1980Final results
1980 election for President in Tennessee
President · Tennessee
Ronald Reagan (R) won with 48.7% of the vote, defeating Jimmy Carter (D) by 0.3 points.
Ronald ReaganRepublican · winner
48.7%787,761
Jimmy CarterDemocrat
48.4%783,051
John B. AndersonIndependent
2.2%35,991
Edward ""ed"" ClarkLibertarian
0.4%7,116
Barry CommonerOther party
0.1%1,112
Benjamin ""ben"" BubarOther party
0.0%521
David McReynoldsSocialist
0.0%519
Gus HallCommunist
0.0%503
Clifton DeberrySocialist Workers
0.0%490
Deirdre GriswoldWorkers World
0.0%400
1,617,616 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), 2.2%; Edward ""ed"" Clark (Libertarian), 0.4%; Barry Commoner (Other party), 0.1%; Benjamin ""ben"" Bubar (Other party), 0.0%; David McReynolds (Socialist), 0.0%; Gus Hall (Communist), 0.0%; Clifton Deberry (Socialist Workers), 0.0%; Deirdre Griswold (Workers World), 0.0%