1980Final results
1980 election for U.S. Senate in Connecticut
U.S. Senate · Connecticut
Christopher Dodd (D) won with 56.3% of the vote, defeating James L. Buckley (R) by 13.4 points.
Christopher DoddDemocrat · winner
56.3%763,969
James L. BuckleyRepublican
42.9%581,884
Gerard G. BrennanLibertarian
0.4%5,336
Louis ZemelOther party
0.4%4,772
1,356,075 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.
Christopher DoddJames L. Buckley
$1.4M
Raised by the campaign
$1.3M
$1.4M
Spent by the campaign
$1.3M
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Christopher Dodd (D)James L. Buckley (R)
Also on the ballot: Gerard G. Brennan (Libertarian), 0.4%; Louis Zemel (Other party), 0.4%