1980Final results
1980 election for U.S. Senate in Iowa
U.S. Senate · Iowa
Chuck Grassley (R) won with 53.5% of the vote, defeating John Culver (D) by 7.9 points.
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · winner
53.5%683,014
John CulverDemocrat
45.5%581,545
Garry De YoungIndependent
0.5%5,858
Robert V. HengererLibertarian
0.3%4,233
John Ingram HendersonIndependent
0.2%2,336
1,276,986 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.
John CulverChuck Grassley
$1.8M
Raised by the campaign
$1.6M
$1.8M
Spent by the campaign
$1.6M
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Other candidates' campaigns: Robert V. Hengerer $720.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Chuck Grassley (R)John Culver (D)
Also on the ballot: Garry De Young (Independent), 0.5%; Robert V. Hengerer (Libertarian), 0.3%; John Ingram Henderson (Independent), 0.2%