1980Final results
1980 election for U.S. Senate in Louisiana
U.S. Senate · Louisiana
Russell B. Long (D) won with 57.6% of the vote, defeating Louis Woody Jenkins (D) by 18.9 points.
Russell B. LongDemocrat · winner
57.6%484,770
Louis Woody JenkinsDemocrat
38.8%325,922
Jerry C. BardwellRepublican
1.6%13,739
Robert Max RossRepublican
1.2%10,208
Naomi BraceyIndependent
0.8%6,374
841,013 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.
Russell B. LongNo Republican
$1.5M
Raised by the campaign
—
$1.1M
Spent by the campaign
—
$0
Cash on hand
—
Other candidates' campaigns: Louis Woody Jenkins $236.8K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1980.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1980
The candidates
Russell B. Long (D)Louis Woody Jenkins (D)
Also on the ballot: Jerry C. Bardwell (Republican), 1.6%; Robert Max Ross (Republican), 1.2%; Naomi Bracey (Independent), 0.8%