1980Final results
1980 election for President in South Dakota
President · South Dakota
Ronald Reagan (R) won with 60.5% of the vote, defeating Jimmy Carter (D) by 28.8 points.
Ronald ReaganRepublican · winner
60.5%198,343
Jimmy CarterDemocrat
31.7%103,855
John B. AndersonIndependent
6.5%21,431
Edward ""ed"" ClarkLibertarian
1.2%3,824
Andrew PulleySocialist Workers
0.1%250
327,703 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)John B. Anderson (I)
Also on the ballot: Edward ""ed"" Clark (Libertarian), 1.2%; Andrew Pulley (Socialist Workers), 0.1%