1980Final results
1980 election for U.S. Senate in Colorado
U.S. Senate · Colorado
Gary Hart (D) won with 50.3% of the vote, defeating Mary Estill Buchanan (R) by 1.6 points.
Gary HartDemocrat · winner
50.3%590,501
Mary Estill BuchananRepublican
48.7%571,295
Earl HiggersonOther party
0.6%7,265
Henry John OlshawOther party
0.3%4,081
1,173,142 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 HartMary Estill Buchanan
$1M
Raised by the campaign
$1.2M
$866.9K
Spent by the campaign
$1.1M
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Gary Hart (D)Mary Estill Buchanan (R)
Also on the ballot: Earl Higgerson (Other party), 0.6%; Henry John Olshaw (Other party), 0.3%