSocialist
0.1%1,006
Barry CommonerOther party
0.0%517
1,341,929 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
The candidates
Ronald Reagan (R)Jimmy Carter (D)
Also on the ballot: John B. Anderson (Independent), 1.2%; John Rarick (Conservative), 1.1%; Edward ""ed"" Clark (Libertarian), 1.0%; Benjamin ""ben"" Bubar (Other party), 0.1%; Gus Hall (Communist), 0.1%; Clifton Deberry (Socialist Workers), 0.1%; David McReynolds (Socialist), 0.1%; Barry Commoner (Other party), 0.0%