1980Final results
1980 election for President in Kentucky
President · Kentucky
Ronald Reagan (R) won with 49.0% of the vote, defeating Jimmy Carter (D) by 1.4 points.
Ronald ReaganRepublican · winner
49.0%635,274
Jimmy CarterDemocrat
47.7%617,417
John B. AndersonIndependent
2.4%31,127
Edward ""ed"" ClarkLibertarian
0.4%5,531
Ellen McCormackOther party
0.3%4,233
Barry CommonerOther party
0.1%1,304
Andrew PulleySocialist Workers
0.0%393
Gus HallCommunist
0.0%348
1,295,627 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: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
The candidates
Ronald Reagan (R)Jimmy Carter (D)
Also on the ballot: John B. Anderson (Independent), 2.4%; Edward ""ed"" Clark (Libertarian), 0.4%; Ellen McCormack (Other party), 0.3%; Barry Commoner (Other party), 0.1%; Andrew Pulley (Socialist Workers), 0.0%; Gus Hall (Communist), 0.0%